VICKSBURG, Miss. -- Family support is essential to a Soldier's success, especially when a nation is at war. This holds uniquely true for Warrant Officer Roxanne Pitts of the 412th Theater Engineer Command.
When four years of nearly back-to-back deployments began in 2002 for Pitts, her mother and father moved in to help with 6-month-old Evelyn, 6-year-old Austin and 10-year-old Christian.
"My parents were the continuity through the whole thing," she said.
Pitts joined the Army in 1990 and has endured challenges in her career.
In 2005 she left the Army for three months to take care of her children. In 2011 she broke her wrist before her Warrant Officer Basic Course.
Her husband, Jason, who is also a warrant officer in the Army, was her motivation through the transition. He encouraged her to keep pushing herself to the next level of leadership.
She was awarded the National Defense Leadership Development Award for her leadership skills during WOBC.
"It was a tough road but I finally feel like I deserve to be here," she said.
In her civilian capacity, Pitts is the 412th TEC's supervisory logistics management specialist.
She has mentored seven females in her unit who are considering becoming warrant officers. One candidate has been accepted into the program to date.
"She has given me points of contact, told me the requirements and led me in the direction of becoming a warrant officer," said Sgt. Shannon Fischer, executive administrative assistant at the 412th TEC.
Pitts plans to stay in the military until she is 62, which would give her 45 years of service.
She credits her family for all of her successes to date, noting that her achievements are possible largely because of their love and unwavering support over the years.
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