Posted on Apr 22, 2016
SSG Bethany Viglietta
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I am an Army Recruiter and it would be great to share.

As we gear up to ship out some of our first female Future Soldiers in combat jobs, I ask of the members of RP, what is your advice for these young soldiers?

Please keep it constructive and nothing along the lines of they shouldn't be able to serve in these positions because that ship has sailed and opinions about how they should not serve in these positions are not going to change anything.

Edit: The conversation among RP members about mentoring these service members is amazing. Honestly, I did not know what to expect when I started the thread, because this is a subject many feel strong about. Thank you so much for all of your advice thus far, I cannot wait to share it with our female and male recruits and hope you share it in your ranks/communities as well. Together we are molding the future of the military.
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 398
SPC David S.
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Wow, what a great question considering what's going on in the military with combat roles.
I guess the same advice I would tell any guy going into combat arms - Do your job, do it right, mission first, and charlie mike.
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SFC Stephen King
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SSG Bethany Viglietta personally no matter what gender a person is doesn't matter. Job performance is key. Pass the course, do the job. Standards will be enforced all need to be flexible, adaptive and tough mentally and physically. Balance
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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Edited >1 y ago
SSG Bethany Viglietta Super Question. Just be prepared mentality and phsysically to meet the standards, exepct the unexpected, be self-motivated, and don't expect any special treatment. At all times be professional, maintain the core values, and remember the reason you are there - to serve your country! I think there will be a lot of successful women!

https://youtu.be/xLw73qBUMYw
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SSG William Schaffer
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Simple. Mission first, then the welfare of your Soldiers.
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SGT Hr Sergeant
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Edited >1 y ago
With the new Soldier 2020 Program, many new changes will be coming, and this is one of them. Soldiers will be trained to standard regardless of gender. Many barriers will be removed, thus allowing talent to show on areas that have been closed before. Just because one male is a 300 PT stud does not equate to them being able to carry a M2 and place it as needed, as I have seen females be able to complete this with no difficulty. Change is coming, sure, I may not be in when it does, but leaders need to understand why the Soldier 2020 Program is being placed, and what it is meant for the future of the Army.
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MSG Brad Sand
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SSG Bethany Viglietta
My advice to the recruiters...get them to MEPS (either drive them to the hotel or put them on the bus to the hotel). Make sure they are ready for BCT. Make sure they have a copy of all their ship documents, ETC. About this time, you are saying to yourself, 'That is what we do for al DEP/DTPs?' That is the actual answer, ship them to training.
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SSG Bethany Viglietta
SSG Bethany Viglietta
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MSG Brad Sand Absolutely! We also train them on the Army before they go and mentor each individual.
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MSG Brad Sand
MSG Brad Sand
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SSG Bethany Viglietta
Thank you Staff Sergeant for the info but I did spend six as a Guidance Counselor, so I do have some idea of all the hard work you do...not everyone but I have the feeling you are one that does do what is right? While I am sure much as changed, I am just as sure that there is even more the same.

Thank you for all you do. Those who do not get pulled into recruiting to not realize the hardship you have had to face.
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SSG Bethany Viglietta
SSG Bethany Viglietta
>1 y
MSG Brad Sand - sadly you are right, but luckily we are getting to the point where it's no longer the way it was even when I joined 9 years ago. We currently have Future Soldier Leaders (FSL) who ensure the young soldiers receive training and are responsible for the Future Soldier's ability to stay qualified. Now sometimes the Future Soldier will look towards their original recruiter or someone else in the office for mentor ship/advice on top of what they are getting from the FSL. Many of us stay in touch with those we put in via professional social media accounts and continue to mentor them while learning about the changes in the operational force and training. We can learn from them just as much as they can learn from us.
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MSG Brad Sand
MSG Brad Sand
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SSG Bethany Viglietta
I am familiar with the team concept recruiting plan also...still some thing I do and don't like about it but in the end it still comes down to the recruiters and their team...like all things in life.
Keep leading by example for our future soldiers and, just as importantly, your fellow recruiters.
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CPL Joe Brown
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Women have no business in combat units. It distracts the real members of that unit and takes away the comradeship that keeps that unit from falling apart. Furthermore if women are so great at combat where were they in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Nursing and paper pushers...where they belong. It goes to say that women are taking over this once great nation in droves and I see no way for America to continue leading the free world as we have seen. Especially given today's corrupt politics and greed.
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GySgt Kenneth Pepper
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Check out the PBS documentary on the "Lioness" program from OIF. Nuff said.
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CW3 Kevin Storm
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My advice, learn your job inside and out, be the one soldiers come to for advice. Work to excel and be humble about it. If the Ma Deuce needs to get carried down to the motorpool for an FTX, don't shy away from it, embrace it.
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SSG Harry Outcalt
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Simple , combat arm's is the hardest job in war time , why ? Because it's the intention of Combat Arm's Soldier's to go say hi to the enemy up close and very personal , so that means that you as a combat arm's wannabe must be in better shape physically and mentally compared to your male counterpart's , the truth is if you can't exceed the standards don't bother wasting your time ,if you think you got what it takes then step one is find a friend who is Combat arm's qualified and ask him to prepare you ...... After that it's go time to find out what your made of.... Can you earn the Blue Cord
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