Black Military Women Foundation, Inc.

ERNESTINE FAIRCLOTH

 

Prior to my enlistment into the Army, I worked as an Executive Secretary for Pacific Lighting Company in Los Angeles, California, for several years. Following my tour in Los Angeles, I moved to Texas with my husband and volunteered and joined the United States Army; enlisted under the “Delayed Entry Program’s Stripes for Skills” December 1974 and reported to Active Duty in January 1975.

 

I attended Basic Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Having enlisted as an Executive Secretary (71C), my first duty station was Fort Hood, Texas, working in the Office of the G2 until 1977, following Fort Hood, Texas I was reassigned to Stuttgart, Germany working in the Command Group of VII Corps. In 1979, I was assigned to the Command Group at Fort Lewis, Washington. Leaving Fort Lewis Washington and I Corps, to be assigned to the Command Group at Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia; arriving in March 1982. In 1983, I was assigned to the Office of SACEUR in Mons, Belgium. Upon Promotion to senior NCO, was assigned to a supervisory position working in Manpower and Development for the SACEUR. In 1986, I was assigned to the Office of the DCSPER, Fort Gillem, Georgia, and then moved to Fort McPherson to work in the Office of the J5, in 1987.

 

In 1990, during Desert Storm/Desert Shield, I was assigned to Central Army Group in Heidelberg, Germany, as the Direct Supervisor and custodian of all headquarters classified materials and four branches within the division: reporting directly to the Commander. During this assignment, I provided administrative support to Bosnia Conflict from Vicenza, Italy for four months. Prior to retirement and during this enlistment, I worked for 26 general officers: U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and NATO.

 

Among my many citations, I received two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, an Army Meritorious Service Medal and several Army Commendation’s Medals. I retired from the U.S. Army January 1995 and moved on to have a remarkably successful civilian life. I worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Defense Recruiting Command, and then retired from the Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Presently, I am the Vice President of the Black Military Women Foundation, Inc., and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. I work in my community helping to provide food for schools for children who live in a food desert and have little to no food after leaving school. I have two children and five grandchildren.