Hey, hey, hey!
At times, I wear several different hats. Beyond what Olivia Pope calls “the white hat,” I am SSG Rawlings, proudly serving with the 6th Recruiting and Retention Battalion. I’m also Camryn, a proud dog mom. But this past week, I took on another role—as the secretary of the National Guard Association of Connecticut (NGACT).
For those who may not know, in the military, we often have the choice to volunteer—or be “voluntold”. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), SPC Rawlings was voluntold nearly five years ago to be a part of NGACT by a great mentor of hers. Initially, I thought my responsibilities would simply involve attending meetings and begrudgingly recording debates over a webcam. But I quickly realized that it was so much more.
I have a deep passion for helping and inspiring others to join the National Guard because of the profound impact it had on me since I enlisted. I always say, “Be the difference you want to see”. That passion led me to attend the Legislative Workshop in Washington, D.C.—yes, kind of a big deal! The experience consisted of a full day of travel followed by an intense schedule of PowerPoint presentations and panel discussions. One of the highlights was hearing from an incredible guest speaker, SEA John T. Raines. As an E-6, I rarely have the opportunity to voice my thoughts directly to senior enlisted leaders, let alone in Washington, D.C., and in the presence of three-9s. However, as the NGACT secretary, I was given the platform to speak on behalf of my fellow soldiers—the ones I serve with, the ones NGACT fights for.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that politics isn’t my thing. But the reality is that politics matter. They shape the benefits, opportunities, and policies that directly impact our soldiers. The more we educate ourselves, the better we can advocate for meaningful change.
The final day of the workshop was dedicated to congressional and Senate visits, where I, along with Emma Faucher and Katie Zarzycka, met with representatives from our home state of Connecticut. Our mission? To fight for the benefits our service members have earned and deserve.
“What is your why?”
This is the question we are trained to ask those considering to join the National Guard. But without NGACT and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), we wouldn’t have the ability to fully support their “why”. These organizations ensure that we continue fighting for the rights, benefits, and opportunities our soldiers need.
So, do you know your why? Do you know who fights for your why? The more you know.
