One of the U.S. Army’s goals is to recruit and retain more diverse members. Army recruiters are the first point of contact for many students, parents, and educators and represent all races and ethnicities.
Captain Amber Sims joined the U.S. Army when she was 20 years old. She knew the ROTC program offered scholarships and a definite job after college.
“My motives changed during the ROTC experience because I not only grew and matured, but I became a leader,” Sims said. “I was able to be a part of underclassmen development, and that was intrinsically fulfilling.”
Sergeant 1st Class Mary James decided after time in the professional world to join the Army.
“I knew I wanted to help people, but I wanted to help people in a bigger way,” James said. “The Army offered that, so I took the plunge, and here we are 15 years later.”
The U.S. Army wants to ensure it is made up of people who mirror the demographic composition of the nation, and that its diversity reflects social and cultural norms in the world today.
“Our nation is only getting more diverse, and so is our Army,” said Sierra Starks, chief of advertising and public affairs for U.S. Army Recruiting, Seattle.
There are many diverse members of the Army at all levels, including leadership positions.
“As a soldier, you’re expected to show up as a soldier,” James said. “We are evaluated based upon competence, merit, and skill. If you show up as a soldier, your gender and however it is you identify culturally is a moot point.”
Externally, people may have misconceptions about members of the military, but there is a large network of veterans in corporate America. Sims currently interns at Goldman Sachs and has spoken with various finance and consulting firms.
“They mentioned quite a few times after six months to a year, veterans often outperformed those with prestigious degrees,” Sims said.
To learn more about diversity in the Army and joining the team, visit U.S. Army website.
Sponsored by U.S. Army. Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.