Photo By Kurt Rauschenberg | Col. Julie M. Minde take command of the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence...... read more read more
TOWSON, Md. — It’s been said that “with great power comes great responsibility.” For Army Col. Julie M. Minde, commander of the Maryland Army National Guard’s 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade, taking on the challenges of her current duty position is one of great importance.
“I’m entrusted with this valuable organization, its important mission and its priceless people,” said Minde. “It is a great responsibility and a great honor.”
Minde, who has almost 30 years of service, took command of the brigade in August – the first woman to lead the brigade.
The distinction of being the first female commander of the brigade, said Minde, does bring some added pressure.
“When someone is the first of anything – first of a minority, first in the family, or so on – they generally don’t want to, somehow, let anyone down,” she said.
Throughout her military career, Minde has served in a variety of military intelligence, civil affairs, and information operations units. She’s served with the Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Maryland Army National Guard, which has included several overseas assignments in the Balkans region in Southeast Europe.
It was the Soldiers she served with who made it possible for her to take on her current position, she said, adding they inspired others to be better, grow and develop themselves as leaders. The most inspirational part, was that many took the time, even a few simple minutes, to talk her through certain problems and resolve them together while learning from the experience.
“My gratitude goes to them, both for helping me then, and for helping me help others now, Minde said.”
That push to learn and grow also meant earning advanced degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in Russian studies, master’s degrees in Russian language, geographic sciences, and conflict analysis. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in conflict analysis and resolution.
Without the military, earning those degrees may not have happened.
“I would not have been able to achieve a college degree otherwise, at least not until likely much later on, Minde said. “For that alone, I am grateful.”
The military has also given her a number of other educational experiences.
“I have gained so much more from my time in the Army than the college degree itself....military education, leadership training, incredible experiences I would never have had otherwise, and opportunities to work with so many great people,” she said.
Her tenure as brigade commander also represents the greater roles of women in the military, which ties into March’s designation of Women’s History Month.
“I feel Women's History Month allows a valuable opportunity to better understand where we are in terms of women in the military,” Minde said, adding she finds value in hearing stories of other women who have served.
“I find it both helpful and important to see various perspectives and stories of women who’ve served or are serving, both in terms of how they portray themselves, as well as how they are portrayed by others, she said.”
Women make up about 14 percent of those serving in the 58th EMIB and about 17 percent of the Soldiers in the Maryland Army Guard as a whole. To the women in those ranks, Minde said “thank you.”
“Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifices,” she said. “Thank you for the lessons you have taught me. Thank you for the lessons you have learned with me. For those of you who are younger, a specific thank you in advance.”
Those younger Soldiers, Minde said, may face many new challenges she never saw.
“I think you will face challenges that none of us have experienced, or perhaps even imagined,” she said, adding she has confidence those challenges will be overcome.
“I have worked with you long enough now to have the confidence that you will persevere and succeed, together with your brothers-in-arms,” she said. “But, be ready.”
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2018 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 271136 |
| Location: | TOWSON, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 553 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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