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 Recruit sets example for females at National Guard program By Army Capt. Kyle Key
                Professional Education Center
 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -  When Army Pfc. Kirsty Penn arrived at the National Guard GED Plus program, she  was intent on doing her best but never thought she would set a benchmark for  other females who would attend the program. On graduation day, 52 of her classmates and fellow recruits selected her to be  the class peer leader, marking the first female recruit to hold that honor  since the program began in 2006. Penn attended Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Fla., from 2006 to  2009. She was home schooled during her senior year and received a high school  diploma. But when she went to enlist in the military, her senior year credits  were not accepted due to the home school’s accreditation not being recognized  by the military. Her recruiter, Army Sgt. Daniel Lovingood, told her about the National Guard  GED Plus program that would enable her to satisfy the academic requirements and  help prepare her for initial entry training. Penn arrived at Camp Joseph T.  Robinson here and stepped up on day one to serve as the class platoon guide. “Being platoon guide was stressful, but it had its fun parts too,” Penn said.  “I got to learn a lot about my fellow recruits and experience real  responsibility for them.” At Robert E. Lee H.S., she was a lieutenant junior grade cadet in the Naval  Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps unit and gave credit to her cadre for  helping her find the confidence to lead and take charge. According to Navy Lt.  Dean Williams, senior naval science instructor, Penn was an active and positive  member of the unit. “She is truly a leader not a follower,” Williams said. “She was our color guard  commander and she held the position of our unit administration officer. Cadet  Penn always wore the uniform with pride...she set the standard for others to  emulate. Her military bearing was impeccable and she was always willing to help  with training of the underclassmen in the program.” Even though some of her classmates at GED Plus had completed basic training,  Penn was sought for advice and leadership. Her NJROTC leadership experience  along with drill and ceremony training gave Penn a competitive edge. While she is looking forward to her job in the Florida Army National Guard  providing signal and communications support, her heart is set on law  enforcement. “I want to eventually be a military police officer with the Guard. My civilian  dream is to get hired with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and graduate from  the police academy. I love animals and wanted to be a veterinarian. I think  now, I want to combine my passions and serve as a police officer in a K-9 unit.  I used to drive by where the officers were training the police dogs and would  think, ‘I’m going to do that someday.’ That would be cool.” Penn reported for nine weeks of Army basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and  will continue her training for an additional 19 weeks at Fort Gordon, Ga., to  learn her military occupational skill as a signal support systems specialist  (25U) with her unit in the Florida Army National Guard.
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