Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Vann | Army Spc. Kelly Rojas, pulls herself up in the rope climb event during the obstacle...... read more read more
Subscribe
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba -- Spcs. Patricia Williams and Kelly Rojas, two Soldiers with Joint Task Force Guantanamo, recently completed leadership training in the JTF’s Marine’s Corporals Course July 25.
This is the second ever course that was open to all branches conducted at GTMO and the first featuring female participants. They showed that they were more than ready to continue on their path to leadership.
“It was a great feeling to go out there and complete a Marine training course as a Soldier,” said Williams, a driver with the Joint Visitors Bureau, who was pleased with the training she received in the course. “It’s rare that we have the chance at inter-service training like this.”
When asked if it would be a challenge, being the only two females in a male-dominated course and if they would have any issues with some of the tasks, Williams quickly put that notion to rest.
“No, just like in boot camp we all have to do the same thing, the same training,” said Williams. “Everyone has their strong points and weak points, and we came together as a team and as leaders.”
Marine Staff Sgt. Daryl Walker, an noncommissioned officer with J2 and noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the leadership course, showed no preferential treatment and maintained the Marine standard. “As a Marine, there is no difference in males and females. The training is all the same.”
Everyone in the class had their own personal challenges they had to overcome, both males and females. “Mine was speaking in front of groups and projecting my voice,” said Rojas, a JTF postal clerk. “By the end of the course I had my projecting voice down pat. I could hold a concert without microphones.”
“It’s my duty as a leader to provide them with the tools to face such challenges,” said Walker. “Not once did I hold back on the training just because they are females. I did not let them or anyone else take the easy way out.”
The instructors are very seasoned in their jobs of teaching young Warriors how to be future leaders and NCOs,” said Rojas. “They immediately recognized everyone’s weaknesses and focused on those to have us face those weaknesses with all we have.”
During the two-week course, both Williams and Rojas took on leadership roles and had to step up in front of their peers and take charge. They wanted to show that they are equal to their male counterparts in a military where leaders are not defined by race, gender or ethnicity, but by actions and actions alone.
Both Soldiers as well as the rest of their class proved that to be a fact. One Team, One Fight!
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2014 08:43 |
| Story ID: | 137990 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 136 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Nothing girly about it! Two female Soldiers show they can hang with the guys, by SSG Christopher Vann, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT