KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- Now that female Soldiers have the opportunity to join combat arms military occupational specialties, the 21st Special Troops Battalion is making sure their junior enlisted female Soldiers are aware of career opportunities and their potential benefits.
The 21st Theater Sustainment Command career counselor/retention team hosted an Army gender integration briefing at the Daenner Chapel Oct. 13. Junior enlisted female Soldiers across the 21st STB were educated on new career opportunities available in previously restricted career fields like air and missile defense and fire support.
Guest speakers for the briefing were Sgt. Maj. Mark Thompson, a senior Army career counselor from the Pentagon, and Sgt. Maj. Carla Hubble, a career counselor from Fort Bragg, N.C.
The more than 200 attendees, including junior enlisted TSC women and their leaders, learned there are over 180 civilian females scheduled to enlist in Combat Arms and 40 active duty females in the process of a branch transfer to combat arms.
"It's a very exciting time to join the Army. My daughter will have every MOS available to her if she decides to join the Armed forces once she is older," Thompson told the Soldiers.
Hubble added that this opportunity makes female Soldiers more competitive amongst their peers and will one day provide relatability to incoming females who wish to join combat arms.
Thompson said her key "take away" is that the best qualified personnel can serve the military in the capacity they desire without regard to gender.
Starting in 2017, Soldiers who are interested in combat arms will participate in a gender neutral test called the Occupation Physical Assessment Test to determine physical readiness.
Female Soldiers currently in the Army who are interested in joining a combat MOS will not be required to leave their current MOS, but would add a second MOS within combat arms. They would not be required to repeat basic training.
To learn more about female opportunities within combat arms, Soldiers should consult with their career counselor or visit the 21st TSC's retention web site at www.21tsc.army.mil/retention.
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