Sergeant Major Venus Carpenter
U.S. Army
Retention and Reclassification Branch and Force Alignment Division SGM
Human Resources Command
Alexandria, VA

A senior noncommissioned officer of Puerto Rican descent, Sgt. Maj. Venus Carpenter joined the Army September 1984 as an admin specialist. Today, in her various roles, she influences current and future policies, regulates, guides and provides directives to helping others. She assists soldiers in providing guidance in developing their career goals, constructive discipline when required, and serves as their advocate. While she considers the above mentioned as the best part of her job, the hardest part however is being able to balance the soldiers personal needs, wants, and desires with those of the Army.

After joining the delayed entry program in March of 1984, at age 17, she knew she would enlist, “Enlisting into the Army provided me with the opportunity to simultaneously learn a skill, earn a salary, and receive health and educational benefits,” she says.
 

A single mother at the time, and also a teenager, one may ask, who took care of her daughter? “She [her mother] was not surprised by my choice, and supported my decision. As a single parent I also had to give my mother custody of my daughter before I would be allowed to join,” she says. “I celebrated my 18th birthday in basic training with my fellow trainees.”

Although a few of the biggest challenges she has had to face have been balancing work, family along with having to constantly prove herself—especially when facing stereotype issues—for Carpenter, the military has assisted her in developing a sense of purpose and self respect. “In the very beginning of my career the commitment to my children helped me get through the challenges of the military. As a mother, I was not going to fail them, I had to make it through,” she says. “Once my children got older and I had a couple of years in, my goals changed. I decided to make the military a career and would not be satisfied with just achieving minimum standards.”

After years in the military, Carpenter’s life lessons are: “Never leave a fallen comrade,” she says. “Anytime you see someone struggling in life, down and out, ready to give up, dodging the bullets that come at us everyday, step in, lend a hand, give a word of encouragement, and provide direction and guidance.”

Her advice to any Latina entering the workforce is to set goals and do everything they can to achieve it. “Dig deep into your body and soul, and find the strength and courage to do more than survive,” she says. “Never let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. Never give up, always try to improve yourself, your skills and seek out a mentor.”

As a Latina, she wants to be remembered as a leader and a mentor, “A soldier who was fair, just, and had a genuine concern for people,” she says.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Angela Gonzales
U.S. Navy
Senior Engineering Officer of the Watch and Tactical Action Officer
Counter Piracy Operations and Maritime Security
USS RUSHMORE

With three years and four months in the U.S. Navy, Lt. j. g. Angela Gonzales is now in the midst of her second tour of duty (18 months). Born in Tucson, Arizona, Gonzales has a strong family history of soldiers, marines, and sailors. “I was 18 when I started Plebe Summer at the United States Naval Academy and 22 when I graduated and joined the fleet.”
So choosing a career in the military was not a surprise to her family, instead her mother was her biggest cheerleader. “She really helped me out a lot every step of the way,” she says.

The way she tells it, the hardest part of her job is to see how deployment affects those involved. “People are away from their loved ones for a long time and affects—sometimes negative and positive—are hard to ignore,” she says. “The hardest but also the most rewarding part is seeing your division work so hard to get things done. They’ll work non-stop through the night sometimes, the pain throughout can be frustrating but the satisfaction that comes with success makes it worthwhile.”

Gonzales, like many other women in the military, has faced challenges throughout her career and one of them was that of others doubting her work. “I’ve had a chain of command that trusted me and as a result I was very successful,” she says. “On the other side, I’ve had a chain of command that seemed to doubt me and it is very frustrating trying to stay consistently motivated. These are the times I have to stop and remind myself that it’s not about me or what I’m feeling at that particular time. I always think tomorrow will be better and it usually is.”

Other than just learning how to face challenges, she has learned to keep things in perspective and committed. “I’ve always been taught that once I commit myself, I must follow through,” she says. “I don’t think I really got it until I joined the military.”

After all these years, Gonzales has decided to stay in to at least become a department head. “I have been very fortunate to have wonderful department heads who have motivated me to want to do their job,” she says.

Nevertheless, although Gonzales enjoys camping with her family, she has not had time to do so for a couple of years. A shopping lover as well, she takes advantage of having a ‘taste of different cultures, fashions, and trends’ when deployed.

Gonzales believes that there is nothing that can hold an individual back, except our selves. “The harder you work, the more you will get. Don’t wait for praise,” she says. “Work until you are satisfied with yourself.”

Captain Edna Rodriguez
U.S. Marine Corps
Budget Analyst
Information Systems and Infrastructure Product Group
Marine Corps Systems Command
Quantico, VA

“I am proud to serve in an organization which honors the highest ideals in the defense of our nation,” says Mexican-American Capt. Edna Rodriguez. “I continue to serve in the military because with each new duty station, comes new opportunities for growth as well as an opportunity to contribute to a good cause.”

Rodriguez’ career started when she was 18 years old. Accepted to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI during her senior year in high school for the 1994-1995 academic year, she realized that the military environment was a good fit for her. “I had always strived toward self improvement,” she says. “I enjoyed the disciplined environment.”

Choosing a military career was not a surprise to her parents, in fact, her sister had enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps a year before she had, and were happy with her decision.

“My mom tells me other mothers would ask her why had she let my sister and me “join up,” they saw it a scary thing because we could be sent to war or somewhere far away with fewer chances of seeing our families,” she says. “My mother responded that what [opportunities] she couldn’t give to us, she was not going to take away.”

Not only does she considers meeting and making friends with people from across the country refreshing, but has had the opportunity to have several mentors who have, according to her, served to enhance her personal as well as professional growth. Like many in the military, moving from place to place is also one of the most difficult aspects of her job. “I get moved every three years,” she says. “I have yet to be attached to a command where I do the exact same thing, so there is always a learning curve. At the same time, that is exactly what I love about the job, I’m always learning something new.”

Nevertheless, she has learned several life lessons, and one of them is of having a “tool bag,” which is a metaphor for lessons learned. “One of these good ideas that I’ve put in my tool bag is to always maintain a connection with the great people you meet from duty station to duty station,” she says. “Their expertise and wisdom can prevent you from getting into some tight spots.”

One thing she is certain to have acquired from military life and that is leadership. “There is a lot of focus on leadership development,” she says. “You are trained to be a leader through leadership study and get “hands-on” training on a daily basis due to the nature of the military rank structure which allows an opportunity to lead. As you move up in rank, you continue to refine and develop your leadership style.”

Ultimately, she believes God has given her the strength to overcome the challenges in not only her career but in her personal life. “He has also placed great people in my path that have helped me along the journey,” she says.

For the Latina who is entering the workforce, her advice is to “surround yourself with friends and mentors that will provide help and guidance along the way.”