Females in Artillery

Photo By Staff Sgt. Breanne Donnell | U.S. Army Spc. Anna Weisler, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, performs security during training exercise Combined Resolve XIII at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels, Germany, Jan. 28, 2020. Combined Resolve XIII is a Headquarters Department of the Army directed Multinational Unified Land Operation exercise with the U.S. Regionally Aligned Force Brigade in support of European Command (EUCOM) objectives. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division along with 16 other allied and partner nations to fight and win in the European theater. The exercise involves more than 5,000 service members and takes place at U.S. Army Europe’s Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas. Combined Resolve XIII builds readiness and interoperability promotes regional stability and enhances relationships between allied and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Breanne Donnell)  

HOHENFELS, GERMANY

02.05.2020

Story by Sgt. Breanne Donnell 

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

HOHENFELS, Germany- Female artillerymen assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas participated in Combined Resolve Exercise XIII (CBRXIII) in Hohenfels, Germany, Jan.-Feb., 2020. While historically an artillery battery was a predominately male field, more females are breaking into these roles and others like them across the Army.

“I chose this job because it’s the ‘King of Battle’ and I joined to serve my country and be a part of the Army family, where everyone looks over each other,” said Pvt. Lissete Ugalde, a 13 Bravo, field artillery canon crewmember.

Combined Resolve III has been a learning experience for all Soldiers, but Ugalde and Spc. Anna Weisler have overcome more than just the terrain and weather to be where they are today.

“I’m the only female artilleryman here right now,” said Ugalde. “You just have to push yourself harder to set yourself apart from your male coworkers,”

“We have to do the same things the males do and we are doing it just as well,” said Weisler.

Combined Resolve is a multi-domain, realistic and challenging exercise to train Soldiers as they fight. When asked about the exercise in particular both females had similar responses on their experience so far.

“The training and the environment here is unique by the scenery, snow and weather, working with different countries has been great,” said Ugalde.

“This is my first rotation in Germany, and it’s been a big learning experience,” said Weisler. “Every time you come to the field you learn something new and that’s exciting”

Ugalde and Weisler said they are proud to serve their country and serve with other countries’ armies during CBRXIII.

• Date Taken: 02.05.2020
• Date Posted: 02.05.2020 11:24
• Story ID: 361760
• Location: HOHENFELS, DE