Photo By Spc. Sarah Smith | Lt. Col. Amy Blumenthal, support operations plans officer, 377th Theater Support...... read more read more
By Spc. Sarah B. Smith
377th Theatre Support Command Public Affairs Office
KUWAIT— Lt. Col. Amy Blumenthal, support operations plans officer, 377th Theater Support Command (Forward), celebrated her 30-year anniversary with the Army Reserve at Camp Arifjan, recently.
Over the past 30 years, Blumenthal has seen several changes for women, as an enlisted Soldier and as an officer.
"I've learned and seen a lot," said Blumenthal. "It [her military experience] has made me have more confidence in myself. I was a turtle in a shell, and now I'm out of the shell."
In 1979, Blumenthal was accepted into the National Guard Officer Candidate Program.
"This is when I realized, I had to survive in a world of men," she said.
The OCS platoons were organized by alphabetical order and, by chance, Blumenthal was the only woman in her platoon.
Blumenthal recalls how the female barracks was a five-minute walk from the male barracks, which made it difficult when the cadets were given only 10 minutes to change uniforms, which happened often.
"I almost quit when I had the honor of flag detail, and they [the men] changed the uniform on me right before it was time," said Blumenthal.
For a person that wanted no extra attention, she found herself getting picked on and singled out. This didn't stop her; she pushed all the way through the course.
"I did graduate in 1980, and I try to live by the three things they constantly taught throughout the course: respect noncommissioned officers, never forget where you came from, and be professional," Blumenthal said.
Another big change for Blumenthal was the integration of women and men.
"To an extent, I had a hard time with integration," said Blumenthal.
The Army pushed for males and females to combine the training and move the living quarters closer together.
"The guys are like your brother. I can understand joint training and living in the same building, but at least have separate floors," she said.
"Be professional, be a human being and be a lady. You can still be a Soldier and a lady," Blumenthal said. "You know you've mastered push-ups when you can do them in a skirt," she continued.
It may be difficult to fully capture 30 years of Army Reserve experiences, but Blumenthal knows the only constant in life is change, and how she has reacted to changes is what best defines her.
"We come to work every day and something is different. Things change all the time; all that matters is how they evolve and make it better," said Blumenthal.
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2007 08:59 |
| Story ID: | 9441 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 645 |
| Downloads: | 614 |
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