KORTNEY Camacho will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Tuesday, Dec. 22.
She will be the first female from Saipan to be commissioned as an armor officer.
Kortney Camacho
Armor officers are responsible for tank and cavalry and forward reconnaissance operations on the battlefield.
Camacho joined the University of Guam Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in the Fall 2016 semester, earning a four-year national scholarship.
She served as the UOG Triton Warrior battalion commander from December 2019 to June 2020 and will earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Guam.
In the summer of 2017, she attended Basic Camp at Fort Knox, Ky.
“I have gained such a high respect for the men and women who serve in the military,” she said. “Having joined the ROTC program has allowed me to dissect what a leader should encompass….”
Though she still has so much to learn, she said, she is proud of the leader she is today and is beyond grateful for what the program has done for her.
“I would love to acknowledge the University of Guam ROTC cadre for their endless support and motivation throughout my journey. Their guidance and mentorship have helped me persevere and overcome many obstacles. They believed in my abilities to lead the Triton Warrior Battalion in 2019 and I can’t express enough gratitude,” she said.
Camacho also recognized her family for introducing her to the ROTC program and supporting her each and every day, as a student and a cadet.
“I am honored to join the ranks of the few female armor officers in the United States Army. In the past few years, women have proven themselves capable of becoming a significant part of more and more military units that were considered off limits for them,” she said.
“It is humbling to know that there are many paths uncharted by women in combat arms, and I will have the privilege of standing beside them as I continue my career in the Army.”
She added, “To the young women pursuing a military career in any field, if you are determined and persistent enough, anything is possible.”
