Talking Growth, Glass Ceilings, & Creating The Life You Want With 2 U.S. Army Soldiers

What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s the most asked question of our collective childhoods. The expected answer changes as you get older though. At eight years old, no one expects you to have a serious career prospect, but by 18, it’s a different story. By the time you graduate high school, people expect to know what and who you want to be. But no one is asking what mark you want to leave on the world — and that is the question the U.S. Army is so committed to helping Soldiers answer.

With over 200 careers to choose from — along with competitive salaries, education and housing benefits, healthcare, paid parental leave, and a lifetime of community and mentorship — the Army sets Soldiers on a path for long-term success, while also providing them with the opportunities to discover their purpose and pursue their passions.

To hear how all this comes to life, we spoke to Lt. Col. Marisol Chalas and Command Sgt. Maj. Johanny Ortega. These two female Soldiers have made a name for themselves in and out of the force, and they shared how joining the Army helped them grow their own unique strengths while making history along the way. Here’s what they had to say about how the Army gives them the support they need to thrive.

1. On Finding A Place To Belong

Chalas was born in the Dominican Republic, and later came to the United States to join her parents who were busy establishing a new life in Massachusetts. It wasn’t until high school that the idea of joining the Army surfaced. “I had no plans of going to college or joining the military,” she shares with Bustle. “It was junior year when my best friend and I said together, ‘Let’s do it!’” The Army immediately brought out exactly what Chalas was unconsciously craving: a fire to succeed. Shortly after becoming a Soldier, she found her way back to school and started the journey of earning her college degree.

For Ortega, the Army offered the supportive environment she needed to thrive. “I see the Army as my incubator,” she tells Bustle. “They nourish you and help you grow bigger and healthier until you’re ready to start the rest of your life.” Just like Chalas, Ortega’s parents immigrated to the United States several years before bringing along their children. They left the Dominican Republic and trusted Ortega and her sisters in the care of their grandmother. “It was an unorthodox family structure to grow up in. It wasn’t until I joined the Army that I started nourishing my writing talent, my leadership abilities, and my organization skills.”

2. On Breaking Barriers And Reaching Your Full Potential

Both women have broken major barriers throughout their careers — but not without encountering their fair share of challenges first. In the process of becoming the first Latina National Guard Black Hawk Pilot (yes, ever), Chalas faced plenty of roadblocks, but she remained resilient. This resilience has taken her far — for 33 years, she’s been literally reaching new heights in the Army.

Ortega’s story is also one of hard-earned change-making. “When I was a junior Soldier, I only saw one woman with the rank I have now,” she tells Bustle. “To me, that was such a big moment, and now I’m one of three high-ranking female leaders in my brigade.” In 2022, Ortega even became the first Command Sgt. Maj. to go on the 4th Cavalry Spur Ride — a 48-hour skill test including fire missions, medical evacuations, and other extremely intense exercises.

3. On Fulfilling Your Passions In And Out Of Uniform

Both Ortega and Chalas have leveraged the Army’s strong foundation of benefits to achieve (and surpass) goals they had previously never realized were within reach. Chalas took advantage of the Army’s tuition assistance to go to undergrad and later fulfilled her dream of being a homeowner thanks to a VA loan. She then earned her master’s degree (completely paid for by the Army once again!) — but that’s still not the biggest benefit in her eyes. The Army helped Chalas go from a green card holder to a United States citizen. “I’m so proud that I actually have the privilege of voting now.”

While serving, Ortega earned her MFA in creative writing and went on to publish a young adult chapter book and a thriller novel. Ortega’s stories center around Dominican families much like her own, and her characters showcase the same resilience she’s discovered in the Army. If there’s one piece of advice both Soldiers could give to young people who desire to make a difference, it’s to take the first step and, says Ortega, “Be the change you want to see.”

Learn how a career in the U.S. Army can help you Be All You Can Be.