Photo By Sgt. Mariah Best | Lt. Gen. Flora Darpino, the judge advocate general of the U.S. Army, speaks to...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Lt. Gen. Flora Darpino, judge advocate general of the U.S. Army, has never accepted failure, and as the first female to hold the TJAG position, she has never let gender stand in the way of her goals.
Darpino was recently at Kandahar Airfield, March 16, 2014, for a routine inspection of the Judge Advocate General Corps staff currently stationed in Regional Command (South).
Darpino’s visit covered a variety of topics and gave her the chance to discuss future changes that will be implemented in the JAG Corps.
“I was very pleased to discover that the judge advocates in RC(S) and that the paralegals that work with them are all working together to make the best legal solutions and tackle legal issues for the command,” Darpino said.
During her visit, Darpino took some time to reflect on her Army career and her accomplishments as a female soldier, as RC(S) celebrates Women’s History Month.
“When I first came in, women were just starting to be integrated within the officer ranks,” Darpino said. “As my age group has worked our way up over time, we have had to demonstrate what the [chief of staff] talks about now when we talk about gender integration across the Army and the combat arms branches.”
Darpino began her role as TJAG Sept. 4, 2013, and knows that it is because of her skills and hard work that got her the position.
“What’s important in any position is that you have the best and most confident solider,” Darpino said. “Gender doesn’t matter, sexual orientation doesn’t matter. You want the best and most proficient solider in that slot.”
Knowing that confidence and proficiency play the biggest role in her Army career, Darpino always gives her all when it comes to any task she is given.
“I always worked very hard to be the very best I could be at anything,” Darpino said. “I never gave myself permission to give less than 100 percent.”
Darpino prides herself on her hard work and accomplishments and knows that those accomplishments were sometimes achieved by taking jobs no one else wanted.
“I have said to myself, if there was a challenge out there and if I don’t try it, then I have failed,” Darpino said. “I haven’t tried it so I have automatically accepted failure. If I try it and I give it my very best and I am not successful, it isn’t because I gave up on myself.”
Failure is not defined as not succeeding to Darpino; failure is “not trying.”
“I didn’t always succeed but I never just accept failure,” she added.
Capt. Vanessa Strobbe, brigade judge advocate, 82nd Sustainment Brigade, realizes that Darpino’s success as a woman in the Army is nothing short of inspirational.
“She has kept up with men in a way that earned her credibility not only as a lawyer but as an adviser,” Strobbe, said. “When you are in this profession that is 90 percent male, for a man, with a lot of rank on his chest and a lot of experience, to look to his left and ask a women, ‘should we do this,’ and for her to have gained the credibility over twenty some odd years and her answer be listened to, has been a really inspiring thing.”
“It’s inspiring for not only female judge advocates to see but for any female trying to climb the ranks in our service,” she added.
For many young soldiers, Darpino is a role model of what a successful Army career could look like, especially to those in the JAG Corps.
“Hearing about her career progression and her experiences is inspirational and useful,” Capt. Jihan Walker, Trial Defense Service Kandahar, senior defense council for RC(S) and (SW), said.
Walker said seeing Darpino walk a successful path helps give her some insight into similar things she can accomplish in her own career.
“What I think is helpful is seeing what other people do. She’s got a keen intellect and a way of relating to people that I admire,” Walker said. “She certainly is a role model.”
Strobbe realizes that being in the JAG profession takes a lot of integrity, which is not always easy.
“Sometimes as a judge advocate, your job is to be the one person at the table who can say no,” Strobbe said. “For a female to have to be maybe the only [female] at that table and also be the only one saying no to protect someone, takes a lot of courage.”
Making the hard choices and doing the right thing is what Darpino says earned her credibility.
“If I was the best qualified, I got the job I just had to make sure I was the best qualified,” Darpino said. “That is the part I can control.”
“I have always found that the Army has always given me the opportunity. I have never felt that my gender was ever a factor in not getting me the jobs I deserved,” she added. “I think the Army is a great place for someone to succeed; regardless of gender, if they are willing to accept the challenge.”
As Darpino continues to serve for at least four more years during her term as TJAG she remains dedicated to the Army.
“You realize once you are a part of this organization, just what a great organization it is and that the people that are a part of the Army, are true professionals and that selfless service is why they remain,” Darpino said.
For Darpino, working with people who embody the Army values is her motivation to continue to serve.
“When you’re surrounded by people like that, you’re inspired to continue to serve,” Darpino said. “You fall in love with the organization and you fall in love with the people you serve with who are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for the American people.”
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2014 06:11 |
| Story ID: | 122279 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 733 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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