Photo By Sgt. Colton Huston | Capt. Cynthia Ammerman poses for a photo during the U.S. Army's 250th birthday...... read more read more
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Capt. Cynthia Ammerman grew up on farmland in rural Missouri, just south of Kansas City. Her family’s roots in the area go back generations. While her grandfathers and other relatives served in the military, she is the first woman in her family to do so—and the first officer.
In August 2024, she took the oath to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Heritage and Preservation Officer (38G), assigned to the 350th Civil Affairs Command under the Army’s Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne). Although she had already built a successful civilian career, Ammerman was looking for a new challenge—something that would allow her to grow and give back in a new way.
For most of her adult life, Ammerman has worked as a consultant in real estate and historic preservation. She also co-founded the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra and the Latin Jazz Institute. Since 2018, she’s helped organize more than 600 musical events, including cultural exchange programs in Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Italy. She also played a major role in helping Kansas City earn the title of UNESCO City of Music.
“I’ve always been interested in history and the arts,” she says. “I’ve tried to take on projects that have meaning and connect people to our shared culture.”
Ammerman’s love for jazz began at a young age. She grew up listening to the classics on the radio and watching movies with jazz soundtracks. As a classically trained pianist, she found jazz both challenging and rewarding. It spoke to her as a true reflection of the American experience—complex, emotional, and ever-changing.
During the pandemic, Ammerman spent time living and working in Nevada and California. Like many people, she took time to reflect on her life. That’s when she discovered the Army’s renewed effort to protect cultural heritage through its partnership with the Smithsonian and its Monuments Officer program—an updated version of the World War II-era Monuments Men.
She had first read about the Monuments Men as a 12-year-old in the book The Good War by Studs Terkel. The idea of serving her country by protecting culture and history had stayed with her. Now, with years of experience under her belt, she realized she had the skills to contribute in a real way.
“I had done a lot as a civilian,” she says. “But I hadn’t been truly challenged in a while. The Army gave me a chance to grow and serve in a whole new way.”
In her role, she helps support the unit’s command historian and government specialists in planning cultural and heritage training for fellow soldiers.
Ammerman has always believed in giving back. As a teenager, she was active in Future Farmers of America, an organization that teaches leadership and community service. After her mother passed away during her freshman year of high school, FFA gave her a much-needed sense of direction and stability.
“FFA taught me how to speak in public, lead meetings, and work with others,” she says. “Those lessons have helped me in every part of my life—and definitely in the military.”
Though she is Catholic, Ammerman has spent many years studying Judaism and Jewish history. Her interest began in sixth grade after hearing a Holocaust survivor speak at her school. Later, while traveling in Europe to visit places like Auschwitz and Terezin, she saw versions of her own last name on memorial walls, which made her wonder about her family's deeper roots.
She eventually earned a master’s degree focused on the history of Jewish neighborhoods in Kansas City. Her research combined personal interest, historical study, and community storytelling. Today, she also serves as a cantor and musician for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Missouri.
Whether she’s promotion jazz, preserving historic buildings, or wearing the Army uniform, Cynthia Ammerman has spent her life working to honor history and bring people together. Joining the Army Reserve was a natural next step—a way to keep serving her community and country in a hands-on, meaningful way.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of something bigger than myself,” she says. “This is my way of doing that—by protecting the things that tell our story as a people.”
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2025 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 506692 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 4 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Army Reserve captain brings a lifetime of service and culture to the force, by Russell Toof, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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