US Army Europe's CSM talks women's equality in Hohenfels

Photo By Sgt. Alicia Brocuglio | U.S. Army Europe's Command Sgt. Maj. Sheryl D. Lyon answers questions to a group of female Soldiers at Joint Multinational Readiness Center's Warrior Dining Facililty at Hohenfels Training Area, Aug. 5. The professional discussion was part of Lyon's participation in celebration of Women's Equality Day at Hohenfels. The Soldiers discussed such topics as women's role in the army and women in combat arms. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Alicia Brocuglio 130th Public Affairs Detachment, Connecticut Army National Guard)  

HOHENFELS, GERMANY

08.05.2015

Story by Sgt. Alicia Brocuglio 

130th Public Affairs Detachment

HOHENFELS, Germany - Command Sgt. Maj. Sheryl D. Lyon, command sergeant major of U.S. Army Europe, visited the Joint Multinational Readiness Center here, Aug. 5, in celebration of Women's Equality Day, which is recognized in the United States Aug. 26.

Lyon was invited attend the Women's Equality Day events at Hohenfels, not only because of her title and position, but because of its historical precedent; she is the first female command sergeant major of U.S. Army Europe.

As her first activity with the Soldiers at Hohenfels, she participated in an early morning soccer game with dozens of JMRC Soldiers, including Col. Thomas Mackey and Command Sgt. Maj. Nicholas A. Rolling, commander and command sergeant major of JMRC, respectively. She addressed the group and emphasized her appreciation for JMRC and the work being done here.

Following the soccer game, female Soldiers of Hohenfels were invited to join Lyon in a professional discussion. In recognition of Women's Equality, Lyon and attendees held a question and answer session relating to women's roles in today's Army, including women in combat arms units.

The informal discussion allowed female Soldiers to be more candid and ask their questions to the most senior noncommissioned officer in U.S. Army Europe. She was able to relate to the room of women that are in predominately male units.

"I am used to being the only woman on all-male teams. I could do that because I trained with them on a day-in-day-out basis. We gained that level of trust. I knew what their capabilities were, they knew what mine were, we [female Soldiers] can be physically fit all day long but we have to be mentally tough," said Lyon.

Lyon also talked about how women can react and continue to be successful while mindsets change with new roles for women in combat arms.

"At the end of the day you have to be good at whatever your job is, you have to do the best that you can do in all areas as a Solider," said Lyon.

Lyon reiterated the importance of female leaders continuing forward with their military careers, "If you take nothing else out of this, it is opportunities and reaching out and grabbing them."

Lyon said the hardest barrier she has faced as a female NCO was people telling her she could not do something, simply because she is a woman.

"I am not in this position because I am woman, I am here because I am good at what I do," said Lyon.

Sgt. Alexandra Hullett, a combat documentation production specialist assigned to JMRC and from Miami, Florida, participated in the discussion.

"Personally, I got to see a lot of female Soldiers that are at JMRC. I do not get to work with a lot of female Soldiers, so it was nice to meet others and know that I am not alone," said Hullett.

Lyon's experience resonated with Hullett as a junior NCO.

"I think having a female sergeant major helps motivate myself and as a leader of other Soldiers, so that they can feel they can become the best people they can be. I feel hearing her experience is going to help all the other women here empower themselves."

As a VIP guest at Hohenfels, Lyon was also invited to be the guest speaker at the Women's Equality Day event at the post theater, where she spoke to Soldiers and gave a presentation on the relevance of women's equality and how it has evolved in the military. Her visit to JMRC also included discussions with senior enlisted Soldiers and a tour of the Observer-Coach Trainer facilities.

JMRC's mission of training for multinational interoperability helps to highlight the United States Army's continuing expansion of the roles in which female Soldiers are able to participate.

"We are being given opportunities that we were not given twenty years ago. That is the bottom line. It is a question of whether we want to capitalize on those opportunities or not," Lyon said.

• Date Taken: 08.05.2015
• Date Posted: 08.07.2015 11:03
• Story ID: 172461
• Location: HOHENFELS, DE