Remarkable History of the Women’s Army Corps and Women in the Military Today
- Col. Christine Cook (ret) – US Army War College Faculty
- Cpt. Shelly Rood (ret) – Army – Chaplain, Others Over Self
"Remarkable" Women in the Military - March 19, 2023
Col. Christine Cook, US Army War College – “Remarkable” Women’s Army Corps History During the Cold War
Over 150,000 American women served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War 11. Members of the WAC were the first women other than nurses to serve within the ranks of the United States Army. Both the Army and the American public initially had difficulty accepting the concept of women in uniform. However, political and military leaders, faced with fighting a two-front war and supplying men and materiel for that war while continuing to send lend-lease material to the Allies, realized that women could supply the additional resources so desperately needed in the military and industrial sectors. Given the opportunity to make a major contribution to the national war effort, women seized it. By the end of the war their contributions would be widely heralded.
Col. Cook, Retired After 30 Years of Service
Professor Cook retired as a Colonel with thirty (30) years of service in the National Guard and US Army Reserve.
From the website of the Army War College …
Professor Cook has worked in the US Army War College’s Department of Distance Education for eight years as a Drilling Individual Mobilization Augmentee. In 2022, she joined the department faculty. Cook will teach the Strategic Leadership Course to first year Distance Education students, the foundational course of the Distance Education Program.
Cook holds a Ph.D. in History from Wayne State University, MA in Women and Gender Studies from Eastern Michigan University, and BA in English Literature from Princeton University. Her research and U.S. Army War College News Archives scholarship works to fill the gap in historical knowledge of women in the military.
Dale Throneberry, producer and host of Veterans Radio, and Chaplain Shelly Rood, founder Others Over Self at gala event for Fisher House Michigan
OTHERS OVER SELF ™
Shelly served in the United States Army Reserves for 16 years as an Intelligence Officer and now is a civilian Chaplain and small business owner, advocating for selfless service in action. Attaining the rank of Captain, Shelly served as an S2, a Company Commander and more, leading covert intelligence briefings and orchestrating security programs for nearly 4,000 Soldiers. Her military awards include the Shield of Sparta and the St. Joan D’Arc.
A Distinguished Military Graduate from Western Michigan University, Shelly went on to earn her M.A. in Ministry Studies at Moody Theological Seminary. Reverend Rood is the creator of Others Over Self®, a leadership mindset serving people in positions of influence to make a lasting impact on others. She is happily married to her business partner. Together, they are raising two boys with a girl on the way.
OTHERS OVER SELF ™ – The 2023 Leadership Conference
From Chaplain Rood
“What’s great about this event is that we are lifting up military women by putting them on the stage as leadership experts, while also fulfilling the need for ongoing peer support within the military women community. Our event is geared towards all businesses professionals- military and civilian – seeking professional development.”
Click here for all the details on the 2023 Leadership Conference for Women
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I am not military but was very interested in hearing Col Cook explain the steps that women were willing to take to serve, even knowing there they would not be acknowledged for their service. And Cpt Rood offered a fantastic closing statement for women who are considering military service.