Lt. Col. Vylius Leskys, Seattle Battalion commander, writes a written response to 13-year-old Abigail George, who wrote a letter expressing an interest in joining Army Special Forces in the future.
13-Year-Old Seattle-Area Girl Wants to Join Army Special Forces
Story and photos Tom Conning, USAREC, Seattle Battalion
July 20, 2015
The neatly typed and signed one-page letter travelled more than 2,700 miles from Redmond, Washington, to an Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon, then back to Seattle Battalion after being reviewed by a Pentagon staffer.
Written by eighth grader Abigail George as part of a class assignment, the teenager expressed her interest in joining Army Special Forces.
“I realize that women can’t join the Special Forces, but I don’t care,” Abigail wrote. “I’m only thirteen, so I wouldn’t be able to join anyway. But hopefully women will be allowed to join the Special Forces in the future, and if they are, I will definitely try to get in.”
Lt. Col. Vylius Leskys, Seattle Battalion commander, who’d spent six years with the 10th Special Forces (Airborne) Group, answered the letter.
“Abigail, I would recommend you seek out opportunities to lead by assuming key roles of responsibility in your clubs, student body, sports teams, and volunteer organizations,” Leskys wrote. “Although females right now are not yet able to join Special Forces as an operator, opportunities to become Ranger qualified have opened up, and Special Forces opportunities may exist in the future for you. Again thanks for the letter, and I wish you all the best in your pursuit. For now, do your very best at school to get the foundation you need to be a future member of Special Forces.”
Unaware her daughter had sent the letter to the Pentagon, Anita George, Abigail’s mom, was apprehensive when contacted by the battalion.
“I couldn't understand why the Pentagon, and the recruiting battalion in
Seattle received a letter from my daughter,” Anita said. “Honestly, I initially thought she did something wrong and was in trouble with the Pentagon. That was a little scary.”
She said her daughter never expected a response, but commends Abigail for her ability to write a persuasive letter.
“It shows a mixture of openness about how she likes to do things that she hopes will prepare her for the military if that is her choice later in life,” Anita said. "It also shows her trying to just meet the requirements of the writing assignment.”
Since 2013, the Army has opened 30,000 previously-closed positions to women, but none in Special Forces.
Story and photos Tom Conning, USAREC, Seattle Battalion
July 20, 2015
The neatly typed and signed one-page letter travelled more than 2,700 miles from Redmond, Washington, to an Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon, then back to Seattle Battalion after being reviewed by a Pentagon staffer.
Written by eighth grader Abigail George as part of a class assignment, the teenager expressed her interest in joining Army Special Forces.
“I realize that women can’t join the Special Forces, but I don’t care,” Abigail wrote. “I’m only thirteen, so I wouldn’t be able to join anyway. But hopefully women will be allowed to join the Special Forces in the future, and if they are, I will definitely try to get in.”
Lt. Col. Vylius Leskys, Seattle Battalion commander, who’d spent six years with the 10th Special Forces (Airborne) Group, answered the letter.
“Abigail, I would recommend you seek out opportunities to lead by assuming key roles of responsibility in your clubs, student body, sports teams, and volunteer organizations,” Leskys wrote. “Although females right now are not yet able to join Special Forces as an operator, opportunities to become Ranger qualified have opened up, and Special Forces opportunities may exist in the future for you. Again thanks for the letter, and I wish you all the best in your pursuit. For now, do your very best at school to get the foundation you need to be a future member of Special Forces.”
Unaware her daughter had sent the letter to the Pentagon, Anita George, Abigail’s mom, was apprehensive when contacted by the battalion.
“I couldn't understand why the Pentagon, and the recruiting battalion in
Seattle received a letter from my daughter,” Anita said. “Honestly, I initially thought she did something wrong and was in trouble with the Pentagon. That was a little scary.”
She said her daughter never expected a response, but commends Abigail for her ability to write a persuasive letter.
“It shows a mixture of openness about how she likes to do things that she hopes will prepare her for the military if that is her choice later in life,” Anita said. "It also shows her trying to just meet the requirements of the writing assignment.”
Since 2013, the Army has opened 30,000 previously-closed positions to women, but none in Special Forces.