Photo By Sgt. Cody Quinn | A Soldier with 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Female Soldiers from across 7th Infantry Division sweated, learned and bonded during a Sisters in Arms confidence course event on Lewis North, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Sept. 19.
The event was designed to create bonds and foster mentorship opportunities for female Soldiers, who make up approximately 15 percent of the Army population.
“We’re doing a lot of obstacles, a lot of things to do with heights, which scares the heck out of me, but it’s fun,” said Pfc. Elyssa Broumas, a soldier with 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th ID, JBLM.
“The first one we did I was terrified. I was shaking like crazy. I couldn’t even move, but my team motivated me. They kept me moving,” said Broumas.
Ten teams consisting of over 50 female Soldiers, ranging from private to sergeant, participated in the Sisters in Arms event.
“Sisters in Arms is a program designed to help female soldiers find mentors and build bonds to help them develop as Soldiers and leaders,” said Maj. Kate Liesemer, brigade surgeon and Sisters in Arms representative for 2-2 SBCT. “It allows us to get together and do something fun where you are challenged, and through that challenge you get to know your peers better and find people who can stay with you through your career.”
“We’ve had a pretty darn good turnout,” she said.
Infantry Soldiers from 2-2 SBCT provided medical and safety support throughout the confidence course.
“I really like the support from the infantry unit out here. They’re out here to help us be safe during these events,” said 1st Sgt. Kimberly Costello of C Company 14th BEB. “Their encouragement and letting female Soldiers know we’re part of a team is a really positive thing.”
“Getting out here and proving to ourselves that we can do the same thing is really awesome,” she said.
The confidence course was part of Sisters in Arms ongoing effort to provide an avenue for female Soldiers to grow their Army career.
“The activities planned for this quarter are outdoorsy. We’re doing something fun and different,” said Liesemer.
Other activities include a sponsored 5k walk/run and panels featuring women with inspiring careers, said Liesemer.
“This event is different because in the past there’s been more discussions or some sort of panel,” said Costello. “I’ve heard many Soldiers say we should do this type of event where we come out here and do something together. It’s been a really positive experience.”
“Events like this give female soldiers an opportunity to bond and find peers to help them,” said Liesemer.
The Army stresses the importance of loyalty and teamwork, and Sisters in Arms is one method to improve on the teamwork the Army is known for.
“My sister has been in the Army for 15 years and she talked a lot about the camaraderie. That’s why I’m in: you don’t really find that in civilian life,” said Broumas. “It keeps the bonds close. It kind of helps us to remember why we’re in the Army in the first place.”
The event also demonstrates the Army’s shift in attitude to a more modern mindset.
“There was a lot of ‘She’s a female, she can’t really do that and I have to pull her weight and pick up her slack.’ The Army has gone away from that and is pushing to be equal,” said Costello.
“We’re working on a culture change where we’re all professional soldiers and we’re doing a job. You have to respect the person, their rank and what they do for an institution,” said Liesemer.
“I feel like we have to stay together and realize we’re a force within, and we fight together,” said Broumas.
With the first female Soldiers scheduled to complete the Army’s Ranger school in 2015, the gender line limiting what a Soldier can do is rapidly disappearing.
“We are Soldiers. Not female Soldiers or male soldiers. We are all Soldiers,” said Costello.
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2014 19:34 |
| Story ID: | 142792 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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