Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Three sisters in service in different Guard units By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes
                Massachusetts National Guard
 HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. - When Massachusetts Army National Guard's newly promoted Maj. Molly Alesch spoke at her March 17 promotion ceremony, she echoed one of the most common stories - that her father had served in the U.S. Army. However, when it came to her inspiration to serve she turned to the audience where her sister, Army Maj. Jill Finkel of the Iowa National Guard, beamed with pride. Later she playfully described a call with her youngest sister who asked how her ceremony was, "going to go down." Army Spc. Kristen Alesch who serves in the Tennessee National Guard, was curious as she hasn't seen many officer promotions ceremonies yet in her military career. "It's an honor to me to have the three of them serve. It gives me a sense of pride, I readily put that out there... brag about it I guess," said their father Thomas Alesch. "I think that every person, male or female, should serve their country." The first of his daughters to join the service was his eldest daughter Jill. "I needed help from somewhere, I was without a lot of resources, and it turned out that the Army was the place for me," said Jill. She found that help after enlisting in the Iowa National Guard, then went on to earn her law degree from Drake University, and now works full-time as a federally recognized Judge Advocate General Officer in the Iowa Guard's Active Guard Reserve program. "When Molly told me she was going to do it, I was all for it," said Jill. "Every time I needed something, that's what (the Army) I kept coming back to and I told Molly that she was going to need that support as well." It was while both older sisters were attending Drake University that Molly considered joining the military. She saw her sister wearing the uniform and paying her own way through college, which inspired her to join the National Guard's Simultaneous Membership Program (a program that allowed her to be a member of the Iowa National Guard while completing her Bachelor's Degree). After this she completed a 3-year tour on Active Duty, and then took a break in service. Civilian life didn't quite suit her. "When I went to grad school I was with people who were freaking out about assignments and completing grad school in general," said Molly. "I'm thinking that is nothing. People are dying overseas; I'm used to being with Soldiers who have real stuff to worry about. I missed it." Molly found a home in the Massachusetts National Guard - The Nation's First, first as an Education Officer and now as the state's Sexual Assault and Response Prevention Coordinator. Jill deployed to Afghanistan from 2010-2011, Molly deployed to Iraq from 2005-2006. When their "baby sister" Kristen, now Spc. Alesch, graduated from basic training, Molly spoke about attending the ceremony, with pride, but not without concern. She is the first of the three to have joined after 9/11. "She is an 88M (Motor Transport Operator), and I know because I am a logistics officer, that a lot of 88M's are on the road and they're always in the action," said Molly. Kristen, being a decade younger, hasn't deployed yet. But Jill is confident that it won't be an issue for the youngest of these sisters in service. "It's a little bit blown out of proportion, with women in the military, can they be in war can they not?... It's a person issue not a gender issue." Jill said. "While I enjoy the surprise, it really shouldn't be surprising that three strong women want to serve their country."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 3 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil