MONROE - Growing up, Sgt. Maj. Bonnie Moser would always play army with her cousins. She said she always wanted to join the Army and eventually enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1972.
"At the time, there wasn't too many women," Moser said.
Moser was the first woman to join her unit and started out as a light vehicle driver and then moved up to a heavy vehicle driver - basically a semi - hauling tanks and heavy equipment.
She began training non-commissioned officers for leadership roles and after 12 years transferred to an aviation battalion where she spent three years as a job flight operation chief. Moser then transferred to the support battalion for the 32nd Infantry Brigade, becoming the first female sergeant in the history of the brigade, which went back to World War I.
Toward the beginning of her career, Moser said it was challenging and she had to prove she could do her job because the men weren't used to a woman being in her position. Proving herself to others was only half the battle: She also had to prove to herself she was capable.
"I wanted people to understand women can do these roles as long as they're trained," Moser said.
After serving for 34 years, Moser said she learned a lot about herself. She gained leadership skills and met hundreds of people. She made friends that she still has today.
"I also got a lot of education, which I really enjoyed because I like going to school," Moser said.
She wasn't the only one in her family to join the military; both her brothers and her sister served, but she stayed the longest.
Moser was the second woman in the history of the Army National Guard to make the rank of E9, which she considers her greatest accomplishment. E9 is the rank of sergeant major, which was as high as a woman could rank at the time, Moser said.
"You have to make sure you're totally committed to what you're going to do," Moser said. "You have to be physically and mentally fit to do it. Basic training isn't easy. They put you through a lot, but you learn a lot about yourself. You always have to be prepared for the next step moving up."
Moser is now the manager for the Green County Dairy Herd Improvement Association and the finance officer for the American Legion Post 84.
Serving in the military was "the best thing I've ever done," she said.
"At the time, there wasn't too many women," Moser said.
Moser was the first woman to join her unit and started out as a light vehicle driver and then moved up to a heavy vehicle driver - basically a semi - hauling tanks and heavy equipment.
She began training non-commissioned officers for leadership roles and after 12 years transferred to an aviation battalion where she spent three years as a job flight operation chief. Moser then transferred to the support battalion for the 32nd Infantry Brigade, becoming the first female sergeant in the history of the brigade, which went back to World War I.
Toward the beginning of her career, Moser said it was challenging and she had to prove she could do her job because the men weren't used to a woman being in her position. Proving herself to others was only half the battle: She also had to prove to herself she was capable.
"I wanted people to understand women can do these roles as long as they're trained," Moser said.
After serving for 34 years, Moser said she learned a lot about herself. She gained leadership skills and met hundreds of people. She made friends that she still has today.
"I also got a lot of education, which I really enjoyed because I like going to school," Moser said.
She wasn't the only one in her family to join the military; both her brothers and her sister served, but she stayed the longest.
Moser was the second woman in the history of the Army National Guard to make the rank of E9, which she considers her greatest accomplishment. E9 is the rank of sergeant major, which was as high as a woman could rank at the time, Moser said.
"You have to make sure you're totally committed to what you're going to do," Moser said. "You have to be physically and mentally fit to do it. Basic training isn't easy. They put you through a lot, but you learn a lot about yourself. You always have to be prepared for the next step moving up."
Moser is now the manager for the Green County Dairy Herd Improvement Association and the finance officer for the American Legion Post 84.
Serving in the military was "the best thing I've ever done," she said.