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By Pfc. Howard Ketter
20th Public Affairs Detachment
Highly motivated, intelligent and hard working are all adjectives to describe one platoon leader.
First Lt. Chiara F. Turcato, 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, has dedicated herself to service members in more than one way.
She is not only a leader of Soldiers in her unit, she also teaches them in the classroom.
Turcato has been an Italian 101 instructor for the University of Maryland University College since the summer.
"I like teaching because I just love to explain things and make people interested in them," said Turcato.
She got the position as a teacher in the beginning of her deployment with 2-43 ADA, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
"I just went in the education center to use a computer and I was talking to the staff about my last name being Italian," said Turcato. "Next thing I knew I was turning in a packet with my transcripts and UMUC hired me that summer."
Turcato was highly qualified for the job; being a former non-commissioned officer and instructor, she is no stranger to teaching or leading Soldiers.
Turcato, originally from Jesolo, Italy, attended college at the University of Ferrara in Italy before joining the U.S. Army as a specialist, in early 2001.
"I wanted to join the military because my grandfather always talked about how great the U.S. Soldiers were, he helped them in World War II," said Turcato. "Plus, at the time, my country didn't let women join the military."
According to Turcato, because of the strict school system in Italy, the disciplinary part of basic training was easy; it was learning English that was the real challenge.
When she arrived at her first unit, Headquarters Support Command, South European Task Force, she was put in charge of Soldiers as a corporal. She worked her way up to sergeant and finally staff sergeant in 2005.
"I absolutely loved being an NCO, I honestly don't think I've fully transitioned yet," said Turcato, jokingly. "I want to use the skills and leadership tactics I learned as an NCO in the officer ranks."
Turcato attended Officer Candidate School in 2007 at Fort Benning, Ga.
"It was tough, but I was fine because I was there with other former NCOs, and we knew we could handle it," said Turcato.
| Date Taken: | 12.31.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2008 10:12 |
| Story ID: | 28319 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 241 |
| Downloads: | 153 |
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