You may be familiar with the tales of famous women who have served in the U.S. Army, such as Lt. Col. Charity Adams, whose 6888 Postal Battalion provided mail and boosted morale during World War II, or Spc. Monica Brown, a medic who received the Silver Star for treating the wounded while under intense fire in Afghanistan. But what you may not be as familiar with are the stories of our female Soldiers who achieve incredible feats outside of the uniform. One such story is about Chief Warrant Officer 3 Morgan Brady, who serves as the senior geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) advisor at the 116th Military Intelligence Brigade at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia, and who is also a nationally ranked BMX racer.
Brady joined the U.S. Army the summer after she graduated high school and has served for almost 24 years. Like many on active duty, she balances her military career while raising her family and pursuing a personal passion. What started as a fun activity to do with her kids has led to her participation in national racing competitions, which earned her a top-ten ranking in the national circuit.
BMX is a grueling sport, and Brady attributes her work ethic and discipline to her active-duty service.
“There really is no quitting in the Army, and my past assignments have challenged me in a multitude of ways that have shown me I am more capable than I often give myself credit for,” Brady said. “The Army teaches us to adapt and overcome in demanding situations, and this is very applicable to BMX racing where every track is different.”
She also qualified for Team USA and will represent them at the UCI BMX World Championships from May 12-18 in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
“While serving in the military we are expected to represent the nation and the Army with the utmost professionalism,” said Brady. “This has always been something I have prided myself on while serving as a Soldier, non-commissioned officer and warrant officer. Qualifying for Team USA was something I worked hard to accomplish but was never guaranteed. I am not sure it gets much better than representing the USA both on and off duty.”
Even though women have served since 1775, they make up only 16% of today’s Army. They now serve in all Army career fields, and on International Women’s Day, the Army honors extraordinary women for the sacrifices they make to build a stronger, safer and more secure world.
“Being a woman in the Army has its own set of challenges, and working in a male dominated field can be intimidating but equally satisfying," said Brady. "It is extremely important to demonstrate your abilities towards your tradecraft while also remembering your worth. It took me years to build my reputation as a GEOINT professional, but I always stayed true to myself and what I believed in while making time to accomplish my personal goals.”
Having a strong support system is important, and it makes the sacrifices our troops make possible due to support from the service and from family members.
“I couldn’t have reached my goals without the support of my husband, Mike. He is my assistant coach, bike mechanic, and biggest cheerleader,” said Brady. “He often reminds me that sometimes a task does not need to be completed that day, and having someone to remind me of the home, work life and BMX training balance is essential.”
Brady has made the difficult decision to retire, and she recognizes that her accomplishments, both in and out of uniform, have not just made an impact on the Army but also on her family.
“I want my children to understand that if you commit to something almost anything is possible,” Brady said. “I hope that they see the dedication I have had towards the Army and BMX and use that as a foundation for whatever path they choose in life.”
As for the future of her BMX career, she said she will continue to race as long as it is fun for her family.
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