Furman University Army ROTC cadets wake at zero dark thirty for hour-long physical fitness drills three times a week. They take a three-hour, hands-on tactical lab once a week, march six to 12 miles with 35-pound packs twice a month, take a weekend field training exercise once a semester and attend a 35-day summer cadet training camp before senior year \u2013 all while completing the requirements for their academic majors.<\/p>\n
On top of that grueling schedule, Krista Just \u201922 has accomplished a first for women at Furman University. After graduation, she will become an active duty infantry officer in the United States Army.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s historic for Furman and rare throughout the country.<\/p>\n
Ground combat roles were officially opened to women in 2013 with a change in Department of Defense policy, but it took until 2016 to fully integrate women into combat arms career fields, including infantry. The female infantry population comprises roughly 1.5% of total infantry officers \u2013 104 females to 7117 males.<\/p>\n
This year, Just, a biology major, will be among about 13 women to commission as infantry, which includes candidates from all Army ROTC programs and the United States Military Academy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m obviously very excited and apprehensive \u2013 it\u2019s a great opportunity and it will take me really far. But I\u2019m terrified,\u201d Just said, laughing. \u201cInfantry is an intimidating world to enter, especially as a woman. I\u2019m scared about a few things, mostly the culture. It\u2019s a man\u2019s world, pretty much.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of physicality that I\u2019ll need to work on, and there\u2019s lots of book knowledge and technical skills that go into this. But it is such an honor to bridge the gap for other women to do the same or just enter the military in any role. I like the idea of helping to eliminate the stigma surrounding women in combat arms or women in the military in general.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just also recently received a contract to serve in Army Space Operations, which she\u2019ll take on in four years after her infantry stint and reaching the rank of captain. Based in Ft. Carson, Colorado, Just will work with global positioning systems, satellite data and missile identification in the space ops role.<\/p>\n
Just is one of 18 seniors being commissioned through the Furman Army ROTC program. They will serve as second lieutenants in active duty Army, Army Reserves or the Army National Guard. Twelve of those commissionees are from Furman; the others hail from Bob Jones University and North Greenville University.<\/p>\n
The Furman cohort, including Army branching and Furman majors, are:<\/p>\n
In determining their Army assignments, cadets are evaluated on their academics, physical fitness standards, extracurricular activities and leadership performance over the course of three and a half years.<\/p>\n
Kat Bassey successfully competed for an educational delay to attend law school. After three years studying law in Boston, she\u2019ll serve as an active duty officer.<\/p>\n
Keegan Miller and Maggie Scapellato will serve in the Army National Guard while they pursue plans for medical school.<\/p>\n