Staff Sgt. Richard Garrison, Sgt. Armando Salazar, Pvt. Sara Huett, Staff Sgt. Alexander Abbate.
MAKING HISTORY
Recruiters help young lady reach Combat Engineer dream
Story and photos by Catherine Pauley, Sacramento Recruiting Battalion
August 6, 2015
New recruit Sara Huett of Eureka, Calif., wants to make history, and with the help of the Sacramento Recruiting Battalion, she could become one of the Army’s first female combat engineers.
“Sara was friends with several of our prospects and applicants,” said Center Leader Staff Sgt. Alexander Abbate. “Another Future Soldier referred her to our center, so we sat down with Sara and her parents to discuss options.”
Huett originally selected Military Police as her job. When she went to enlist in June, she did not pass the Armed Services Vocational Service Battery (ASVAB) test. Huett was not discouraged and studied hard so she would pass on the second attempt. The Eureka recruiters showed her March2Success and she immediately registered and used the Web-based tool that focuses on math, English and science.
“The website was incredibly helpful to me,” said Huett. “All the subjects I had trouble with, I learned after using March2Success.”
While Staff Sgt. Garrison focused on Huett’s mental toughness, Sgt. Salazar and Staff Sgt. Prymer worked on her physical toughness.
“Sgt. Garrison would shout at me if I did not show up to study on days I promised to be there,” said Huett. “He kept me motivated, and the second time I took the ASVAB I improved my score by 18 points.”
Abbate said Huett attended Future Soldier training on a regular basis and provided referrals.
“Between working out on her own and Sgt. Prymer helping her during Future Soldier training, Sara went from being embarrassed to come to training to ask for it twice a week,” said Abbate.
During the 30 days she studied to pass the ASVAB, the recruiters opened other job options to her since she had a better ASVAB score. Abbate talked to Huett and her parents about the combat engineer job being available to women now.
“I wanted to be one of the first females to make history,” said Huett.
Abbate spent almost an hour talking to Huett’s biggest influencer – her mom, and now her mom is excited that Huett is accepting this challenge.
Prymer has made Huett the hero of Zoe Barnum High School when she coordinated the Army’s rock wall coming to the school.
“It meant a lot to me to have them come to my school, because I felt like they were taking personal interest in me,” said Huett, who will graduate in June. “I felt very important when Sgt. Prymer brought it to the school because I helped coordinate the event.”
Huett enlisted July 24 as Sacramento Battalion’s first female airborne combat engineer, thanks to the mentoring of four Eureka Recruiting Center recruiters.
Recruiters help young lady reach Combat Engineer dream
Story and photos by Catherine Pauley, Sacramento Recruiting Battalion
August 6, 2015
New recruit Sara Huett of Eureka, Calif., wants to make history, and with the help of the Sacramento Recruiting Battalion, she could become one of the Army’s first female combat engineers.
“Sara was friends with several of our prospects and applicants,” said Center Leader Staff Sgt. Alexander Abbate. “Another Future Soldier referred her to our center, so we sat down with Sara and her parents to discuss options.”
Huett originally selected Military Police as her job. When she went to enlist in June, she did not pass the Armed Services Vocational Service Battery (ASVAB) test. Huett was not discouraged and studied hard so she would pass on the second attempt. The Eureka recruiters showed her March2Success and she immediately registered and used the Web-based tool that focuses on math, English and science.
“The website was incredibly helpful to me,” said Huett. “All the subjects I had trouble with, I learned after using March2Success.”
While Staff Sgt. Garrison focused on Huett’s mental toughness, Sgt. Salazar and Staff Sgt. Prymer worked on her physical toughness.
“Sgt. Garrison would shout at me if I did not show up to study on days I promised to be there,” said Huett. “He kept me motivated, and the second time I took the ASVAB I improved my score by 18 points.”
Abbate said Huett attended Future Soldier training on a regular basis and provided referrals.
“Between working out on her own and Sgt. Prymer helping her during Future Soldier training, Sara went from being embarrassed to come to training to ask for it twice a week,” said Abbate.
During the 30 days she studied to pass the ASVAB, the recruiters opened other job options to her since she had a better ASVAB score. Abbate talked to Huett and her parents about the combat engineer job being available to women now.
“I wanted to be one of the first females to make history,” said Huett.
Abbate spent almost an hour talking to Huett’s biggest influencer – her mom, and now her mom is excited that Huett is accepting this challenge.
Prymer has made Huett the hero of Zoe Barnum High School when she coordinated the Army’s rock wall coming to the school.
“It meant a lot to me to have them come to my school, because I felt like they were taking personal interest in me,” said Huett, who will graduate in June. “I felt very important when Sgt. Prymer brought it to the school because I helped coordinate the event.”
Huett enlisted July 24 as Sacramento Battalion’s first female airborne combat engineer, thanks to the mentoring of four Eureka Recruiting Center recruiters.