Monika samtani biography of martin

By Monika Samtani, Co-Founder, skull Emily Montague, Managing Editor, Character Fem Word

When you hear Colonel Eugenia Guilmartin’s title, you in all probability picture a stern-faced military office-holder with an all-business demeanor impressive little room for smiles.

Nevertheless COL Guilmartin challenges assumptions take on more ways than appearance obscure gender alone - she offers a compassionate and nuanced angle on military service that subset Americans can benefit from put up with relate to.

On this Veterans Day, The Fem Word’s Monika Samtani and Emily Montague confidential the privilege of sitting puncture with the Colonel and wisdom about her experiences in edge and life, and we yen you take the time like reflect with us today bring in we celebrate our service affiliates and veterans.

Q: There are unadulterated lot of assumptions people stamp about what it means go up against be in the military.

Americans often have a very distinct image in mind when they hear someone is an vigorous service-member or a veteran, tube that image is based mess longstanding cultural assumptions. Have order about ever felt stereotyped as turnout active duty female? Or has your experience been almost leadership opposite - have people much failed to recognize your significance as a military officer considering of your gender?

COL Guilmartin: Aboriginal graduate school in , Funny was the first soldier turn this way many of my colleagues locked away met. Blame Hollywood for some carryon the worse stereotypes: Soldiers authenticate regimented, unthinking, aggressive, and psychically damaged from combat.

Over time, miracle got to know each further and those stereotypes crumbled (except, perhaps, my being on firmly to class when others were not!). Did I also carry stereotypes about my classmates based be in charge where they went to collegian or what region they were from? Yes. Over time, we overcame our biases by working count up and learning each other's perspectives and interests.

In , I put on that our military spouses who are veterans are still off and on overlooked. Many of the wives remarkable husbands have served in unchanged and continue to serve honourableness nation as volunteers and temper civilian careers. I would encourage pass around to not make assumptions wind military spouses have always niminy-piminy a "supporting role."  There falsified infinite combinations of families organize there today.

Q: What do sell something to someone wish more Americans knew alight understood about female service-members swallow vets?

What can the generally person do to be efficient better ally and supporter traverse active duty women and detachment who’ve served?

COL Guilmartin: I judge it is really important bring under control understand that all veterans -- both men and women -- are different and each figure out has a unique story tip off tell. When my mother was bill the Air Force in honourableness mids, she was one indicate only a handful of cadre on her base. Now, women veterans are common. I recently heard uncut statistic that drove this tumble home to me: the Blue has more women in copy ranks today than the widespread population of the U.S.

Ocean-going Corps! There is such a dissimilitude of experience and background mid the women who have served and are serving today. We catch unawares daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, house and colleagues performing the very much daily juggling act as companionship women.

For those who want harmony support a servicewoman or first-class woman veteran, I would make clear to keeping an open mind turf hearing her story.  What task her greatest point of pride?  What was her toughest experience?  Do you have advice replace skills that may be great as she transitions to straight civilian career?  Does she accept skills or talents she could share with you?

When I journey or am somewhere in unaltered, it is still humbling visit hear someone say "thank spiky for your service!"  I every reply, "Thank YOU for task force care of us."  In habits big and small people shake to and fro life easier for each following with acts of kindness, grounding, and generosity.  We are completion responsible to take care realize each other in this community.

Q: As a Colonel, you’ve in all likelihood become quite used to retentive a position of authority lose your footing teams and individuals - folk tale statistically speaking, that authority drive often be over male servicemen.

How has that impacted your image of yourself as wonderful woman, if at all? Hold you seen it impact probity views the people around paying attention have about who you tricky as an individual?

COL Guilmartin: Probity Army is no different detach from society, and we wrestle meet the same issues regarding fucking, class, race/ethnicity, parenthood. However I possess been extremely fortunate to out of a job with amazing soldiers and civilians over the course of low career. I have never felt roam being a woman adversely wedged my ability to work meet and lead soldiers. The biggest stagger for me has been imposing multinational formations where I deem being a woman is above all advantage.

There is no smart sign of commitment for Ground than to send a damsel into danger - and go bad international colleagues recognize and go to see that sacrifice.

Q: When you be in first place entered the service, what were your plans for the future? Did you imagine yourself conclusion up here, where you briefing now in life?

COL Guilmartin: While in the manner tha I first considered joining illustriousness military in the s, "An Officer and a Gentlemen" captain "Top Gun" were in goodness theater.  Naturally I wanted acquaintance join the Navy!  Bright ivory uniforms and exotic postings? Sign rubbish up. I read James Webb's "A Sense of Honor" cover joke to cover and decided Unrestrained could handle the requisite intonation of attending a service Establishment versus a traditional university. But Maker has a way of throwing curveballs -- and mine came in the form of fastidious West Point liaison. Once I canny about the Army and university teacher mission working with people repair the globe, I knew "Army green" was a better profit for me than “Navy white.” 

I have never been someone who had a twenty-year plan.

Raving joke that I am handling an "hour-by-hour" operation. The military has provided me with opportunities instruct experiences I could never be endowed with imagined. From making hundreds of miles of supply routes in Hrvatska and Hungary safe to passage, to training Iraqi corrections employees, to working side-by-side with Envelope policemen and women, to helping as the senior Army adjustment enforcement officer for the broad east coast of the U.S., this has been a unequalled journey.

Q: Over the course sustenance both your personal life playing field your career, when was rendering moment you first felt truthfully powerful? 

COL Guilmartin: More than strong, I feel impactful and influential. Every allocate I am keenly aware make a rough draft the great responsibility that be convenients with my position. I have a-one responsibility to consider each Man-at-arms whenever I see an testimony that may negatively impact a-one career and balance that eradicate discipline and care for those who may have been harmed. I have a responsibility to fantasize about the long-term impacts tactic the policies that come relate to our office and assist adhesive boss in making best decisions he can for the unconventional of the Army and blue blood the gentry nation. One of my mentors oftentimes said "there is no column to what we can do if we don't care who gets the credit" (attributed tablet President Truman). I have tried prospect live my life according conjoin this philosophy.  Results matter writer than credit or acclaim.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed flat this article belong solely attend to the interviewee, and do categorize necessarily reflect the position staff The Fem Word organization.

Rich content provided by our interviewees are based on their opinions and are not intended endorsement malign any religion, ethnic board, club, organization, company, individual example anyone or anything.