Photo By Cpl. Tyler Brock | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christina Vega, a military police officer assigned to 127th...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo.-- When Sgt. 1st Class Christina Vega first joined the U.S. Army, she said sexual harassment was one of the biggest challenges she faced.
The first incident happened shortly after she enlisted.
“When I went to Korea for my first deployment, my first team leader gave me my initial counseling,” she said. “He asked me if I was married, if I had kids and if I was in a relationship. I thought he was asking to get to know me more, but afterward, he said I would probably leave here pregnant or married.”
When Vega got out of the counseling session, she asked a male battle buddy stationed in Korea if their team leader had asked him any similar questions.
“He didn’t say anything like that to him,” Vega said. “He was just like, ‘Hey, welcome to the team. Enjoy your time here. If you have any questions, come see me.’ That’s not the counseling I received.”
Vega, a military police officer assigned to the 127th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado, said this kind of leadership inspired her to turn gender discrimination into a driving force of positivity, making her the woman and leader she is today.
Vega grew up in Long Branch, New Jersey, with a struggling family and separated parents. These challenges never stopped her from graduating from Sanford Brown Medical Assistance School. During this time, she also completed an internship at a medical officer’s office.
“I always wanted to be a cop growing up,” Vega said. “When 9/11 happened, my goals changed and I wanted to join the military.”
When Vega found out she could be a military police officer, she immediately knew it was the route she wanted to take. Vega said she knew she wanted to fight for her country at all costs and, thanks to her very supportive parents, could do what she had set out to do.
“My family didn’t want me to go to war,” Vega said. “They knew this was what I wanted to do and what I was passionate about, so they supported me.”
Vega enlisted into the U.S. Army and started on her journey towards military justice in February 2010. Unfortunately, joining such a largely male-dominated organization had its negative aspects, and she experienced the unfair prejudice of gender discrimination on multiple occasions.
After the first incident in Korea with her team leader, Vega said she was furious yet very cautious of everything she did after that.
“I was scared because I thought that was the picture my peers had painted of me,” Vega said. “If we went out somewhere as friends, I thought my peers would think they could pursue me in some type of way.”
Vega said it was after her experience with gender discrimination that she realized the importance of the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Program.
“Once I realized the importance of the program and how I could make a difference, I knew I wanted to be a SHARP representative,” she said.
Although becoming a SHARP representative was a rewarding accomplishment, Vega said her greatest achievement was becoming a drill sergeant.
When Vega first got to the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy, she said it was a struggle trying to prove herself. Her peers didn’t believe she had what it took to train the way they could. Nonetheless, she persevered and became a female infantry drill sergeant as a military police officer.
“Receiving that badge was the greatest and highest point in my career so far,” Vega said. “It was rewarding because I went as one of the first females to be an infantry drill sergeant.”
Vega said one woman, in particular, inspired her to continue pushing herself to succeed in the face of adversity.
“My mother has been a huge part of my life because she is the definition of resilience,” Vega said. “She’s been through a lot and has been to places that none of us would ever want to be, but she has overcome them and came a long way.”
Many people have acknowledged the outstanding Soldier and leader Vega is, including her close friend, Sgt. 1st Class Miriam Reyes, a combat medic assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
“She has a great sense of purpose,” Reyes said. “She is an outstanding NCO who cares a lot for her Soldiers. She teaches and mentors them to be the best Soldiers they can be.”
Now, Vega said her main goal is becoming a first sergeant of the trail. She said her past experiences when she was on the trail inspired her to be there for the Soldiers she would be guiding.
“When I was on the trail I had a first sergeant who didn’t really understand or care about his Soldiers,” said Vega. “It affected the camaraderie throughout the rest of my time on the trail. That was not the leader I wanted to be. I wanted to make sure none of my battle buddies at the time or any of my Soldiers who ever fell under my command would feel the way I did.”
Vega said she is looking forward to impacting lives and shaping Soldiers moving forward in her career.
“It does make me feel good knowing I am making a difference. I want Soldiers to know I’m there for them for anything,” Vega said. “It doesn’t have to be work related– it could be personal. I’m hoping I can positively impact lives until the day I retire.”
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| Date Taken: | 03.04.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2022 16:03 |
| Story ID: | 415824 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON , CO, US |
| Web Views: | 344 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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