U.S.

Africa Command NCO

Partners with Female Soldiers
in Liberia

U.S. Africa Command Vignette Updated

February 2010

“She taught me to stand up for who I am and to be able to make sound decisions”
—Private Martha Nebo, AFL

Overview the four months,” Reynolds said, “they

were listening to [the female 1st
With 20 years of experience in the Sergeant], and they were coming to
U.S. Army, a charismatic personality, her if they had problems.”
and a positive attitude, Sergeant 1st
Class Shanwte Reynolds was a In addition to providing support and
perfect candidate to travel to Liberia advice, Reynolds taught classes
partnering with the Armed Forces of covering topics such as uniforms,
Liberia (AFL) to provide advice and professional relationships, and other
guidance to the AFL service members. areas. After a few weeks, she said,
many of the female soldiers started
Selected by U.S. Africa Command’s opening up to her, allowing her to
senior enlisted leader, Command identify other opportunities, such as
Sergeant Major Mark Ripka, Reynolds the need for a planned parenthood
spent four months, April-July 2009, at program within the AFL. As Reynolds
Edward Binyah Kesselly Barracks The Bottom Line
developed relationships with the AFL
outside of Monrovia, Liberia working U.S. Army NCOs worked with soldiers, she continued to learn more
with non-commissioned officers in the Liberian NCOs, providing sup- about them, both professionally and
AFL. Reynolds was the first female port as mentors and helping to personally. “They were curious about
NCO to participate in the mentoring promote gender equality within my story, but I was more curious
initiative, which was part of the Liberia the Armed Forces of Liberia. about their story,” said Reynolds, who
Security Sector Reform program, a was particularly impressed with their
U.S. State Department-led effort to work ethic and attitude. Many of them,
help build leadership capacity within Liberia’s military. she said, left their jobs and took a pay cut to join the AFL.
The AFL was recently re-established following many When asked why, many responded,“For my country.”
years of civil war.
Outcome
Challenges and Opportunities
Reynolds saw many positive changes in attitude
Throughout the four months, Reynolds worked side-by- throughout the four months, and the AFL members
side with the Liberian soldiers, of which approximately 70 showed greater respect to one another and seemed to
were female, sharing her experiences in the U.S. military, take more pride in what they did. “It was baby steps but
listening to their concerns, and offering advice. One of we got there,” Reynolds said, adding that she still keeps
her biggest challenges was helping the soldiers break out in touch with many of the soldiers through regular phone
of their traditional gender roles and respect one another calls and emails. After Reynolds left Liberia, the program
as equals. “Getting [the AFL soldiers] to respect the continued with the arrival of Staff Sergeant Veronica
females and getting the females to earn the respect Soto, U.S. Africa Command, and Sergeant 1st Class
they should be given—that was the key,” Reynolds Dedraf Blash, U.S. Army Africa. As of January 2010,
said. there is an Army National Guard and a Marine Corps
detachment providing support.
One of the women, the only female 1st Sergeant in the
AFL, experienced difficulty leading the male soldiers, who A native of Flint, Michigan, Reynolds is an Administrator
did not respect her because “she couldn’t go to war.” in U.S. Africa Command’s Commandant’s office, where
Reynolds expressed to them how important everyone’s she works on Army personnel issues. Prior to working at
role was in the military from medics, to logistics AFRICOM, Reynolds was at U.S. European Command,
personnel, to those who order supplies. “By the end of also in Stuttgart.

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