The Team House - From West Point to Ranger Regiment | Hailey Gibbons | Ep. 391

Episode Date: January 10, 2026

In this episode, Haley Gibbons, Army Ranger, shares her unique journey from West Point to the Ranger Regiment. She discusses the challenges and triumphs she faced in a male-dominated environment, her experiences in Ranger School, and the importance of logistics in military operations. Haley also reflects on her transition to civilian life, her work in the tech industry, and her commitment to mentorship through her organization, Serv. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the significance of authenticity, resilience, and the power of community in achieving one's goals.Find Hailey here:https://www.instagram.com/hg_leadtheway/https://www.team-srv.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@hg_leadtheway?lang=enToday's Sponsors:Wild Alaskan Company⬇️https://wildalaskan.com/HOUSE Get $35 off your first order!GhostBed⬇️https://www.ghostbed.com/houseFOR 25% off! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For ad free video and audio and access to live streams and Eyes On Geopolitics...JOIN OUR PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouseTo help support the show and for all bonus content including:-live shows and asking guest questions -ad free audio and video-early access to shows-Access to ALL bonus segments with our guestsSubscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouseSupport the show here:⬇️https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse___________________________________________________Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured__________________________________Jack Murphy's new book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/——————————————————————Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouseSocial Media: ⬇️The Team House Instagram:https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_linkThe Team House Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePodJack’s Instagram:https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_linkJack’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21Dave’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/dave_parke?s=21Team House Discord: ⬇️https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6SubReddit: ⬇️https://www.reddit.com/r/TheTeamHouse/Jack Murphy's memoir "Murphy's Law" can be found here:⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/Murphys-Law-Journey-Investigative-Journalist/dp/1501191241The Team Room Reading Room (Amazon Affiliate links):⬇️ https://jackmurphywrites.com/the-team-room-reading-room/Intro music by https://www.youtube.com/user/RemixSample"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"00:00 Introduction to Haley Gibbons02:50 Haley's Journey to West Point05:54 Life at West Point09:07 Transitioning to Army Service12:07 Ranger School Aspirations15:05 Experiences in Ranger School18:04 Company Command Insights21:03 Joining the Ranger Regiment26:39 Challenges and Triumphs in the Army29:36 Life After the Army32:53 Starting Serve and Mentorship35:48 Balancing Identity and Purpose38:49 Final Thoughts and AdviceBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support.

The Team House with your hopes, Jack Murphy and David Park. Hello, folks. Welcome to episode 391 of The Team House. I'm Jack Murphy. Here with tonight's guest, Haley Gibbons. We're really excited to have on the show, first female Army Ranger. As I was describing to Haley before the show, we didn't even have them when I was in. That's how old I am. So this is a new thing. We're all adapting. But no, in all seriousness, I'm really excited to have Haley on the show today. She went to West Point. She served in conventional units.

She served in the Ranger Regiment. Did all this different stuff. Was one of the early, you know, sounds like one of the first women that attended Ranger school actually or went down that pipeline. So Haley, thank you for joining us on the show tonight. Of course. I'm excited to be here and excited to get to know you a little bit of and talk about stuff.

Yeah, absolutely. So let's talk a little bit. I mean, this is a very, like, I'm sure we'll talk about it, but this is like a very, I mean, let's face it, it's an unconventional path for a woman to take in our society, even today. And I'm just kind of curious, what was it that sort of led you towards military service and an elite unit at that? What was it about you that kind of, or your life that sort of led you in that,

direction. Yeah, so very, very different, very unique. I mean, not that a lot of women identified to this story, kind of. I am the youngest of three daughters. I was born and raised in Bellingham, Washington, not familiar with military really at all growing up. And when it came time to figure out what college I wanted to go to, I was slipping through those big college books. And my middle sister, who's a brainiac. She's an aeronautical engineer, astronautical engineer, just like insanely smart. I was more of the jock of the family. I like saw West Point and I was like, oh, this is so cool. They get a workout every day. I want to go. I want to get a six pack. This is going to be awesome. And my sister, she was like, Haley, you won't be able to get in. And just like many youngest siblings,

many women with chips on their shoulder, that's all motivation I needed to apply. With the support of my parents, they were like shocked but my dad was like let's go this is awesome i'm here to support it so um it was the only college i applied to which is very lindsay danilac who you talk to that this is kind of the same story so um very odd uh but got in and went to west point um it was definitely a culture shock i called it uh command sergeant major sir so that was like the first time i was really screamed at i'll never forget it um but i i loved it i loved this a of it. I loved the team, team aspect of the military

because growing up I played competitive soccer, basketball track, have always been on a team. So falling into that in my college years is actually perfect for me. And I loved it. And so West Point,

if I recall correctly, I was enlisted Nug. There's a mandatory like engineering degree. The easiest ones. there's like nuclear engineering, structural engineering, and I chose systems engineering, which it's kind of like operations. And that kind of fits how my brain works.

I commissioned as a logistician, which the system's background really helped. And my degree was business. So very general. But one thing I knew I wanted to have out after the army was to have options. And that was like another thing, a motivating thing that I wanted to go to West point four was to know that I would have options. And like the West Point network is like top of the line, best of the best once you're in the civilian world. So I kind of had a little bit of foresight, I guess, in choosing that path. But it was business and system engineering. And two sports are

mandatory, right? A sport, I think. A sport? Okay. Yes. Yeah. So like I said, I was an athlete, always have been, still am. And during our summer training, there was a thing called open athletics. So during our like basic training beast, I don't know what the acronym stands for, but they would call it beast, you were allowed to go like play football with the football team and all the recruits, go play basketball with the basketball team and all the recruits. And as a soccer player, I went to the soccer team with the soccer girls. And I, I'm fast. I, I'm fast. I, I have a motor. I outwork most people.

And when we were doing the conditioning drills, the soccer coach was like pulled me aside, and she was like, failure, and I know you're not a recruit, but if you keep pushing these girls like you did, there's a spot for you on the team. So I was able to walk onto the soccer team freshman year. I did get kicked off at the end of that year,

but that's okay. Later on, I joined the cheer team with my best friend, Jasmine. cheered for West Point. So I got to travel to all the games. We were basically like celebrities. It was awesome. Fallen around the football team. We would go to the Pentagon, cheer for all the Pentagon people. It was very cool. Very unique also. Not a lot of people know that the Army team has cheerleaders. Yeah, no, I didn't know that. Any funny stories about West Point, about getting demerits or any other funny stuff that happened during your time there?

So not really funny. In retrospect. So one of the reasons why I got kicked off the soccer team was I got in trouble and a freshman year. It was for something academic. I didn't cite a paper properly. And when I was confronted with it, I fully admitted it. I was like, yeah, I used that person's map overlay for my PowerPoint.

And I got in trouble. I had to do a big board. and end of freshman year, I was deemed a six-month turn back. So all throughout West Point, I had that just looming over me. And I didn't even tell my parents. So I was just like suffering in silence. But I was damned if I wasn't going to graduate with my class. Because half the reason that you go to West Point is to throw your hat in the air.

Like this photo right there. Like, you need that photo. And so I was like, I'm not going to not get that photo. What is that term six-month throwback? What does that mean? So it means you have to stay at West Point for six more months after your class graduates. So it's like turned back almost or like super senior. And I was embarrassed.

I was ashamed. It like wasn't who I identified as like as a December grad. And so I worked so hard the next three years to get reinstated with my class. And I did a bunch of stuff. And it all kind of worked out because that's when I found out I was really good at doing like tactical things. I joined the Sandhurst team to kind of brown nose to my like NCOs that were in charge of me, the major that was my tack. And Sandhurst is like a military competition that you do with a bunch of colleges. The Sanhurst College over in England comes over and it's like a weekend long competition.

You're rucking. You're shooting. your one rope bridging, you're land-naving, all this stuff. And that was like my first real competitiveness towards military things. And I was successful at it. So that's kind of like my trouble story, but not very funny, but it helped identify some skill sets that definitely helped me later on in life. Yeah, definitely.

I mean, teaching you some of the perseverance that you needed later on for sure. Absolutely. So graduate from West Point and then what's the next stop for you? So I graduated from West Point and I commissioned as a transportation officer. I was very logistic, system-minded and that was my first choice. I was so excited. And when you commission as a transportation officer, you go down to Fort Lee. I commissioned in 2014 and that was before women were allowed in combat.

arms. If I was allowed to go to combat a combat arms branch, I probably would have done infantry just because I found great success in tactics, physically fit. I was ranked very high in our class physically and militarily, academically, not so much, but that's okay. But Ranger material. What was that? Ranger material. Exactly, exactly. A tough Ranger, strong Ranger, not the smart one. But I went to Fort Lee, and that's where the logistics schoolhouse is, and that's where I learned all about being a transportation officer,

which was really cool. And I had one of my best friends there with me. And that was in the summer of 2014, and that's kind of right around when women were allowed to go to Ranger School. And, of course, I wanted to go. I knew I could. I always looked upon the Ranger tab as something that like I knew I could have and I knew I could achieve. And I wanted that recognition. I wanted like when you walk in a door, people see that tab. And they're like, okay. Awesome. And we like Fort Lee, they put together like a pre-ranger PT situation in the morning. So I went. I tried out for it. I got a slot. And so every morning. I would be doing like hard PT with all the guys that wanted to go to Raiders school. So out of transportation, Bullock.

At the end of the day, none of us got slots. We would have to go to our units. And then so after six months at Fort Lee, I went down to Fort Hood and served in the 49 Transportation Battalion in a expeditionary sustainment command. So that's where I was. And that's kind of where I got my first slot or try. at Ranger's School. And what was, so 2015, I mean, 10 years ago, was early on as far as this going on?

I mean, what was that sort of that process like for you? Yeah, it was interesting. I mean, I was a dumb clueless lieutenant. I had no idea about what a school's NCO was, what an ATAR slot is. So I did a dumb thing. And my friend was like, oh, Haley, you're having trouble? Just email the guy in charge of MCOE at Fort Benning. And MCOE is maneuvered center of excellence, which is like the main command at Fort Benning.

So Butterbar Haley emails the three-star general at MCOE. And I'm like, hey, sir, I'm trying to get a slot at Ranger's School. And luckily, General Miller is, really good friends with my best friend's dad so i didn't get too much in trouble from general miller my command team on the other hand if if they could take me out back and like beat me they would have like it was in looking back on it i am mortified that i did that i am i still have the emails just a reminder to stay humble and don't do dumb things like oh my god um and then i had to wait a few months, I got a normal slot through our school's NCO, and I was with the first way to go to R-TAC.

So that in 2015, women had to go to R-TAC r-Ranger training assessment course. I believe it's the pre-ranger course at Fort Benning put on by the National Guard. And so I was there with my best friend, Jasmine, and they hate Christ. So we were the first one woman to go through our attack. Unfortunately, the like third or second day got a really bad concussion. It was hospitalized and med dropped. But Shea Hager, she was one that actually found me unconscious. And she was also my platoon leader at West Point.

So it was all very, like, kismet almost. What happened? Did you fall off an obstacle on the O-course or something? So I wish it was that valiant. I fell off my bunk bed. Oh my God. I know. I had a large, those like PX shower shoes that you get that are just like rubber and they were like five sizes too big.

I was wearing them. I was trying to climb up to the top bunk and the shoe slipped. I tried to grab and I smack my head on the, I think it was the opposite bed or the floor. I don't, it was terrible, embarrassing. But everything happens for a reason. Yeah, geez, I'm sorry to hear that. That's crazy. So, yeah, that's, again, another setback, something that you kind of had to, like, not start all over again, but it kind of feels like that at the time. I say that as a ranger school recycle myself.

So you went back to your transport unit at that point? Yeah, so I went back to Fort Hood and a lot of, as most people in the military, they'd suffer from like mental health issues, depression. And looking back on it, I now recognize that that is like what I was suffering with. Like after this like big loss, definitely in a dark spot. And that was kind of the same back at West Point after I got in trouble. But I just kept my head down and I was just ready to get out of Fort Hood. So I survived my lieutenant years. I performed well, but I wanted to get out of Fort Hood.

So I was either going to try out for a cultural support team person or get Captain's career course, whatever got me at a Fort. The earliest. And that was going to Captain's Career Course. So I spent about two more years at Fort Hood. I was in a movement control team. It's like a very weird first unit to be in. It's like 20 people.

and you do a bunch of, I was like in charge of an airport at once and then the railhead the other day. So it's a lot of, yeah, it's a lot of weird first assignments and a weird first look at the military. I had no idea what a brigade combat team was really or like how they fit. It was like very weird in the logistics world for me to like grasp the big army. And I really had no idea about Ranger Regiment at the time either. But I finished my time at Fort Hood. I go back to Fort Lee. I do six months of captain's career course, and then I go to Korea.

And at that time, it was about year four in my army contract and had a great time in Korea. I was a, what was the job? I was the logistics liaison to the Korean Army, so I got to work directly with the Korean Army headquarters. and I was at Camp Youngen, which is like a very small detachment, and I got to live in the city. I was in charge of all the people there. I got to travel a bunch. I was like fully immersed in the Korean culture. So it was an amazing experience.

One that I like, when I found out I was going to Korea, I cried. I was like, I can't go to Korea. Yeah, that's cool. But it was definitely awesome and a great year. And then I went to Fort Lewis after that. And I was like, this is perfect. I'm from Washington. I'll get out of my, I'll get out of the army at five years in my home state. Like, it couldn't be more perfect. So yeah, this was sort of like a big decision point for you then. Yeah. Yeah. And all along, I was like, I can't wait to get out of the army. This is going to be amazing. The minute my feet like improcessed second.

brigade support battalion and two two i was like here's my refraud frad paperwork take it please and my uh refraud so refrat is request from active duty and since i completed my five years i was able to get out and go do whatever i wanted i um i submitted the packet i had my like eTS leave in i was doing hiring our heroes and had like a Nike internship lined up down in Beaverton, Oregon. So it was going to be awesome. But when my refraud paperwork was processing, they were like, okay, Haley, go up to the brigade headquarters and go help out the foreshop up there. We'll get someone else who needs a KD like, KD time in the BSP. And so I was like, okay, sure. And so I go up to the brigade staff, and that's where I met my, like, one of my favorite people,

um, major Jillian Burke. She was the brigade S4, a West Point grad, just a fierce of a leader and just amazing woman, so intelligent. And this is like the first time I ever had a mentor in the army, um, which is wild. Like five years in, um, never really had a mentor. Granted, I don't think I, like, sought hard enough for one, but I didn't know the importance of mentorship then. And she told me,

Hey, are you sure you don't want to stay in? Like, we need someone to take company command of this FSC. Like they're hurting and we need someone. And I'm like, yes, ma'am, I'm good. I don't want to do it. But I just kept seeing how important she made logistics in a brigade operation. Like she would walk into the S3 conference room.

Everyone would stop and look at Major Burke. me like, okay, Jill, what are we doing? Which is rare for someone, for a brigade staff to look at a logistician for the answers. But she was just brilliant at her job. She knew exactly what needed to be done. She knew where to get all the resources and how to connect them and how to, like, create the lethality and the execution needed for the commander's end state. So it was just very cool to see.

And I was like, dang, maybe I do want to stay in. Like, she's badass. This is awesome. And so I remember I was running one day and I picked up my cell phone while I was running and I called her on McKayam. I think I want to stay in. And she was like, this is awesome. So even though my packet was already approved with HQDA, I already had my update. I pulled it.

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Do you think some of the like kind of like push pull with you personally at the time that it had something to do with in the back of your mind you wanted to sort of be like the GI Jane, but those avenues weren't totally open or like you said like maybe if you had a mentor that came from that world, maybe it would be a little bit different. Yeah, I think so. I wouldn't say like I wanted to be the GI Jane. I just know I hadn't reached my full potential. And I wasn't brave enough at the time to like speak it or to like create that space for myself to grow in. I just kind of took what was handed to me and I was like, okay, yeah, let's whatever. We'll make the best of the situation. Grow where you're planted. But I didn't really seek the potential that I knew I could like do. I would always, like I said, I would look at the Ranger tab and I would always be envious of it because you walk into a room and you get that instant credibility.

And then when I went and took a company command, all the fellow, all my like other company commanders, they were all lieutenants and Ranger Regiment. And so they had that scroll. And I was like, wait, what's that? And they're like, Haley, you're an idiot. It's 75th Ranger Regiment. We're the coolest because we were lieutenants there. Like, get with a picture. And then that's kind of like when I saw that and I was like, oh, no, that's what I want.

I want people to like know that I can do something. And as superficial as it is, I mean, I have a ranger tab right above me. Like as superficial as those like visual markers are, they do carry such weight. It represented the thing that you wanted to do in the army all along, right? Yeah. Absolutely. So first you got to go and do company command time. So what was that like?

Oh, company command. Everyone says it's the best job in the Army. And I think they're lying. I definitely think they're lying. I learned a lot about myself. I learned how I didn't want to lead. And I learned that there's always room for growth. I was a company commander of a Ford support company in an infantry battalion in a striker brigade

combat team. So my company was always moving. There was like never a like maintenance thing that wasn't happening, fuel thing that wasn't happening. We were always running and gunning and helping to support our guys. And so it was our team. It was it was an awesome job and like very like we were in the the weeds of it. But I learned so much about myself. And I'm not really that proud of how I, like, looking back on it, I definitely like, Haley, you could have done a lot better. You could have been that leader that they needed. But I just didn't know any better, I think. I definitely yelled a fair share. Oh, I'm so sorry. So sorry about that.

That's all right. I, one second. I, even during my change of command, like getting out of company command, my battalion commander was like, yeah, Haley, she can, she can really, I don't want to say yell at people. I figure what he said. He said it way more eloquently, but yeah. Annunciate herself. Yeah, and instead of leading the way I wanted to, I was just, kind of fighting, fighting for, fighting for error at that point. And I was being selfish, too, because I,

I knew early on in my company command time that I wanted to go to Ranger Regiment, wanted to go to Ranger School, whether or not I got selected for Ranger Regiment. I was still going to go to Ranger school, just to kind of prove to myself that I can do it. But Company Command, you learn so much about yourself and you try your best to support your soldiers. In company command, if you're not an empathetic leader, like you're not doing doing it right. Because you're leading your soldiers, it's their lives, whether or not you're deployed in a combat zone or just in garrison. And like, it was just so hard, especially like having to say no when a soldier wanted to go to

their grandma's funeral. I was like, I can't sleep for them. I'm so sorry. And like, all I wanted to do was like buy the plane ticket for them to go. So as, as a very empathetic person, it was very hard for me. Yeah, I mean, I can see that. Long days. And did you, you do, did you deploy with that unit? No. We did not deploy, no. But you're just busy like JRX and all those kinds of exercises. NTC, JRTC. C. We. We planned two Pacific pathway missions, and that was really cool, dealing with like four nations, coordinating all that supply stuff and logistics. That was a very cool thing that I got to do.

But no, I didn't deploy. All right. So on that note, biggest lesson from company command time, what would you want to tell your younger self? Be patient. Be patient. Tactical patience. Yes.

So as your company command. time winds down. It sounds like it was probably a bit of a relief after, you know, 18-hour days for a couple of years. But you had wanted to go to Ranger School all along, but now you also have this, you know, idea about going to the 75th Ranger Regiment at the same time. Sort of what was like the next step for you, like going to Ranger School and Rasp? Yeah. So I, luckily, I had Major Jillian Burke and then my brigade commander at the time, Colonel Jonathan Chung, um, they, I told them my idea during a counseling and they're like, absolutely. Haley, if you don't go, we will be so disappointed in you. And I'm like, say you're going to be disappointed in me and I'll do

anything. So I'm like, okay, I'm absolutely going. Um, and I got my battalion commanders buy in also, and he was awesome. Um, I, I've had some great leaders, but, uh, it, It was, I had a phone interview with the regimental S-4, and that went well. And he was like, okay, submit your packet. It'll go through the process. If it gets approved, then you have a slot at regimental selection. And so I complete the packet. It's this big packet.

You have to do all this stuff. And then you have to do the PT test, do all these things, submitted it. And then I heard back like a couple weeks later, I think, and I was given a slot. And it was in early September, and my company, we were at in NTC right up until then. So I had to leave NTC early to go to regimental selection. So it was very interesting. Yeah, no train up for that. Go.

No. I mean, I was doing push-ups behind the field kitchen. So it was great. So the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, I believe it's RASP 2 that the officers go to. At that time, were there any women serving in the Ranger Regiment? What year was this? This was 2020.

Okay. And there were. The regimental psychologist, a woman, also West Pointe grad, the regimental S2, a woman, and then there was an NCO, in the intelligence battalion that she hadn't gone to ranger school yet but she was serving

in the armin. That's the awesome thing about the ranger regiment is that, you know, even the cooks have ranger tabs and tan berets because they went to the same selection course you did. Yeah, and that was another thing that kind of drew me to ranger regiment because I think about like special forces being a green beret, but if, um, it's, If I, like, you go to the group support battalion and you're not a part of the, like, you don't wear the green beret. And I was like, I want to wear the tan beret. I will be a, I want to be a ranger.

I don't want to just be support to Ranger Regiment. So that was one of the cool things about it. And I remember my friends, they're like, hey, Lee, why do you want to be a ranger? They're crazy. And I was like, exactly. Perfect. It's funny. So tell us about RASP, too.

RASP was very interesting. Nothing like RASP 1. God bless those people who suffer and endure all that. I heard all about that in Ranger's School. But RASP 2, it is a three-ish week selection process. There's a physical aspect, academic aspect, and a board at the end. Can't like give the details of it. but one of the hardest workouts I've ever done, like one of the hardest, like 12 hours of my life

have been in RASP 2. It was a lot. I was the only woman in the RASA class. There was about 20 of us. And this one instance was really funny. The whole quiet professionals, I didn't really clock that off the bat. And now I get shit for it for posting online, but that's neither here nor there. But when we were doing one of the first workouts, there was this bigger chief warrant officer in my squad.

And we were doing like jumping over the eight foot wall, going up a caving ladder, climbing a rope, dragon dummies and everything or Randy's. And we were in last place. There was like three squads. We were in last place. And I was like, we can't be in last place. this isn't good. Like, you need to be number one. If you're not number one, you're going to get cut.

And so I'm cheering on. The chief warrant officer trying to get the caving ladder. And he's this guy. The caving ladder's tiny. And I'm like, come on, number eight, or I forget his name or what I said. And then one of the Ranger NCOs just stone cold, deadpaned face. He was like, Russia number eight, this is not true leading camp. And I was like, oh, my God.

I should just back and go home now. This is mortifying. Like, it was, it was awful. And then when we were, like, finished the event, we didn't, we, I think we came in last for this, like, little morning PT session. But we were walking back in one of the, my buddies, I'm still friends with now, he was like, yeah, you know, quiet professionals, don't cheer. And it was just mortifying.

You know, that's because, I would point out, that's because it's selection and it's supposed to be sort of an individual event. You're being assessed individually. But I mean, the thing I do like about the Ranger Regiment is much shit as we all talk about each other. There is a lot of like bro support. You know, you're my boy, Blue, you know, that kind of thing. Yeah. And that's one of the things I love about it. In like Ranger Regiment, like you are expected to be the best. But to be the best team. And that's what Ranger Regiment is. It's one of the best teams. in the entire world. But to be like a good teammate, you have to be solid yourself.

So that's where that like individual aspect comes in. But for me, like my strong team background, like, and of course, I was a cheerleader. That just my natural personality kind of came out. So I was just being myself, which is I'm glad I was, even though the cheerleading camp comment was in my peer evals. but I still made it. So it's okay. So I know you can't get too much into the specifics of, you know, I've heard there's like problem solving events and things like that. They want to see, will you panic? How do you handle different situations and things? How was it, you know,

when you got to the board, how did that go at that point? Were you nervous? I wasn't nervous. The board went very well. I, Yes, I practiced answering questions well. I looked up all the little flashcards about board questions. I was prepared, but to be confident, you must be prepared. But I walked in. I was proud of how I performed throughout the entire assessment selection. And I was just honest.

I was me. I didn't try to be like a bro-y, rowy version of me or some inauthentic something. It was funny. I like sit down at the, you like walk in, you sit down and they're like, Ranger Gibbons, are you nervous? And I was like, no.

And I was like, actually, sir, yes, I am a bit nervous. And then the whole board laughs. But it pays to show up authentically as yourself. And I'm proud that I was able to do that. Yeah, they know if you're BS. And so you get selected, but there's a caveat to this, of course. Yes. After the board, they let me know that you are selected for service in 75th Ranger Regiment

as a conditional hire. You need to pass Ranger School before you are allowed to come serve in Ranger Regiment. And during the board, I said that's one of my weaknesses. is I don't, I'm not coming in here with a Ranger tab. I'm not coming in here with a deployment patch. I'm coming in here just as myself and my like expertise knowledge with logistics. That's really all I have. And they were like, I like that self-awareness. And so I had the 62 day Ranger school like beast in front of me after that. So I finish up Rasp, I pack all my things up. I leave a couple toenails behind and I go back to Fort Lewis to train for a few months.

I graduate or I RASP was done in September and then I get a slot in December to go to 75th pre-ranger course. That's lots of fun, by the way. What was that? The 75th pre-ranger course is lots of fun. It's amazing. It's so fun. I, in all, all jokes aside, it was, it was great.

Living in the barracks for like three extra days, having to shave my head earlier, that wasn't fun. But I show up to Fort Bunning with my little duffel bags and all my paperwork. And they're like, and I shaved my head the day before. I show up and one of the, and you're just standing in line with all your things and you're all excited and nervous. And then one of the NCOs comes over and he's like, Ranger Gibbons. And I'm like, Roger, Sergeant. He's like, your blood work's wrong. And I was like, what?

And so they're like, yeah, we're going to have to drop you from this pre-ranger course unless you can get your blood work done. So I like grab my paperwork. I go to the on-post hospital and I try my darnest to get that blood work done on Sunday. But it didn't happen. So I have to wait three more weeks. and then I go through the pre-ranger course. And so I shaved my head three weeks early, but, oh, well. You've got to hang out at Fort Benning for three weeks.

Come on. You know, and it's a great place. Yeah, wonderful. But pre-ranger was awesome. If anyone is trying to go to Ranger school, go to a pre-ranger course. Most installations offer them, but if you can get an ATAR slot to 75th cert, you will be successful at Ranger's school. They teach you and prepare you so well.

You have to sleep in the field a few extra days. You're like being pushed and learning everything. But it's, it was so awesome. And one of I think one of the best things coming out of cert and going right into Ranger School was all the dudes that I just went through cert with went with me to Ranger School. And I, excuse me, dudes. And then there was another woman who went to 270. and five. So I did have a ranger woman battle buddy with me. We were both in our 30s hanging out with a

18, 20-year-olds. So it was very funny. And I should point out, I know that you know this, Haley, but just there's maybe young women or young men watching this thinking about becoming a ranger. If you're an officer, you have to go and be ranger tabbed before you can serve in the ranger Regiment. If you're enlisted, you will go to Rasp 1 and serve some time in the Ranger Regiment, couple years, go to Ranger School, come back, and then get a team leader, squad leader position, and so on and so forth. Just want to point that out to some of the young folks that are listening to this. Yeah, and that's awesome because, like, all the guys that the other Ranger woman and myself were with, like, we were all in the same boat, kind of. We were all

just as excited. Like this was our like first shot getting to go to Ranger school. So everyone, well, my second, everyone was just very excited. And having all those Ranger buddies with you going into Ranger school, there's a sense of familiarity. You have like 20 battle buddies going in there with you. You can kind of like help each other out during like zero day. or all that stuff.

So that was like one of the best things coming out of Pre-Ranger. Yeah, so Pre-Ranger, you're back out at Coal Range, too. You just finished with that. Yeah. Now you're going back. Back at Coal Range. Yeah, we had to do a bunch of Land-V. And one of my, I am so bad at Land-Av, but I practiced a bunch.

And that's another thing about being in Ranger Regiment. if you don't know something or if you ask a question, people will like literally stop whatever they are doing and make sure you learn it. You know it well and that you're confident with it. I remember this first sergeant that I was out like doing land nav one day and he was there. He was like, you seem like you don't know what's going on. And I was like, Roger for sergeant. Can you help me? And he's like, yeah. And that was the first time I learned about attack points. And I was like, how did I not know about this in my like last seven years of Army? So, yeah, Colerange, we did a bunch of land nav team exercises,

platoon tactics, squad tactics, all of that. So we became very comfortable with, like, being in the field, carrying that weight, trying to do squad and platoon tactics. Well, I'm glad you had fun because my experience was more like, yeah, fuck this place. Yeah. But I mean, I'm only semi-kitting. I mean, yes, you do learn a ton out there. It's hard, but you learn a lot.

Yeah. And I mean, I, of course, stood out like a sore thumb, being a woman, being like over 30. So, of course, there's a lot of pressure on me. And I definitely, I leaned on the guys and I made sure I knew everything going into Ranger school because, like, I wasn't going to be, like, a liability of not knowing squad or platoon tactics and I wanted to be successful. So it was, it was great. Oh, that's, that's awesome. And so then you get to Rangers school. So we're at 2020, 2020, 2021 around this time. And again, do you have any inkling of, of how many women had graduated

Ranger's school at this point? I was the, yeah, it was about a hundred. I was the 100. I was the a hundred and second woman to graduate ranger school i mean this is how far back in time i am i didn't even realize it was that many um yeah yeah we'll talk about the about the regiment the the good old days a little later but our so going to ranger's school first week is rap week if i recall right out at camp derby doing all the physical events and stuff so now you're you're up and running you're doing it and what what's going through your mind as they're putting you through your paces um I was very successful rap week. I did the PT test, of course, during the push-ups,

which is what I was most nervous about. The R.I., when I hit, like, 48, he just kept saying 48, 48, 48, 48, and I'm like, fuck. But then finally, when the timer guy was like, five, four, three, he's like, get our brain, and so I'd sprint away. But wrap week, the things that they don't tell you about is how much standing you will be doing. You're literally just standing in the bays, on the little rocks and the overhang areas, just standing there. Waiting for instruction, waiting to get, like, smoked, waiting for your next hit time. And so that's what I, like, wasn't really prepared for.

But for everything else, very successful, I crushed the five mile. I'm good at running and I'm great at rucking. I came in like, in ranger school, they tell you don't run on the ruck, just pass it. But I was like, damn, if I'm here, I might as well, like, compete. So I run the whole thing and I like, I come in like second on the ruck. You don't get a prize for it. You just get a little bit more tired. So I just don't do that if you're going to go to ranger school.

But, yeah, it wasn't that bad. And I was there in January. So it was freezing. So you're just standing on these little rocks just shivering the entire time. Yeah. No, I started in January too. It's terrible. Real.

And so I think maybe this would be a good point to talk about, like, maybe some of the misconceptions that sometimes exist around women going to ranger school and becoming rangers. Some of the, like, I hate to say common knowledge, what's called an internet comments, that women aren't, you. know, that their bones break down when they ruck march, that they don't have enough upper body strength to do push-ups or pull-ups, all these physical events, but it sounds like you kind of breeze through it. What's the reality of it? Do you need to be a unique physical specimen as a woman to make it through one of these courses? Absolutely not. Like, if you know the standards and you train for the standards and to exceed them a bit, like you will be able to pass. If you know you can Google the 20 boards, if you learn the 20 boards, that's what you're

graded on in Ranger School, you'll be able to pass. You just need to show up prepared. The misconceptions and the stereotypes that women can't meet standards is, to me, very laughable. because when you go through the gates on day zero, no one cares if you're a woman. My gender did not come up once during Ranger's school, except for the one time they made us separate showers. No one cared. People looked at me because I was older

and had like people management skills. And they looked at me because I could do an awkward in my sleep, not once did an art. I like say anything or treat me differently because I was a woman and none of the none of my ranger buddies did either. So the standards are the standards and you either pass them or you don't, whether you're male or female. And people, I get these comments all the time on like TikTok and Instagram. They're like, they lowered the standards for you. They lowered the standards. And I'm like, okay, if they lowered them for me, then they lowered them for everyone else too because like there is

only one standard, the Ranger standard. So it's, to me, it's just people who may have a bruised ego who have never been in those formations, in those schools, past Ranger's school, been in Ranger Regiment, been in SFAS selection. It's people who have not been at those rooms and those formations are at the table who are threatened by a woman's success or just think that we are less than. And people will think that and like I can't change their mind. You can show them the proof. You can read to them the proof. You can actually do it.

And they will still say, oh, the standards were lowered. Oh, you didn't do those push-ups. So and I'm just like, go for it. My resume speaks for itself, if you will. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, some of the vitriol that, you know, I see female soldiers get online is like pretty over the top to say the least. And yeah, I think you're right that there's a part of it that maybe these are guys that wanted to be in the military but didn't think they could hack it or maybe they wanted to go to Ranger's school but couldn't.

Or maybe even worse, guys that did go to Ranger's school, but they feel like just by the nature of a woman going to it, that it's taking something away from their experience and their Ranger tab, which is a ridiculous way to think of it. At the end of the day, you know, it doesn't matter your skin color, your gender or whatever else. I mean, if you met the standard, then you have as much a right to wear the ranger tab as anyone else. Exactly. And like, if people did lower the standards, then, like, the leaders that are in charge of those formations, they wouldn't want to lead those formations. They wouldn't want to be in charge of ranger regiment because when you get a ranger, like, on target or assigned to, like, a borrowed manpower thing, you know the,

quality of a soldier that you're getting and that is a ranger, someone who is an expert at their job, insanely physically fit and will get the job done on time and under budget for you. So exactly. It's just people who maybe have a chip on their shoulder and for all the wrong reasons. So Darby phase, you said you're kicking ass at pitching operators. Officers are usually pretty good at that. How's it as you're getting through like your graded patrols, how's it going and how are you kind of dealing with like the stress? What I think the tough part of Ranger's School is the day after day long term physical and mental stress that you're under. Yeah. It was a lot, but it was nothing I couldn't manage. I'm pretty durable person,

pretty sturdy. There were a few movements in mountain phase that sucked. Some guys were crying, but like it wasn't that bad. Everything in Ranger School is very manageable if you just have a don't quit attitude. For my graded patrols, I had PL looks every single time or squad leader looks every single time. And the majority of the time, it was the first PL look. So they would always give me the offboard. And like I said, I know the offboard, like the back of my hands. And I was able to brief it very well. And because of that, every, every offboard that was written or like briefed in my platoon, I was the one that wrote it. So every person that had a squad leader look or a platoon leader look, I was like, okay, give me the stuff. I'm going to do your awkward for you.

And then we had these like laminated cards with everything. And I was like, here you go. And so they would just read off of that and then they're off board they would get a go check mark on it. So that's one way that I was able to help out the platoon. Yeah, and it was great. I never got a no-go. I got goes on every single look. One of my most memorable squad leader or leadership looks was in Florida phase, I think. it was because in Ranger School you do a day mission and then a night mission and in each mission

you have like first shift and second shift leadership looks for go for whether or not you get a go at that position and I was the second shift on the night mission and I but I had my um my first leadership look that morning so I had two looks in the same day and after the first person went on the night shift. I was like, thank God, we're done. We're going to go like, whatever. I get a chill and the squad. I'll carry the Skedko, whatever. But they're like, gibbons. And I was like, fuck. And I grab all my stuff. I run to the RIs. And they're like, okay, you're the PL for this night mission. It's an ambush. Da-da-da-da-da. Here's your coordinates go. And we, I got everyone going. I gave my Alpha Team leader.

though the point and we're walking, but we ended up walking on the wrong road. And I was like, hey, we're on the wrong road. We need to cut 90 degrees this way and then get on that road. And we have 30 minutes to do it to like get to the ambush site, get everyone set up. And we go, we get to the spot. And normally you're supposed to like set up your like security patrols at like the triangle or whatever. And I was like, everyone just get in a circle, get 360, drop. your rucks and then I grabbed three people and like put them on the ambush line or something. It was a shit show, but I met every criteria. We like to use the term hasty near ambush, not the term shit show.

Thank you. Yes, it was a beautiful hasty near ambush. And it was great. And everyone was like, what is going on? What are we doing? Gibbons lost her mind. And I was like, it's going to be okay, guys. And I got my go.

Thank you. and it was it was fun very memorable. And speaking about the, you know, again, the long-term kind of like stress that your body and that you're under psychologically too. I mean, that was the most challenging thing for me, I think, more than any particular event. And like, I'm sorry, but I imagine, and I see you seem like you have a smaller frame than most men. And I was like, I mean, like, not that I'm anything special at all, but like by the time I got to

then to Florida phase, I'm like, dude, my body is like eaten up. Like, what the hell? Yeah, it was, it was interesting. And like, what a good gauge is is every time you go into a defect, you have to do six chin-ups, then then say, right after you do the Ranger Creed. And during Florida, like, those chin-ups were near impossible for me. I was like so, like, my upper body was just so deteriorated and just tired. My legs were fine. But those chin-ups, up. So I was like, don't look, guys. These are really embarrassing. But it did take a toll on everyone. There was someone who, one of my Ranger buddies who actually went to Ranger Regiment after me, she fractured her ankle. But she was like, I'm not going to go to the medic because then they'll drop me.

So she finished like the last week of Florida phase with a fractured ankle, which is just insane. insane. But it was difficult, definitely towards the end, but it was all still manageable. And by that time, you've developed a good relationship with the people in your squad. You've showed them that you are a team player and that your team asset. You have strong bonds and trust between each other. So like whatever slack that may need to get picked up, they're there to do it as I was to help out people who needed it also. Any other funny Ranger School stories you want to tell before we move on? Yeah, there was the first movement in Florida phase. I was the RTO. I was the RTO for almost every mission. It was insane. And the RTO has the, like, the radios ammo, just a heavy, heavy

rucksack. It's probably like 100 plus pounds. And you, you count everyone in, like, when you're starting the patrol in Florida. And I'm there, like, counting people in, trying to be, like, really serious. Like, this is great from the swamps. Like, fuck yeah. And then the R.I. is standing right next to me. And my, the rucksack was so back heavy. Like, the minute, the second person like walks through. I just slow and my feet are like sunk in to the mud in the swamp. I like can't move and then I just feel myself slowly going back. And so the very start of the first swamp mission, I fully submerged backwards, make this huge splash. The R.I. is laughing. Everyone's like, damn, Gibbons is down. And I get up. I'm soaking wet. Luckily I waterproof the

rucks at very well. But yeah, that was that was pretty bad. It was pretty bad. And then so January class, you would have been graduating towards like the end of February. Yes. What did that feel like when you finally pinned to that Ranger tab on? It was awesome. It was awesome. Much like the graduation hat toss photo, I just envisioned like the entire time of Ranger school, me standing on Victory Pond with my family and my friends. I'm just so excited. My dad pinned my tab. It was awesome. And like you're just,

you're frail, but your cheeks are fat as shit. Like my skin was windburn. My lips were chapped. So it looks like I had like snickers bars. Yeah, like I have Viva glam Mac lipstick on. But you're just so excited.

And then you watch all the Rangers in action stuff. And then you finally get to say the Ranger Creed. and you're just screaming, just so excited. It was an awesome day. It was very cool. So then you go down the road to the regiment, and now you got your tab and your scroll and the beret and the whole deal. What's it like showing up at the Ranger Regiment?

Like, this is the big leagues now, right? This is pretty cool. Yeah, it was awesome. And I was in the logistics cell first off, And the team of men in the logistics cell are some of the most professional people I've ever worked with. They are amazing. They have been in Ranger Regiment probably their entire life. So they know the Ranger mission like in and out to a T. So I learned so much.

It was so overwhelming and how regiment operates compared to big Army night and day. So I had to basically relearn everything from the last seven years like in a like, week period. But it was very cool to, instead of being like, okay, I'm planning an NTC mission, where do the porta-potties need to go? I'm like planning actual like real life stuff. So it was, it was very cool. Being in the room and just having a team of experts.

It was, it was awesome. It was intimidating. In the first month I was there, I had a. brief the entire regimental staff and all the battalion commanders. So I was so nervous and I like practiced so much like the night before and everything and I like rehearsed it on the drive to the to the conference room. But like practice makes confidence. So I judged it. And that's kind of how I found a lot of success in range regiment just by making sure I knew what I was going to say when I needed to say something.

Because in a Ranger Regiment, like I said, you're surrounded by the best of the best. And so I needed to prove that like I'm not just like a strong Ranger, but I know logistics in and out. So it was awesome. One of the big changes, right, is that the regiments are rapidly deploying unit.

Yes. Yeah. So the, they rotate who deploys when they deploy and sometimes you're on like a short recall. So that was another very cool problem set. Like my systems and logistics background got a like got a bit of an exercise there because I was able to plan stuff on it like a tight turnaround and everything had to just happen just in time for it to be

successful. So that was a very cool problem set and you're dealing with like not just Humphys but like massive pieces of equipment and like helping with planes and everything. One real world mission that I did get to help with was um uh uh sudan um when the ranger battalion went over there um i was able to help coordinate logistics support for that and so it was like okay this is game time like this is awesome um but that was also kind of right was that was that when they a contingency when they had to evacuate the embassy yes yes yeah so i got to help with that um but that was right when i was also getting out of the military. So it was, it was chaotic as it is. And then I was like dealing with a bunch of other stuff. But the logistics power that the Ranger Regiment and UsaSach have is insane. It's very cool.

I would love to, you know, talk to you a little bit more in depth about Ranger and special ops logistics because I've wanted to have like some of the OG logistics guys from Socom, you know, on the show and I need to make a more of an effort to do that. But those guys and officers like you are the ones that kind of make everything happen and don't really get any credit or there's not a lot of visibility for it. But I mean, just like this operation that happened the other day in Venezuela, there's a tremendous amount of logistics and preparation that goes into that and stuff that people with bigger foreheads than me have to figure out. What was some of the, like the, I mean, if you want to use the real world example of like some of the challenges or some of the training situations that

you were in of, you know, some of the challenges that come up when you're a logistician in the Ranger Regiment. Yeah, it's all about like the mission you're supporting, the resources available and like the needs of that mission and who you're supporting. It's it all, it's chaotic, but you need to make sure you have all the right people at the table to coordinate that. Because Just like anything, if you're playing on a birthday party, if you don't coordinate getting the candles in, like the big surprise or the big culmination of blown out the candles doesn't happen. So it's a lot of exhaustive double backing, sync matrix, consumption rates, coordinating with people. That's kind of what a logistic officer is, really. And when I was planning or helping out with the Sudan mission, you needed to have every contingency thought of.

And sometimes we didn't. We didn't think that we would need to support for, we thought that it was just going to be like, okay, quick mission, great. But it extended a week and then a little bit longer. And we're like, okay, we need to get them food. Like, what if we need to use like this or that? So it's just having having contingencies upon contingencies ready to go.

And like you said, being a logistic officer is a thankless job. If everything is planned to a T and you did such a good job, like no one cares. You don't get a thank you. But if the porta potties aren't there, you're going to get yelled at.

So it's not glamorous. It's not thankful. Like you do it because, you like seeing all the pieces line up and it get executed flawlessly. And without logistics, like the people on the front line can't do their job. So it is very cool in that way also. And I guess this is where your systems degree came into handy too because, I mean, I just think back when you're dealing with like hundreds of rangers on the ground doing airfield seizures or operations, whatever it is that you're doing, I mean, like the organization

nation is so paramount to how all of that works. Like everything has to work in a sequence from like the logistics to the air assets to everything else. And any one little thing goes haywire and you know, you're going to end up in mission failure. Exactly. And like one of the great things about special operations and Ranger Regiment, like you have experts for everything you just mentioned like air.

You have it like an air NCOIC who has done air missions like for the past 20 years. have your ammo techs who know exactly what is going on and how much ammo you need for this or that. You know how much you have your food and COIC, your chief warrant officer. You have, so you're just surrounded by experts, but being like the, like the S4, so the logistics officer for Ranger Battalion, it's your job to bring all those experts together, have the intent and the end goal, and then have all those just insanely smart people. help you with the plan. So it's never just an individual mission logistics is always like a team effort. And so that was your next job being the S4 down at Third Ranger Battalion, which is

just across the way from headquarters. Yeah, it was, it was awesome. I had a great team. The NCOIC for the S4 shop, Sergeant Queen, he was probably the best person that. I could have worked with then. He had been in Ranger Regiment his entire life. He knew Ranger Regiment like, he knew it so well. So I was able to get so much information from him and rely on him and learn from him. Because when you're coming in as a captain who never served in Ranger Regiment before, you literally know nothing.

You know some basics. But like I didn't even know how to set up my radios. and I'm like, Sir and Queen, can you want to fuck my radio again? Like, I don't, can you teach me? And so they would like, they teach you how to do it. And they teach you the right way. They teach you how to do it, the Ranger way. And so that I was thankful for.

And I served under the now RCO. I think Colonel Boho is still the RCO, but he was an awesome leader. Loved, loved learning from him. And he was very helpful. The only time that I was. I did encounter some like interpersonal issues was in 375 and I was able to work with Colonel Boho to like figure it out gracefully and very thankful for him and all the leadership for that. But it was a it was a very cool job. Yeah, I wanted to ask you a little bit about that

because, you know, as I mentioned earlier, I'm kind of like a boomer ranger at this point. I'm an older guy now. And it's hard to described to somebody who never went through this experience, including the experience that you had, but like the Ranger Regiment is very much a male-oriented organization. It is in many ways, it's a sort of male utopia. It's like this sort of like hidden little enclave where guys can be guys. And before the women showed up, you could poop with the door open. Like all of these, it's like a, you know, yeah, very professional, but it also has a bit of a frat sort of vibe to it at times. What was it like for you, like, integrating into those formations, like,

with all these dudes, with all these bros and, like, were you, like, becoming one of the bros? Was it hard for you to sort of, like, ingratiate yourself with that culture? You couldn't have said it better. A male utopia of, like, testosterone, workouts, Red Bull, all that. It's so funny. But what was interesting was, in the regimental logistics cell and in 375, there were no women locker rooms. No one thought to make a woman locker room when they were building those buildings. And so I like I showed up and the both teams, they built women's locker rooms for me. And it just goes to show that like, sure, it may be a male utopia.

I may not be a male. I'm a woman, but they don't care. I'm still a member of the team, and they're going to treat me, like, with as much respect as they would a dude. And it, like, meant a lot to me. They, like, made me this little locker room thing and made sure I was, like, good to go.

So it was very, very kind. And it just goes to show that, like, on the outside, it's a male utopia and everything. But, like, when you're in it, like, they just saw me as like, okay, we have a team member. She's kind of different. will adjust for her needs, but like continue mission.

Like it wasn't anything crazy. I didn't act any different than I have or did. I didn't try to be like Broie, Haley. I didn't try to dip. I didn't try to do like all this stuff. So this is a half a can of Copenhagen in the lower lip, yeah. Yeah, no, absolutely not. I had my hair nice and neat.

I would have my little lip gloss on. I would look good. I was professional. And I showed up as myself because if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to be successful there. If I was trying to be a bro and like snagging a Zen from a guy, like it wouldn't, it's not who I am. And I would be like living alive, basically. And I wouldn't be able to be like truly successful. And I was.

It was great. everyone. Everyone treated me with dignity and respect. It was it was very cool to see. Like one instance in I can pinpoint the individual and the time in place that it wasn't okay behavior. But other than that, like every NCO treated me with respect. They were they were stoked to see a woman. They were welcoming when Colonel Belho left and then the new brigade or battalion commander came in. he just shows up at like one of the change of command planning meetings and he sees me I'm like sitting there like typing my notes or whatever and he like double takes he's like oh there's a woman things have changed here yeah it was really funny um but uh it was it was great as long as you show up as yourself you'll be successful like don't try to don't try to be like the bro version of you to get some dude's approval who you don't need because like we belong in these things. spaces. And they will, they will make the space at the table for you. They will make you the locker rooms. Because people in the units, in those formations, they respect you if you can meet the standards,

whether you're a male or a woman. Yeah, I was going to say, you can do PT. And like, that's the kind of thing that gets you respect in the Ranger Regiment. It's like, it values strength and endurance, right? Yeah, absolutely. And like, like I said, I'll never be the smartest person in the room, but I I can run just as well as most of the guys and I can rock just as well. Can't clean and jerk however much. But also on that note, some of the guys in Range Regiment are truly freak athletes. They're like clocking it 530 minute per mile five mile times. And I'm like, how is that physically possible?

It's insane. It is so cool to see people just casually. They're the ones take it out the dip and hand in the monster over and just like going out. It's so cool. Yeah, that's also being, you know, 21 years old helps at that point. Yes. So the one incident that did happen that, you know, you had to get resolved. Are you okay talking about that at all?

Yeah, it was one of my peers, actually. And they're just sexist through and through. I experienced bad things with them previously at another institution. and they just were sexist. And they may have not liked that I wasn't friendly with them or something. But I was like, this is becoming a toxic workplace. And at the time, I was going through some, like, other personal stuff outside of my day job. And I was just, like, in a really bad space.

But I recognized the poor treatment and behavior. I knew I didn't deserve it. And so I was able to address it. And I don't want to say resolved because he still is a sexist person. But like we were able to work it out. Right. I mean, I'd be interested to, again, if you're okay, talking about it. Like how was the situation resolved and how did you address it with your chain of command? Yeah, absolutely. I picked up the phone when I like was at my breaking point. I picked up the phone and I called. called our battalion XO. And I was like, hey, sir, this is happening and it's not okay. And he was like, whoa, Haley, yeah, that is absolutely not okay. Would you be willing to talk to Colonel Boho about it? I'm like, absolutely, sir. So I go and I have an office call with Colonel Boho. He hears what I have to say. And he's like, yep, this isn't, this isn't okay. And he talked with the

individual. And the interactions with that individual after became fine. But I know it's because his boss probably yelled at him. Yeah, drop the hammer on him. Yeah, but never did I feel like I couldn't speak up or that I like my issues wouldn't be respected or heard from leadership. And I was, I want to say like the third woman to be in 375 because there was a platoon leader before me and then a me and they've had some issues. But at the end of the day, it's also the army. And the army will be the army, whether you're on Ranger Regiment, Special Forces or 2-2 striker brigade. So there's assholes everywhere. And I wouldn't pin that interaction on Ranger Regiment. Just, that individual. Yeah, and I was going to say, I think it is a positive thing that the institution,

the regiment addressed it immediately like that. Because as you say, there's always going to be assholes out there. You just hope that the organization does the right thing when they find out about it, right? Yeah, absolutely. And like, I'm, I'm no dummy. I know that I was like one of two, one of three women in Ranger Regiment at the time. So everyone knew everything that I was doing. The RCO at the time knew everything that I was doing. And so when my like issue at 375 happened, like, of course he heard. And everything was handled wonderfully. Leadership was very respectful. They were able to help me work through everything. And regiment as a whole like 10 out of 10 professional organization, just the one guy kind of said.

Yeah. Excuse me. So I, you kind of winding down your time as an S-4. What is it that you're thinking about doing next at this point in your life? Yeah. So I, I was at another decision point in my life. I kind of touched on. I was going through some personal stuff. Again, I needed help. I was definitely going through. some bout of depression or anxiety. I didn't really know what it was, but I went and got help. I was like, I need to talk to like a therapist or something. And I was like, I think I just need a career change.

And that's when I recognized. I was like, I don't love the Army anymore. I am in one of the most elite units. I am one of seven women to ever do so, but I don't love it. So I was like, this is a good sign. I am at peace with the decision. It's time to get out. So I, for the second time, dropped my refrat packet and was looking into the tech industry.

I used breakline. They are a really great organization for veterans, women, people of color, who are looking for like a career change into the tech industry. And they help a lot with like elevator speech or pitch. which is resume help and everything. So I was able to use them and apply for some jobs. But the big ego hit is when you're on an interview call with like a tech startup who does like some hybrid car,

AI driving car or whatever. And you're telling them, yeah, I went to Ranger Regiment and they're like, they're like, what? They don't even look at you. They're looking at a second screen. And you're like, dang, yeah, No one really cares in this industry. So I looked at defense tech.

And I was like, they know my background. They know like the weight of that accomplishment or of my accomplishments. And it's like, sure, tech may be foreign, but defense industry, I know it like the back of my hand. So I got a job at a small defense tech startup because of a guy who I served with in Ranger Regiment. So it's using your network, having those options that I like thought about. at West Point. And it was a, I didn't love the job. It wasn't, wasn't a good fit. And I now work at a bigger tech company in just like the normal tech industry. And again, I work with, like, the majority of the guys on my team are veterans. So we still have kind of like that army

mentality team first. We help each other out. We hustle. We stay up late, doing slides if need be. like a staff officer all over again. But it's, uh, it's great. And so, um, if anyone's like looking to get into the tech industry, like find a little sliver of commonality you may have within it. And then just exploit that the best you can. But, um, it was a, a pretty easy transition from army into tech. And, uh, I've been very thankful for the people who have helped me along the way. It's been, it's been awesome. What do you do more specifically in the, tech industry first defense tech and now wider technology um is it is it back to logistics or is it more management yeah it has nothing to do with logistics besides creative problem solving and like

thank goodness from my logistics background because i feel like it has helped me become like a swiss army knife like being able to solve any problem just by getting the right people to attack it um at the first tech startup, I was a customer success person. So it's like after the tech is sold, you go make sure that they use it and that they renew their license. And for me, that was not a good fit because I was just leaving the military and I was going like onto army bases and working with like NCOs and like S2 officers and like right back to where I left. because I was like, I wanted to get out of the Army, but no, I'm just wearing a cute outfit in the Army. So it was, it was interesting. Short-lived, though.

And now I do go-to-market strategy for a big tech firm. So again, it's definitely a lot of problem solving. It's interpersonal skills, bringing together outside partners and, like, coming up with a creative solution to, I mean, at the end of the day, get more money for the company. but building those relationships so that like they trust our tech, they trust who we are and how we help them get more money. So it's a very cool job. And my team is just, it's great. I have like some PJs, a JTAC, like a bunch of cool people. And we're just kind of like the veteran crew just like getting shit done. It's very cool. Yeah, that's great. And you also started this thing with your friend from West Point, I think, Jasmine.

Yeah. It was interesting. When I was at that first tech startup, I was like, is this it? Is this what people do? Just like work their nine to five and like that's it. So there was like a big like void of like purpose, helping others and like a greater mission almost. And so Jasmine, who's also getting out of the Army, she worked for Eustisok. She was like the aide to camp to the deputy commander there.

So she's been in and out of that community quite frequently as well. We decided to start serve SRV because the service was what was lacking in our life. And it's just kind of how we frame it. It's like what you do. It's how you fill your cup. It's how you help others. It's how you help yourself. How do you serve your community?

How do you serve you? And we're trying to make it into something great that will be. Focusing on mentorship and helping people get into the tech industry, helping young soldiers, try to figure out their path in the Army or military or Navy or whatever. It's very cool. And because after the Army, I like just, just decided to finally become public in social media, even though every cell in my body is like, don't do it.

Haley, don't do it. We finally did it. But it's been awesome because the amount of people who reach out to us and I'm like, whoa, I didn't know women could be Rangers either. Oh, women can go to Rangers school. And it's just very cool that we can help kind of be the change that we wanted to see in the world to be the person that we probably needed back when we were. were lieutenants but um it's been awesome and one of the one of the really cool parts about serve is

all these women who are trying to like go to s f as a s fas training up for ranger school they have these slots they're doing it they're like asking us for help um there's a woman going to buds here shortly uh and she's going to crush it uh she's like six foot tall jacked she's awesome um which just very cool to like be in a community of people like like chasing greatness. Right. So it's awesome. Sharing the dream. Yeah.

Where can people go to find serve? We have a website, team dash serve.org. And then we also have an Instagram and TikTok team or serve. i andg on both. Cool. SRED. com. And, you know, the other thing I wanted to ask you about,

you continue to stay quite active. I see on your Instagram, you know, training for an ultra marathon and you're running 12 miles a day and all this like, I'm like, yeah, this girl's crazy. But you enjoy it. You love it, don't you? I do. I loved the person that I was when I was training up for regimental selection. I loved having that, like, that end goal looming over me and like something to chase after.

And now that I'm a civilian and I don't have like a selection. should train up for. I'm like trying to channel that energy into other athletic endeavors. And it's taken me a while since I've gotten out of the army to kind of like settle into the needs that I need to have to be successful as like Haley as me. And I've identified that that's like you need to have a goal like some athletic goal that you're chasing. You need to stay busy, whether that's doing your day job posting little TikToks or like doing your NBA. or mentoring people and another thing is like waking up early and doing PT, especially when you like are working from home. So I wake up and I go to a CrossFit gym so I can interact with people.

I can just mix up the energy in my day. But it's been really cool. Last year I trained for a marathon. I really didn't train. I just kind of ran it. And I did very well. And now I'm like, okay, let's do an ultra. So that ultra is in April, which I'm excited for. It's a 50K. And then I find out tomorrow if I made the lottery for Leadville 100 this year. So fingers crossed. You know, this is totally just a personal observation. And some may agree or disagree.

But I think that like when Rangers leave the regiment and they become civilians, they there's like one of two or there's two ways you can go in, both of which are bad. One is to completely abandon your identity as a ranger and forget about it. The other is to not change or being able to, you know, let go of some of that ranger identity and become something else. And yeah, I mean, like, doing PT, and it's like, you know, people get into trouble when they forget who they are, I really feel like. Yeah, absolutely. And, like, I was going through a weird, a weird version of myself when I forgot, like, what I thrived on for the, like,

last 10 years. Like I was sleeping in. I wasn't working out. I wasn't like being on my shit. And luckily like my husband, he's great. He's like, maybe you should do this. And I'm like, no, I'm not going to do it. And then I'm like, yeah, actually I will do it. So it's just like having a good support system who knows like who you are and what you need is so crucial when you're out of the army. But absolutely. And like there's the version of me that's HG lead the way. And Army Ranger, whatever. But then there's also Haley, who's just like super girly into fashion, like, boogey as all get out. So it's very fun to kind of let those two personalities collide, especially in like the social media eye of literally anyone who looks at my page.

So it's very fun. It makes some people's heads explode, right? Because they can't like reconcile the two identities. You know, and it's to a different in a different way. I think it's true with like men too. Like if you were a ranger and you were this tough guy, don't think that you can't go to college and get a graduate degree. Like there's nothing other than a mental barrier,

there's nothing stopping you from doing that. And I really encourage people like there's not a, there's not a contradiction in the two identities. Exactly. Like you can stack me up right next to you and they're like, well, he's definitely the ranger and no one would think I ever like, let alone apply to be in the army or whatever. It's very cool to see the dimension of people and the uniqueness that the dedication, the excellence that Ranger Regiment demands.

And it's also very cool to see what people do after it, kind of like you said, whether they like fully go into Ranger mode as civilian or like go down a different path. it's very interesting to see. So as we wrap up, any final lessons learned or pearls of wisdom or anything else you'd like to mention? Yeah, I mean, just being yourself in whatever environment you find yourself in, throughout like my entire Army career, there's always been like a huge setback and then just a gritty head-down mode. and then like a big success. So like no matter where you are in life, just just keep going. And staying true to yourself will make sure that you are not just successful when you achieve

that goal, but that you're happy. And just recognizing that and that you do belong. Even if you don't look like the other people at the table, you belong at that table. You put in the work and you earned it. So like me being an army ranger, just like you said, people may not suspect it, but like I did just the same as amount of work as, as you and my other Rangers, like the left and right. So showing up authentically as yourself is just as important as meeting the standards and like achieving that goal and everything like that.

Where can people find you if they're looking for Haley on the internet, professionally with serve or with your IG or whatever else you want to plug? Yeah, absolutely. So both serve and my pages, we have an Instagram and a TikTok serve is srv. ING. And then my stuff is HG Lead the Way. HG Lead the Way is on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. So very exciting.

And we're very active on both pages. So if you have any questions or need help with anything, shoot us a DM and we'll help you with that. That's super cool. Well, thank you, Haley, for doing this interview. you're our first tabbed and scrolled ranger woman on the show and i'll be honest i asked you to come on the show because of the scroll not the tab that's just how that's how it is but no seriously thank you for doing this um it's been great of course and you know i i hope i'm not the last so yeah um it's just great it's an honor to be able to speak with you to talk about my what i've done and to to yeah

I just learn a little bit more about everything. So it's been awesome. Yeah, that's great. And I hope a lot of the young people out there who are thinking about joining the Ranger Regiment see this and take something away from it. So yeah, thank you again, Haley. And all the rest of you folks out there, we will see you next week. Thank you.

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