Tiffany Myrick-Woodley: Cultural Support Team in Afghanistan - Ep. 89

Tiffany Myrick-Woodley served two decades in the US Army, and played an essential role in the integration of women into the Army’s Combat Arms occupations. She served as a member of Cultural Support Team – Two (CST-2), enabling the 75th Ranger Regiment and Naval Special Warfare Development Group by engaging the Afghan female and adolescent populations prior to the lift of the Combat Exclusion Policy. She was also selected to observe and advise on the implementation of standards during gender integration of Ranger School, the Army’s premier leadership course.Over the span of her military service, Tiffany discovered that real change comes through policy and education. This prompted her to leave the military to influence policy on a broader scale while continuing to provide inspiration, mentorship, and advocacy to future generations. Her ideals prompted her to accept a role as a board member for the Valkyrie Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to the advocacy and support of female service members.More about Tiffany:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-m-b477671b6/The Valkyrie Project: https://www.thevalkyrieproject.org/Timestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Tiffany Myrick00:01:28 Tiffany’s Roles in the Military00:03:35 Being On the Other Side of Basic Training00:05:18 One Station Unit Training00:06:51 What Did Tiffany Learn from Being a Drill Sergeant?00:10:03 The Cultural Support Team00:11:14 Selection Course for Cultural Support Team00:12:52 The White Board System00:13:15 Being a Student Versus Being Qualified to Do the Job 00:14:54 Ranger Physical Assessment00:15:45 Working Closely with the Same Partner for an Entire Mission00:16:48 Room for One Tactically00:17:38 What Does the Mission Objective Look Like?00:20:13 Deciding What Looks Important on a Mission00:20:40 Interacting with the Local Populous00:22:43 Main Security Concerns on Assignment00:23:46 Did Tiffany Know Ashley?00:24:39 Particular Missions That Stood Out to Tiffany00:29:23 Moments Where Everyone Is Suffering00:31:11 Wearing NODs (Night Observation Devices)00:32:01 Lifting the Combat Exclusion Policy00:32:59 Sponsor Note: Coaching Mentorship Course00:33:21 Advisory Role to Integrate Women into Ranger School00:35:25 Identifying Common Characteristics Among Graduates00:36:00 What Did the Army Learn as Women Were Integrated?00:38:33 The Gray Man, Middle of the Pack00:40:46 Why Couldn’t Women Shave Their Heads Like the Men?00:41:23 When did Tiffany Retire?00:41:32 What Led Tiffany to the Valkyrie Project in 2023?00:44:34 Advice for Women in SOF Pipeline 00:46:34 Similar Stories to “The Ranger on a Ridgeline Getting an I.V.”00:49:21 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 00:50:59 Outro

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