EVERETT — Loren Ross, a 17-year-old student from Monroe, is the first woman in Washington and second in the country to enlist in the Army Infantry.
In December, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the military to open all jobs to women, including combat positions that previously were available only to men.
Ross grew up in a family of military men. Her father, two grandfathers, two great-grandfathers and uncle were in the military. Her dad is retired Army.
She’s the first woman in her family to enlist. As soon as she heard the infantry was an option, she knew it was the right fit for her, she said. The infantry is the Army’s main land combat force. It’s the front line.
“I really wanted a combat job,” Ross said. “I’m definitely a person to be the first one out, I’m definitely the person to take the lead. I’m very comfortable with people following me and that’s what the infantry is. You’re the first in line, and that’s really thrilling to me.”
She’s known since she was in eighth grade that she wanted to join the military. She got serious about enlisting a few months ago. She met her recruiter while studying criminal justice at the Sno-Isle Tech Center her junior year of high school. Now a senior, Ross is a full-time running start student through Everett Community College. She’s scheduled to graduate from Monroe High School on June 11.
Ross has lived in rural Snohomish all of her life. She works as a dog trainer in Bothell and spends much of her free time fixing up her 27-year-old pickup truck. Her family has French bulldogs and German shepherds at home that she plays and works with, but her closest canine pal is a 5-year-old Irish water spaniel named Brynn.
Ross was an explorer through the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office her freshman year of high school. That’s where she learned that she liked structure and discipline, and discovered she could be a strong and thoughtful teammate.
“I’m definitely a leader,” she said. “I am very methodical. I don’t just jump the bullet. I think a lot before I do something.”
She thought a lot about her decision to enlist in the infantry. She knows she made the right choice, she said. She wants to make a career out of the military.
For now, she’s staying busy with homework and getting ready to graduate. She plans to start working with trainers to get ready for basic training. She’s scheduled to leave for Fort Benning, Georgia, in June 2017.
She’s ready to leave home and strike out on her own, she said.
Ross enlisted April 12, as did Levani Ilasa of Port Orchard, the first woman in the country to be recruited as a combat tank operator.
Ross didn’t expect her enlistment to be a big deal to anyone but herself, family and friends, but she’s received a lot of encouragement from people since the Army announced she was the first female infantry recruit from Washington.
“It’s kind of empowering,” she said. “I’m not joining to be a public picture or anything. I’m joining for myself, but it does feel good getting the acknowledgement and support from people.”
She wants to make America proud, she said. She expects to be challenged and at times overwhelmed as an infantrywoman, but she’s confident she’ll be able to handle the pressure.
Ross’ favorite subject in school is history, she said.
Now she gets to make some.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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