Photo By Maj. William Leasure | OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – First Sgt. Felicia O’Rea, Headquarters and...... read more read more
During a speech in Washington, D.C., March 2, the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama encouraged female veterans to tell their stories. “All of you learned how to build a team and lead others under pressure, and complete any mission in front of you no matter what it takes,” she said. “See, that's why it's important that you tell your own stories. Our girls, our daughters and granddaughters, need to hear them,” Obama said. This article is part of a five-part series highlighting female veterans serving with the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, a Patriot Missile unit tasked to defend the skies over South Korea. Their stories are unique and empowering, a testament to the strength and diversity Army women bring to the profession of arms. Editor's Note.
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – Words like motivation, inspiration, dedication and selfless service may seem cliché to many when describing U.S. Army Soldiers but when it comes to 1st Sgt. Felicia O’Rea, it embodies who she is – really.
O’Rea is the first sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment based out of Camp Carroll, South Korea. As a first sergeant in the U.S. Army, she is responsible for the training, development and welfare of the Soldiers in her unit. This is a 24-hour a day, 365-day a year job and she loves every second of it.
“When I found out I was on the promotion list for master sergeant, my command asked if I wanted a first sergeant position,” O’Rea said. “I was like ‘Yeah!’ and jumped at the opportunity to do exactly what I came back in the Army to do - train, teach, lead and mentor Soldiers.”
O’Rea began her military career in the late nineteen eighties and after only a few years wasn’t sure if that was the life she wanted. She left the Army and tried to return to a quiet, normal civilian life.
“I had a really good job at a mortgage company and had my first son, but the Army kept calling me,” O’Rea said. “I felt a passion to return to the Army. I wanted to train Soldiers and once I came back in, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.”
Having a passion for leading Soldiers wasn’t her only way of showing selfless service. The Texas-born O’Rea also heard the calling to fight for her country.
“While still a civilian I saw our country experience the Gulf War and it made me realize I wanted to be part of the fight,” she said. “That was when I realized civilian life wasn’t in my future. I didn’t want to sit at home and watch things happen on TV, I wanted to be the one doing it.”
Shortly after returning to active duty, O’Rea was deployed to Cuba on a U.S. humanitarian mission during the immigration exodus and her leaders from that unit confirmed she made the right decision.
“When I went to Cuba in 1994, I had a really good first sergeant and sergeant major. That was when I realized I wanted to be like them and be a positive influence in the lives of Soldiers,” O’Rea said. “Their leadership also refueled my passion.”
To this day she still has a drive and passion even though there have been some heartaches and sacrifices.
With four children, O’Rea admits balancing motherhood and Army life hasn’t always been easy.
“My older kids really used to associate themselves with me being in the Army. They were proud of that fact,” she said. “My youngest just turned nine and when she was younger and I left for deployment she didn’t mind too much. Now, she just tells me she wants me home.”
Being a Soldier means O’Rea has had to view her children’s lives through other’s eyes.
“My youngest daughter is very active and involved in many activities. When I see my Family care provider which is my sister, doing all these things with my daughter, it does get tough. It can be difficult,” O’Rea said. “But my kids have been a big driving force for me in my Army career.”
After nearly 24 years of service to her country, the scales are now tilting in a different direction.
“It’s time for me to prepare for retirement. Some folks sort of slow down when they know they are nearing retirement but not me. I’m not that kind of person,” she said.
O’Rea plans to finish her college education but feels another higher calling much like the Army calling her back to serve.
“I feel like I am being called to open up a 24-hour daycare geared toward the military. I want to open up a center for those Soldiers who don’t have anywhere else to take their children when they’re preparing for a deployment or training,” she said. “I want to help ease their minds by caring for their kids and be that safe place so the Soldiers can focus on fighting and winning the war. When their kids are ok then they can focus on their mission.”
O’Rea said her grandmother’s emphasis on prayer and treating people the way she wanted to be treated has helped guide her throughout her life as a Soldier, mother and woman.
“Family comes first, she would say to me,” said O’Rea. “I realized that more than ever when during a deployment to Mosul, Iraq, when a live round of some kind came through the barracks I was walking through. I mean it was only a couple of feet away as I climbed the stairs. The round went straight while I was going up.”
Even the possibility of being wounded or stuck inside a collapsed building half way around the world didn’t deter this motivated “lean, mean, fighting machine.”
“I have never had any regrets about joining the Army. I have had a couple of close calls like that time in Mosul,” O’Rea said.
Her grandmother’s word played in her mind.
“It made me think about my children and what would they do if I died tonight. I don’t know how other people process difficult times but it made me think I need to be better – a better person, a better Soldier, a better leader, a better Christian, a better mother,” she said. “I just try to have the most positive attitude.”
O’Rea has seen young women in the Army who don’t have the same drive she has always possessed.
“I tell my young female Soldiers to take advantage of education opportunities while they are in the Army even if you aren’t sure about staying. I also stress to them to have self-respect,” she said. “Be confident, share knowledge, and above everything else, be there for someone when they are in need.”
O’Rea has been there for her Family, her children and beyond all of that, she has been there for her country.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2016 21:10 |
| Story ID: | 198838 |
| Location: | OSAN AIR BASE, KR |
| Hometown: | AUSTIN, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Felicia O'Rea; A Mother, a Mentor, a Soldier for Life, by SSG Kelly Carlton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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