CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Sisters in Arms, a program exclusively for female service members, will hold its initial Camp Arifjan meeting at the Zone 1 Chapel on Sept. 20.
Third Army/ARCENT will also hold the first “Sisters in Arms” at Shaw Air Force Base in mid-October, in the hopes of spreading the program service-wide, said Sgt. Maj. Lydia Fortier, G-8 for Third Army/ARCENT.
The idea for the program came from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Camp Buehring. Third Army/ARCENT leaders liked how the program was geared toward educating, training, mentoring and empowering female soldiers to become future leaders.
“We are going to bring the guidance and format of the program done in Camp Buehring and bring it over to ARCENT,” said Fortier, a Saginaw, Mich., native. “We will have a meeting once a month with the goal of trying to help them try to find solutions to obstacles in their military and personal lives.”
The senior panel, which consists of female master sergeants, sergeants major, lieutenant colonels, colonels and chief warrant officers 4 and 5, will guide the monthly meetings.
“As the senior panel, we are there to answer their questions, give them recommendations and attempt to provide solutions because we’ve all been there,” said Fortier. “We’ve all grown up in the Army; some of us single mothers, some of us have been through divorce and some of us have had to deal with the feeling of being a second-class soldier because we are females.”
For Fortier, who is a single mother of three children, her personal connection toward the program lies in the support she felt from leadership.
“Our leaders took care of us, so in turn we want to make sure that the younger females in the Army know that we are there for them and will care for them,” said Fortier. “Some of us have volunteered to give them our cell phone numbers and emails, so if they ever need someone to talk to one of the senior female leaders will be there to talk with them.”
“I think the program is a great idea, especially for younger soldiers in age and in service,” Spc. Reina Dandar, executive administrative assistant for 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and Spartansburg, Pa., native. “I think it would be great if the concept spread throughout the military.”
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2012 10:30 |
| Story ID: | 94884 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 791 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ‘Sisters in Arms’ program starts Sept. 20, by SGT Alexander Neely, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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