[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E424-E425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   LOUISIANA NATIVE BECOMES THE ARMY'S FIRST FEMALE INFANTRY RECRUIT

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                     HON. CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, JR.

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tammy Grace 
Barnett of Robeline, Louisiana, for being the first female recruit to 
enlist with the United States Army infantry.
  I am tremendously proud of Tammy, a Louisianian who has stepped 
forward and answered the call to serve our nation. Prior to enlisting 
with the Army, Tammy has been serving her community in Louisiana as a 
law enforcement officer. On April 7, she gave up her Louisiana law 
enforcement badge and courageously took the Oath of Enlistment to 
become the first female recruit to enlist in the United States Army 
infantry division. Ms. Barnett truly reflects the spirit of Louisiana 
by living a life of service. We are forever indebted to these brave men 
and women. To commemorate this fact, I submit an article, written by 
Troy Washington of KSLA News.

                Louisiana Woman Makes U.S. Army History

                          (By Troy Washington)

       Robeline, LA.--A Robeline native is making armed forces 
     history as the first woman to enlist in the infantry in the 
     United States Army.
       Women in combat has been a topic of controversy for years, 
     but now progress is being made.
       Tammy Barnett was a police officer but traded in her badge 
     to make history.
       She's looking forward to seeing action on the front lines 
     and making gains for women in the military.
       Thursday, Barnett proudly raised her hand to take the Oath 
     of Enlistment.
       Dressed in tennis shoes, jeans and a t-shirt, 25-year-old 
     Tammy Barnett stepped into the history books.
       Barnett has been meeting with a recruiter since November 
     and this week, at the military processing unit in Shreveport, 
     she took a leap that's never been made before, she joined the 
     infantry in the U.S. Army.
       ``They told me that I would be the first female in history 
     to go infantry in the military,'' said Barnett.
       Recently, the Defense Department lifted gender-based 
     restrictions on military service. The historic change cleared 
     the way for women like Barnett who want to serve on the front 
     lines.
       On April 4, the processing center received word that women 
     would be allowed to sign up for combat jobs. Now, Barnett is 
     hoping that others will follow her lead.
       ``I hope that I give them the courage, because I'm a small 
     female, if I can do it, they can do it too, this could give 
     them the courage to step out of their comfort zone,'' 
     explained Barnett.
       Barnett isn't fond of the limelight, but she has no problem 
     stepping forward when it comes to service.

[[Page E425]]

       ``I was going to go military police, but infantry is 
     similar, and they are more on the front lines, like law 
     enforcement here and I said that's what I want to do,'' said 
     Barnett.
       With her mind made up, Barnett isn't looking back, only 
     forward to a future full of possibilities and breaking 
     barriers for women in the military.
       Barnett will head to Fort Benning, Georgia to start 
     training. In the meantime, she says she's going to celebrate 
     her history-making moment by going fishing this weekend.

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