“We had to break through the stigmas and barriers. I spent every day trying to disprove that females couldn’t do as good as males in our job. I think we broke it down quickly.”
— Sgt. Shannon Smith
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Shannon Smith, a cannon crewmember, with 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division on Fort Carson holds the Top Gun Award. Top Gun is an internal competition between the different groups of cannon crewmembers. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. Shannon Smith)
By Sgt. David Davidson
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — In 2016, the Army officially lifted the ban on women serving in combat military occupational specialties (MOS), such as cannon crewmembers. It was the final step in fully integrating women into every aspect of the Army.
One of these women is Sgt. Shannon Smith, a cannon crewmember, with 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Smith strives to prove that no matter your gender, you can achieve your dreams.
Smith worked as a cashier before joining the Army. She spent her time working, exercising and attending school. Smith enjoys doing anything she can to better herself and experience a little friendly competition. She decided the Army was the best place to do that.
While Smith was going through recruitment, she initially tried to become a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist; however, she jumped at the opportunity when she saw the chance to join a combat MOS. Another motivator for Smith was the chance to learn something new.
“I didn’t know anything about howitzers, so I thought it would be cool to step into this new world and expand my knowledge on something,” Smith said.
She continued to Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where she was the only cannon crewmember female in her graduating class. After basic training, Smith moved on to Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. There, she was joined by a few more female Soldiers as they trained to become proficient in their jobs before being sent to their units.
When Smith arrived at 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg, she and a few others were the first females in their battery.
“Everyone looked at us like we were aliens,” Smith said.
She said once she arrived at her unit and got integrated, the true challenge began.
“We had to break through the stigmas and barriers,” she said. “I spent every day trying to disprove that females couldn’t do as good as males in our job. I think we broke it down quickly.”
Smith said one defining moment for her was when she went on her first deployment. She and a few other females were tasked with combat loading a vehicle.
“Combat loading is not a good time,” Smith said. “It is a lot of work, and it is very heavy, especially if you are undermanned with three people and the driver. Each pallet of rounds weighs about 100 pounds, and we loaded around 60 of them until the truck was full. That was the defining moment when people accepted us as equals.”
Smith said she would do it all again if she had the chance to go back.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers from, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division on Fort Carson take a group photo after a physical fitness session. Physical fitness plays a major role in being a cannon crewmember, Sgt. Shannon Smith (center) works every day to uphold the standards expected of a cannon crewmember. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. Shannon Smith)
“Joining this job and the Army as a whole was very humbling,” Smith said. “When I came in, I had my ideas and thought I was better than everyone else, but that quickly changed when I met spectacular people who embodied the Army values.”
Smith said she loved meeting all the friends and family she has made since she joined. She found the sense of union and belonging she was missing before enlisting into the Army.
Smith accomplished many achievements since joining the Army; she was one of the first 50 female cannon crewmembers and became a crew chief. She scored expert on her marksmanship qualifications.
Smith said one of her proudest moments happened on a deployment to Romania. She was injured, and it caused brain damage. Smith said it took two years and a lot of physical therapy to learn how to walk and talk again. Even with the hurdle of brain damage, Smith managed to become a sergeant during her recovery.
Smith said she isn’t satisfied with staying where she is. She strives to earn the rank of staff sergeant and attend the Master Fitness Trainer course. She also said she wants to attend as many schools as possible to learn more and better herself.
There were a few mentors Smith had throughout her career. One of them is Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin Scheck from 3rd Battalion, 4th Assault Helicopter Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div.
“My old staff sergeant crew chief, now a warrant officer, was my biggest supporter through all the hard and good times,” Smith said. “He inspired me to become the noncommissioned officer I am today.”
Despite Smith’s youth, Scheck said she proved to be very trainable, intelligent and had an unquenchable thirst to prove herself.
“Smith was an asset to the section and a wonderful Soldier,” Scheck said. “I am proud of everything she has accomplished.”
Whenever the time comes for Smith to get out of the Army, she said she wants to retire in Texas and become a rancher, living a life of peace.
Smith said any female wanting to join a combat MOS should follow her dreams.
“Don’t let anyone make you feel like you can’t do something because you’re a female,” Smith said. “You can out do anyone if you just put your mind into it. If you think you can do it and you train yourself to do it, you can. That is all that matters.”