PRMC Officer donates her hair as she prepares for Ranger training

HONOLULU -- 1st Lt. McKinsey Hulen, Special Projects Officer (G3), Headquarters, Pacific Regional Medical Command, is about to try something that only 43 other female Soldiers in the U.S. Army's history have tried; Hulen is attending the U.S. Army Ranger Training and Assessment Course (RTAC) later this month (March 2015) at Fort Benning, Ga.

This alone would make for an interesting story but in preparation for the RTAC, Hulen was required to cut her hair to meet the RTAC standard for all female candidates; that being, no longer than one-quarter inch to one inch in length.

Knowing this standard, Hulen used her haircut this past Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, as an opportunity to do good for those in need; she donated her hair to the Locks of Love organization, located in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization which uses donated hair to make wigs and hair pieces for financially disadvantaged children who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

Hulen proudly stated, "I mailed my hair out this morning (Mar. 3, 2015)."

When asked about how she felt to be able to donate her hair, Hulen said: "I think its great that Locks of Love is available to help others. I definitely had some fears when it came to cutting my hair but knowing that it would be put to good use, made the experience easier"

"I think that sometimes women use their hair as a security blanket", Hulen added, "but having short hair has been very liberating so far."

In total, Hulen donated hair which measured 20 inches in length.

As for her RTAC training, haircuts are not the only preparations that Hulen has been making.

She has been focused on her strength and load bearing conditioning, along with a lot of running, push-up, and pull-up training.

Should Hulen make it through RTAC she will be eligible to attend the U.S. Army Ranger School in April 2015, during which time she will be carrying in excess of 90 pounds worth of equipment during some phases of Ranger training.

Hulen thinks that it is important that she face new challenges and she encourages other female Soldiers to push their limits to achieve their goals too.

"I would tell them to go for it", Hulen says of female Soldiers considering RTAC and Ranger School, "the quote that I use to inspire me is 'What would you do if you weren't afraid?'…to me, fear is not an excuse."

"I support all of the women that have gone to RTAC before me and I hope others will follow", Hulen added.

Hulen departs for RTAC on Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2015, and begins her efforts to join the other six female Soldiers who have qualified to attend the U.S. Army Ranger School.