Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams

Photo By Spc. Mary Ferguson | Capt. Megan Youngblood, the 19th Support Center's S1, talks with a fellow 3rd COSCOM officer on her unit's first full-day in Kuwait in October 2005.  

03.23.2006

Courtesy Story

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Educator, innovator, activist, advocate, pioneer, historian, artist and leader are just a few of the countless roles women played as they created communities and promoted dreams during the 20th century.

Fueled by organizations like the National Women's History Project, schools and communities throughout America spent March observing and honoring the sacrifices and contributions of the many women who seized these roles.

While the 2006 NWHP honoree list hosts the names of 11 women whose dedicated quests toward an improved world are responsible for much of history's progress, 3rd Corps Support Command female Soldiers are continuously penning their names onto the lists of those worthy of future honors.

The Anaconda Times" March articles, "Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams," observed the contributions of those 11 national honorees, while simultaneously recognizing the continual commitment of today's female Soldiers.

Profiling the lives, accomplishments and visions of two female senior leaders illustrated the influence 20th century's women builders have had on the next generation's crew.

Though Col. Jannett Jackson, the 40th Corps Support Group commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Cynthia Graham, the 181st Transportation Battalion command sergeant major, took different routes to reach their current leadership roles, both journeys paint a portrait of where women have been and where they are going.

"For many years women weren't commonly looked at as a foundation for the community, rather the glue that kept things together," Graham explained.

"Today's women are making history by being more than the glue. We are stepping up, building and strengthening the foundation for our communities."

As Jackson and Graham reflect the strength of the role models in their past, they project an infectious sense of hope and encouragement to the Soldiers they lead, ensuring the foundation they have built will not become neglected.

"I didn't necessarily set out to be the "first" at something. It should be a no-brainer that the person who is right for the job, regardless of whether they are male or female, should get the job," said Jackson, the highest ranking African-American female in the California National Guard.

Though they have broken barriers during their military careers, they've also hammered nails of dedication and selfless sacrifice into boards of commitment and strength.

They are building, not breaking, the foundation for the young female Soldiers who post guard towers, command combat logistics patrols, monitor transportation movements, maintain equipment, lead platoons and perform countless other duties that may have been off-limits to females in the past.

Soldiers like:
â?¢ Spc. Michelle Tavarez from the 19th Support Center who is the first female from her family to serve in the military. Tavarez's recent promotion to specialist and participation in her company's Soldier of the Month board revealed she is attacking opportunities for advancement, and welcoming new responsibilities.

â?¢ Sgt. Jayme Robison, a Reservist with the 27th Transportation Battalion's 690th Movement Control Detachment. Robison is responsible for coordinating the movement of combat logistics patrols throughout theater, and works as a project manager at a construction company in her civilian life.

â?¢ Sgt. 1st Class Betty Franklin and Staff Sgt. Debra Terrell, platoon sergeants with 3rd COSCOM's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, who dedicate themselves to the welfare and needs of their Soldiers. Franklin and Terrell sacrifice what little personal time they have while deployed conducting board study group classes for lower enlisted Soldiers.

â?¢ 1st Lt. Tracie Pichotta a reservist with the 548th Corps Support Battalion's 400th Quartermaster Company who has been in charge of the Logistical Suport Area Anaconda Mortuary Affairs Team during her deployment. Pichotta is a probation officer in her civilian life.

â?¢ Capt. Megan Youngblood of the 19th Support Center, who served as aide de camp for Brig. Gen. Rebecca Halstead, during Halstead's first year as the 3rd COSCOM commanding general. Youngblood then deployed as the 19th Support Center's S-1. Among countless other responsibilities, Youngblood handles the Rest and Recuperation (R & R) leave dates for all HHC, 3rd COSCOM and HHC, 19th Support Center Soldiers, playing a crucial role in the units" overall morale.

As a nation motivated by progress and growth, there will always be new challenges and barriers to break, and female Soldiers like these will conquer those challenges and demolish those barriers. They'll stand sure-footed on the strong foundation built by women like Jackson, Graham and thousands of other female Soldiers, who were themselves standing on similar ground years earlier.

Though 2006's 31 days of America officially honoring women for their contributions to our nation are coming to an end, women's roles as builders of communities and dreams is a nonstop effort.

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• Date Taken: 03.23.2006
• Date Posted: 03.23.2006 10:36
• Story ID: 5815