Snohomish’s Loren Ross, 17, becomes second woman in infantry

EVERETT — Loren Ross, a 17-year-old student from Monroe, is the first woman in Washington and second in the country to enlist in the Army Infantry.

In December, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the military to open all jobs to women, including combat positions that previously were available only to men.

Ross grew up in a family of military men. Her father, two grandfathers, two great-grandfathers and uncle were in the military. Her dad is retired Army.

She's the first woman in her family to enlist. As soon as she heard the infantry was an option, she knew it was the right fit for her, she said. The infantry is the Army's main land combat force. It's the front line.

“I really wanted a combat job,” Ross said. “I'm definitely a person to be the first one out, I'm definitely the person to take the lead. I'm very comfortable with people following me and that's what the infantry is. You're the first in line, and that's really thrilling to me.”

She's known since she was in eighth grade that she wanted to join the military. She got serious about enlisting a few months ago. She met her recruiter while studying criminal justice at the Sno-Isle Tech Center her junior year of high school. Now a senior, Ross is a full-time running start student through Everett Community College. She's scheduled to graduate from Monroe High School on June 11.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160421/NEWS01/160429840