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CAMP
BONDSTEEL, Kosovo (February 25,
2014) – Their job is one of the
most dangerous and thankless in
the U.S. Army. Famously depicted
in the movie, “The Hurt Locker,”
explosive ordnance disposal
technicians often risk their
lives to save the lives of
countless others. They are
brave, bold, sometimes reckless
and a little crazy.
And
she is not only one of them; she's their leader.
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May
10, 2012 - First Lt. Janill
Castillo, a native of Bronx,
N.Y., serves as the commander
for Multinational Battle Group -
East EOD detachment in Camp
Bondsteel, Kosovo. Her team is
part of the 759th EOD Company,
based in Fort Irwin, Calif.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st
Class Carlos Burger)
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First
Lt. Janill Castillo, a native of
Bronx, N.Y., serves as the
commander for Multinational
Battle Group –East EOD
detachment in Camp Bondsteel,
Kosovo. Her team is part of the
759th EOD Company, based in Fort
Irwin, Calif., and has a unique
mission here, which is much
different from the typical
missions EOD technicians have
while deployed.
“Our
mission here is to legitimize
the [Kosovo Security Forces] EOD
as an [unidentified explosive
ordnance] response team here in
Kosovo,” she said. That means
helping train multinational EOD
teams and, if the need called
for it, responding to ordnance
uncovered from the Kosovo War.
The 26-year-old Castillo's
job is similar to military
police, civil affairs teams, and
female engagement teams that
already have females serving on
the frontlines of combat.
Castillo, a graduate of the
University of Virginia with a
degree in chemical engineering
with a concentration in
biotechnology, joined the
service as an enlisted soldier.
She later went to Officer
Candidate School and Basic
Officer Leaders Course, where
she learned about the EOD field.
“I thought it was a great
opportunity to serve my country
in a positive way and go into a
field that most people do not
choose,” she said.
Although this is her first
deployment, Castillo understands
the importance of being a female
commander in such a dangerous
and male-dominated career field,
especially with the recent focus
on women in service.
“It's a rewarding field,
especially for a woman. It's a
challenge to go in to a
predominately male field and
become their leader, but once
you fully understand the field,
you get a lot of respect. It's a
good feeling to know that women
can execute such a high position
in EOD,” she said.
The
Office of the Secretary of
Defense recently notified
Congress of the Army's intent to
open 33,000 service positions
this April that were previously
closed to women. These positions
do not include jobs in the 14
military occupational
specialties that are currently
closed to women, said Col. Linda
Sheimo, chief of the Command
Programs and Policy Division at
the Directorate of Military
Personnel Management, Army G-1,
in a press release, Jan. 24.
This means many women will
have opportunities to work in
fields like Castillo. She
however, doesn't believe the
transition will be a problem if
everyone just does his or her
job.
“Being a woman and a
leader, your troops want to see
you get out and get dirty with
your soldiers. You have to show
them you're a soldier and I have
to show them that I'm not just
[a female] EOD officer, I'm an
EOD technician and I can do
their job if I have to.”
Her philosophy seems to be
working too, as she has had
nothing but success working with
her team over the past year.
“They are a great bunch of
guys. They are very loyal and
respectful and we always execute
any mission that comes our way,”
she said.
“It's great
working with her. Since I've
been an EOD tech longer, I help
her with EOD stuff and she helps
me with being a leader. There's
never been an issue with her
being a ‘female.' We only ever
see a soldier,” said Staff Sgt.
Michael Wohlrabe, from Grand
Rapids, Minn., and detachment
noncommissioned officer in
charge.
Castillo will
spend the next nine months
deployed in the Balkans region
and although there have been
many titles given to her since
deploying, like commander and
EOD technician, there is one she
is still uncomfortable being
called.
“It's funny, but
I don't consider myself a role
model. It would be an honor if
any woman considered me that and
if they want to go into a combat
field, all I can say to them is
pursue whatever goals you have
in life,” Castillo said.
As the Army begins to make this
historic transition to open more
career fields to women,
Castillo's parting advice isn't
only to the females who will
transition in, but to the
leadership who will be dealing
with the change.
“There
will be challenges, but if the
chain of command supports those
integrating into these fields
and gives them the opportunities
to excel, things will work out,”
she said.
By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Burger
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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