Inspiring Journeys: Meet Command Sergeant Major Raquel A. DiDomenico – a Woman Who Is Breaking Down Barriers in the U.S. Military

 

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Women’s History Month celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of women. The exceptional female Soldiers, Army civilians, veterans and family members of the U.S. Army Reserve are no exception.

 

From the vital roles they played in the Revolutionary War to their service today as Soldiers, nurses, telephone operators, secretaries, codebreakers, military intelligence and maintenance and supply workers, throughout history, women have made the U.S. Army stronger.

 

Of the many accomplished women within the Army Reserve, perhaps the most noteworthy example to date is Lieutenant General (LTG) Jody J. Daniels the Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, the first woman to lead the Army Reserve and the first female commander of any Army component. In this role, LTG Daniels is paving the way for the next generation of female Army Reserve leaders.

 

The Army story isn’t complete without the historic achievements of women Soldiers and Civilians, who have played a major role in defense of our Nation for generations. Women of every race, class and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Army.

 

To continue this story, the Army Reserve provides leadership opportunities to all Soldiers to enable them to thrive in their careers and build successful lives:

 

• Since 2016, the Army has trained more than 3,200 women Soldiers into Infantry, Armor and Field Artillery Occupations 
• 36% of the Department of the Army Civilian Workforce are Women 
• 95 Women Have Graduated Ranger School since 2015 

 

Army Reserve diversity is about understanding the value individuals bring and optimizing what they offer to build high-performing and cohesive teams. The Army Reserve is stronger because of this diversity.

 

On this special Women’s History Month episode of the FAITH HEALTH AND HOME PODCAST, Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Raquel A. DiDomenico joins me. DiDomenico became the first female First Sergeant of a Combat Engineer Company in 2015, before combat-designated units were opened to women.

 

In our conversation, we discussed her inspiring journey to becoming who she is today, and the achievements of other women in the military.