Photo By Sgt. Brandy Mort | Lt. Col. Tim Culver with the 138th Fires Brigade and his wife Cindy Culver, dance...... read more read more
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BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY – Feb. 14 is a day for sweethearts, and this Valentine’s Day was no exception. For attendees of the first-ever Sweetheart Ball, hosted by Officer Candidate School’s Class 57-15, the evening was fun and flirty.
But for one officer candidate in particular, it was an evening to sit back and enjoy a mission accomplished.
“Being thrown into the planning of the Sweetheart Ball was the most practical hands on training I could ask for as an aspiring future officer,” said Steinmetz. “This has been an incredible opportunity to develop and utilize such essential leader skills as communication, backward planning and time management, coordination of logistics and resourcing of supplies, problem solving and delegation.”
According to Steinmetz, it is a tradition for each class of officer candidates to plan and attend a dining-in event. It gives the candidates the opportunity to plan a formal military event, and network when the plan comes to fruition.
“Assisting with the organizational efforts of planning the Sweetheart Ball taught me that something this detailed cannot be accomplished alone,” she said. “When I need help with something, all I have to do is ask, because there are always fellow Soldiers ready and willing to lend a hand.”
Steinmetz said she was humbled to listen to the advice of other officers, including retired Maj. Gen. Steve Collins, who told candidates before the dinner that being an officer is more than just an assignment.
"I encourage you to have persistent service," Collins told Steinmetz and her fellow candidates. "It's more than just an assignment. It's more than a couple years. Being a Soldier is for the long haul. Future Soldiers are the ones that will push us forward."
Steinmetz said the words couldn’t have been truer.
“An officer candidate must be persistent in all things,” she said, “from attention to detail in uniforms and locker displays, to maintaining academic and physical standards.”
But ultimately, the evening wasn’t about the academics or the standards, per se. It was about the fellowship of Kentucky Guardsmen and their dates, who enjoyed Steinmetz’s efforts. The guest of honor for the ball was Kentucky Department of Veteran’s Affairs Commissioner, and former Miss America, Heather French Henry.
As a female Soldier, Steinmetz said she was grateful that there are others like Henry who take the time to care, and who take action when action needs to be taken, especially in support of minority groups; whether it be a minority of gender, religion, race or otherwise.
“Females are statistically considered a minority in the military,” said Steinmetz. “However, every Soldier is significant and we would be mistaken to allow the voice of the female Soldier go unheard.”
| Date Taken: | 02.14.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2015 15:39 |
| Story ID: | 165133 |
| Location: | BOWLING GREEN, KY, US |
| Web Views: | 39 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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