From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the deserts of Iraq, women have been serving in the United States Army since 1775 – 144 years before they even had the right to vote. Today, more than three million women have served in our organization, displaying the same grit and tenacity as those before them.
As we celebrate U.S. Women’s Equality Day this 26 August – the day that commemorates the adoption of the 19th Amendment to our Constitution, guaranteeing American women the right to vote – we recognize the significance of women’s contributions to our freedom, our country, and particularly our organization. We also acknowledge the challenges that they may have faced in the pursuit of equality.
One outstanding woman, in particular, that we would like to honor on this Women’s Equality Day is Col. Yolanda Hines (retired). A 34-year U.S. Army veteran, Hines recently retired in June after a long and distinguished career serving in many capacities, most recently as the Chief of Logistics Management and Comptroller for the Office of Enterprise Management (OEM).
Hines entered the active-duty Army on 11 July 1989 as a Prescribed Load List/The Army Maintenance Management System (PLL/TAMMS) clerk. Upon graduation as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Georgia State University, she received her commission as a Quartermaster Officer in 1996 and transitioned to become a Financial Management Officer in 2003.
During her Army career, her assignments included: Budget Analyst, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC; Comptroller, Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC; Comptroller, 10th Special Forces Group, Baghdad, Iraq; Comptroller, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, Fort Bragg, NC; Comptroller, 902nd Military Intelligence Group, Fort Meade, MD; Chief, Military Intelligence Budget Manager; 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Meade, MD; HQDA, G2, Deputy Director of Army Intelligence Resource Integration / MDEP Manager, Pentagon; and ACoS, G8, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, Korea. Hines’ deployments included Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 10th Special Forces Group.
Throughout more than three decades serving in the Army, Hines says she has seen the role of women change – particularly Black females. “I started out as an Officer in Fort Polk, LA where the KKK was very big,” said Hines. “It wasn’t uncommon for women to get passed over for positions by men with the same qualifications and experience. When you look at the selection board and see that no one looks like you, it’s discouraging. Yet, there were a few instances when I saw women in leadership positions and it gave me hope.”
Her hope, coupled with the life lesson that her aunts and godmother taught her to always have goals, drove her to study hard, “take the hard jobs, even the ones no one wanted,” and do them well. This unwavering dedication to her career and passion for success made her a shining example for the women of OEM, the Army, and elsewhere in the workforce as she quickly climbed the ranks to colonel. before retiring this year. And she still has hope that other women can do the same.
“I do believe there are instances where women are progressing, and I hope that some of what I did throughout my career is helping them today,” she said. “My advice to younger women would be that you have to have faith and know that greater things are coming. If you aren’t pessimistic, work, and study hard and do your best, then good will come your way.”
“I truly believe that it’s all because of the goodness of God that I am where I am today.”
Thank you, Col. Hines, for your inspiration, your service, and for being a servant leader in our Army for others to look up to.
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