30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team

Story by Spc. Ruth McClary

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Newly promoted Chief Warrant Officer 4 Elizabeth Bohannon, the first female Soldier to achieve this rank in the North Carolina National Guard, juggles folders and papers, as her sock monkey stands guard on her desk, screening incoming traffic in need of her attention.

"I became a warrant officer because I wanted to make a difference," said Bohannon, the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team assistant adjutant of personnel. "I'm proud to get to this point because I feel like there is more to do and the higher I get, the more I can do."

A pile of papers laid on one side of the desk and the computer displayed a spreadsheet with several file tabs at the bottom as Bohannon discussed her nearly 27 year journey to get to this point in her military career.

"I always had an interest in the military and wanted to join straight out of high school," said Bohannon. "I joined the National Guard as a military policeman for educational purposes and I stayed in because of the people.

"I like the role of the National Guard," she said. "We are like the guardians of our hometown. It's very rewarding to work for my community and the military."

After working as a military policeman, Bohannon worked full time in the National Guard as a unit administrator. Her family moved from Elizabethville, Pa., in 1997 when her husband, a retired first sergeant, received a position in North Carolina. Bohannon submitted her warrant officer packet when there wasn't a full time slot available for her after the move.

Early in her career, Bohnanon's peers could see her devotion to succeed and her commitment to do the job right.

"We worked together in recruiting command; that's when I really got to know her," said brigade executive officer, Col. Cliff Wilkins, of Fort Bragg, N.C. "The National Guard Bureau leaned on her expertise. She is a very serious, determined professional and it does not surprise me one bit that she is a CW4."

Now residing in Youngsville, N.C., Bohannon works with multi million dollar budgets as a resource manager in recruiting command, and was nationally recognized as a subject matter expert in the field.

"She always maintained a tremendous dedication and very serious approach to her duties; staying within the fiscal guidelines for responsible and ethical disbursement of funds," Wilkins said.

Deployments gave Bohannon more interaction with Soldiers. Her eyes lit up as she spoke of her mother sending a sock monkey dressed in combat gear during her first deployment with the brigade in 2004. The six inch figure was the mascot of the personnel section; becoming a guardian for Soldiers as they traveled on missions.

"My mother sent me a sock monkey on my last deployment because my brother and I used to fight over it when we were kids," said Bohannon. "It became our mascot; going out with our Soldiers on missions. It's been all over Iraq. I gave it to them with one condition; they personally had to bring it back."

The mascot was one way Bohannon connected with the Soldiers during the last tour, on this deployment her connection has developed into a personal mission of solving problems.

"Speaking from a personnel point of view, it's a very rewarding thing to be able to take care of Soldiers in a combat zone," said Bohannon. "There are different challenges in combat; being able to fix problems and dispute those challenges is my reward.

"Being a warrant officer and taking care of Soldiers has probably been the best part of my career," she said.

The astute professional sends a message to aspiring Soldiers following in her footsteps, "Just keep trying, keeping your sites focused on your goals," said Bohannon. "Yes, there will always be walls to climb over but as long as you stay focused you can do whatever you want to do."

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