Photo By 1st Sgt. Jessica Barnett | Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rosanna Morrow, Topeka, budget officer for the United States...... read more read more
TOPEKA, Kan. - Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rosanna Morrow, Topeka, Kan., budget officer for the United States Property and Fiscal Office, Kansas Adjutant General’s Department, retired March 14, 2012, after serving the National Guard for more than 36 years. In that time, she served in the Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas National Guard in fields ranging from supply to recruiting and retention.
Morrow was joined by her friends, family and comrades at a ceremony in Nickell Armory in Topeka, where she received the Legion of Merit Medal presented by Brig. Gen. Eric Peck, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard.
“This is one of those bittersweet moments,” said Peck. “She has made great accomplishments and great contributions during her service.”
Presentations of awards were also made by Col. Terry Fritz, head of the United States Property and Fiscal Office, Kansas Adjutant General’s Department, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Hector Vasquez, command chief warrant officer, on behalf of the Kansas National Guard Warrant Officer Corps.
“I never had to worry about budget, because Rosanna was always there,”said Fritz. “Everything was always correct. Everything was always done. I imagine there are a few program managers out there that are a little nervous about this day, too. Not everyone out there knows it, but I know it. Rosanna kind of took care of you guys. She made it look easy.”
Representatives of the 235th Training Regiment presented Morrow with a case containing their colors and insignia, saying she will always be a part of the unit. Morrow was promoted to chief warrant officer 5 in 2006 while serving as the military personnel technician for the Kansas Army National Guard director of personnel. She is the first female soldier to attain the rank and only the third soldier to rise that high in the warrant officer corps in the state.
In 1975, Morrow became the fifth female to enlist in the Oklahoma National Guard.
“I needed a part-time job, and didn’t really expect anything of it,” she said.
When she joined, only 4.6 percent of the Army was comprised of women, compared to the 23 percent that serve today.
“There were very few military occupational specialties women could do at the time,” said Morrow. Morrow worked her way up the ranks until 1978 when she transferred to the Texas Army National Guard as a staff sergeant.
“I met every gate, passed my physical fitness test and did everything required of me,” said Morrow.
Her hard work and dedication paid off when, in 1980, she was promoted to sergeant first class and selected as a battalion supply sergeant. During her time with the Texas National Guard she earned several service and achievement awards for efforts supporting local communities and unit functions.
Morrow moved to Kansas in 1990 and was selected to attend warrant officer candidate school, where she was one of three females in her class. She graduated in 1991with leadership and academic honors from a program that had a 52 percent dropout rate. One of Morrow’s most memorable moments with the National Guard was receiving the Distinguished Honor Graduate award for her class.
After graduation, she was assigned to the Kansas Military Academy as a military personnel technician. It was for her duties there and at Headquarters, State Area Command, where she worked as a recruiting and retention specialist, that she received the Distinguished Performance Award from the adjutant general of Kansas.
In 2006, Morrow was selected as the Kansas Army National Guard Outstanding Warrant Officer of the Year. Morrow, who has mentored many soldiers over the years, offered this sage advice: “Let others guide and mentor you, then pass it on.”
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2012 14:32 |
| Story ID: | 87909 |
| Location: | TOPEKA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 293 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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