(Series 1 Post 7)
Hey reader! Glad you’re here because I got to interview a female Soldier who’s not only a bad mamma-jamma, but is someone who, despite an unfortunate start in life with bumps along the way, managed to find her way, her family, and truly excel!
I’m Mikie P, and this month I’m sharing the story of Specialist Sirraya Charles, a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Crew Member/gunner with the 94th Field Artillery Regiment-17th Field Artillery Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington state. So, buckle-up and settle in ‘cause here we go!
Everyone’s reason for joining the Army is different. For some, it’s because we genuinely want to serve our country; others because it’s a legacy thing-our grandfather, mom or dad did it, so we followed in their footsteps. What if you really didn’t have a parent present in your life at all when you were little; someone to truly guide you? Sadly, that's exactly what happened to Sirraya.
“I grew up and aged out of the Michigan foster care system,” said Sirraya. “I was never adopted into a family.”
That was definitely a tough thing to hear from her, and while her emergence into the world and subsequent years as a teen were challenging, those who’ve grown-up in similar circumstances would probably agree on a couple of things. First, your initial introduction into the world as a baby definitely isn’t on your terms, and second, if you want to be successful in life despite a less-than-ideal start, do whatever it takes to make it better. In other words, don’t be a wuss.
“People around me growing up always seemed to just know I was going to be in the military,” she said. “I was a Tomboy and even played football, so when a Navy recruiter showed-up at my high school, we had a conversation.”
Although she was intrigued with the Navy, it was (fortunately) an Army recruiter that changed her mind.
“The recruiter told me the Army was way more bada--, and that it had cooler technology,” she said. “That was all I needed to hear!”
So, how did Sirraya end-up as a gunner on a three-person High Mobility Artillery Rocket System crew? Her answer was not only incredibly candid and honest, but testament to her bluntness and to, “keepin’ it real.”
“I was fat,” she said. “I was supposed to go into the Army as a 42A Human Resource Specialist, but I was one pound overweight, and couldn’t ship,” she said. “I had to go through the whole enlistment process again, get a weight waiver and lost out on the HR job.”
It was a guy at the MEPS or the Military Entrance Processing Station, who told her the best option she had was to become a 13 Mike on the HIMARS. After doing some research on her own, she decided it was exactly what she wanted to do.
“I ended up going to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for Advanced Individual Training, which is the home of field artillery,” she said. “Then, in May of 2022, I was permanently assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, here, in Washington state, and I ended-up on a team for the wheeled edition of the HIMARS vehicle instead of the M270 which is tracked.”
Lots of Army jobs have opened up for females through the years that used to be filled exclusively by men. Nonetheless, there’s still only a small number of women who work in field artillery, specifically on the HIMARS.
“Up until a few months ago, I was the only female in my battery, and fortunately the guys treated me just like one of the guys,” she said, “but, now we have a few more women in my battalion doing the job yet there’s still probably less than 25 in my entire brigade that are 13 Mikes.”
The HIMARS is pretty darn formidable regardless of who's operating the system. It carries one pod with either six rockets or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) It sits on a five-ton truck, and Sirraya, like every new crew member, started out as a driver. Once you’ve mastered the big rig, she said you move up to being a gunner and then a section chief. For right now though, she's a gunner and said she's even reenlisting at her next assignment in Germany.
“I’m going to see how things go there,” said Sirraya. “I’m up for promotion and looking forward to becoming a noncommissioned officer because I want to create change for Soldiers around me,” she said adding, “I feel like a lot of people talk about being better, but I want to be the kind of NCO a lot of Soldiers never had and create an example of good leadership.”
Sirraya says a female master sergeant at her gym has set that leadership standard for her and had a profound effect on all she does. “Miss Jenny” has guided and helped her gain a better grasp of the Army’s customs, courtesies, and traditions.
“She has taken me under her wing," said Sirraya, “and if it wasn't for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today because of her mentorship.”
Even Sirraya’s husband, an 11 Bravo Infantryman, has played an integral role in her military education. Not only has he helped keep her on the straight and narrow, but he also challenges her.
“We have friendly arguments about basic infantry skills like clearing a room,” she said, “and we talk about weapons a lot which helps me learn stuff.”
Sirraya encourages young people thinking about joining the ranks to research what the Army’s all about. She said there are a multitude of things about Army life overall, worthy of careful consideration.
“There can be a lot of hard times when you serve,” she said, “but the other side of that is that you make friends for a lifetime that become family, and that’s pretty amazing.”
Thanks for your service to FORSCOM, Specialist Charles. Readers interested in serving can visit a recruiting station and talk to an Army recruiter to learn more about life as an MLRS crew member. To learn more about FORSCO, visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army-forces-command-fedeforscom/.
Join me again for another conversation blog with a FORSCOM team member who loves what they do and encourages you to join the family. Till then, take care, Be All You Can Be At FORSCOM, and don’t forget to “Take 5.”
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