Professional aspirations of female soldiers

Eight-year-old Prajakta was captivated by the movie Border in 1995, sparking her dream of joining the army. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝘀𝗲𝘁, 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘆. She believed only men could serve in the armed forces. Little did she know that women had been serving in the Indian Army since 1992, beyond just medical roles. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.” Fortunately, Prajakta had supportive parents who never mocked or discouraged her dream of becoming an army officer. Prajakta went on to become India’s first woman UAV Observer Pilot in the Army. “𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗽𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿. If you’re competent and do your job well, you’ll earn their respect,” she recalled from her experiences. Reflecting on the progress of women’s inclusion in the army—from the first batch joining the Army Service Corps in 1992 to being allowed in artillery roles in 2023 —Prajakta sees this as a gradual shift toward recognizing women’s true capabilities. . . . #inspiration

A PIONEERING FORCE IN NIGERIAN MILITARY MEDICINE Major General Abimbola Olatilewa Amusu stands as a distinguished figure in the history of the Nigerian Army, known for her groundbreaking role in military medicine and her advocacy for gender competence and mental health awareness within the armed forces. A trailblazer, she is among the few women in Nigeria to have risen to the senior-most ranks of military leadership. Her journey began in June 1982, when she was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant. Over the years, she ascended through the ranks, proving her dedication, excellence, and leadership in the medical corps. Her rise culminated in her promotion to the rank of Major General, a rare and prestigious achievement for any officer—and especially notable for a woman in a traditionally male-dominated institution. From 2015 to 2018, Major General Amusu served as the Chief of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, where she led initiatives aimed at modernizing military healthcare systems. Under her command, the Corps made significant advancements in improving the health infrastructure for soldiers and their families, including better access to medical services, capacity building, and infrastructure upgrades in military hospitals. One of her most vocal advocacies during her tenure was the need for competence-based recognition for female officers. She maintained that professional excellence—not tokenism—must be the foundation for the advancement of women in the military. She also emphasized the importance of support systems and mental health awareness, recognizing the unique psychological toll military service can take on personnel, particularly in times of conflict or post-combat transitions. Major General Amusu retired from active service in December 2018, leaving behind a legacy not only as a medical leader but also as a champion for female empowerment and holistic well-being in the Nigerian military. Her career continues to inspire new generations of Nigerian women to break boundaries in the armed forces and to pursue excellence in service to their nation. (C) Abiodun Durowaiye

Rochelle Hemingway Anisa Palmer, MPA Sandra Brownlee Nyala Allen Dr. Ursula D. Frederick-Brown D CHum/MBA/MA Tiffani Williams I Am Tangy Carla R. Dr. Elyssa Green Afya Evans The Confidence Gap: Why Female Veterans Undervalue Their Skills...And How We Change That This was me. Even in uniform. When I was an E6 (staff sergeant), I served in a dual role as a Retention NCO and Career Counselor, neither of which were part of my original MOS. It wasn’t what I had been trained to do. It wasn’t on my “official” resume. But I figured it out. I learned how to counsel, how to recruit, how to advocate, and I did it well. Still, I doubted myself. I downplayed my skills. I didn’t speak up in rooms I earned the right to be in. I thought because it wasn’t my “real job,” what I knew, didn’t count. Sound familiar? This is what we call the confidence gap, and it disproportionately affects female veterans. Even though we’ve: • Led in high-stakes, no-fail missions • Managed personnel, logistics, and strategy • Adapted to roles far beyond our MOS • Carried multiple jobs while wearing the uniform We still question our worth. We think we have to start over. We hesitate to negotiate. We struggle to own our value. And the truth is, this isn’t just about humility. It’s about programming. Here’s what I’ve learned (and now teach): 1. You’re more than your MOS. You carried roles that don’t show up in your ERB—but they count. You managed people, budgets, readiness, and morale. That’s leadership. That’s HR. That’s operations. 2. If you did it in uniform, you can do it out here. Military women are masters at adaptation. We step into roles we’ve never held and deliver results. That’s exactly what civilian employers want. 3. Your voice is your most powerful tool. The civilian world doesn’t speak “military.” It’s up to us to translate. And that starts with confidence. How we close the gap: • Normalize skill translation coaching pre- and post-transition • Empower women to own every role they’ve served, not just the official ones • Elevate conversations around leadership development for women veterans The truth: Female veterans don’t need to be fixed. We need to be seen, heard and valued. So today, I challenge you to: • Reflect on the roles you downplayed • Reclaim the power of what you’ve done • Speak your worth, in interviews, in rooms, and to yourself. and...Own it! Tag a woman veteran who’s a powerhouse. Let’s amplify her voice, let's celebrate in her space, and remind her she’s always been enough. #MilitaryTransition #WomenVeterans #OWNIT #ConfidenceGap #LeadershipDevelopment #BeyondTheUniform #PowerInThePivot #veteranssupportingveterans #empowermentcoach