Orem woman makes history by joining Army infantry


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SALT LAKE CITY — Tara McCaig didn't realize that she was making history.

The Orem woman was just preparing to be sworn into the U.S. Army last week with only a few family members in attendance with her. It wasn't until she was surrounded by medical personnel who were excited to rush her through physical and medical exams that McCaig said she finally realized what the fuss was all about.

She was about to become the first Utah woman to join the U.S. infantry — and one of the first 10 women in the country to enlist.

“When I walked in there I didn’t even know that I was the first in the state until a little bit later through the process when all of a sudden everyone started to rush me to the front of everything,” McCaig, 25, said.

"They wanted the first woman in Utah to get through it."

McCaig’s childhood military dreams became a reality with the Pentagon’s recent announcement that all combat jobs in the U.S. military would be open to women starting in January of this year.

“As long as they qualify and meet the standards, women will now be able to contribute to our mission in ways they could not before," Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter announced in December. "They will be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars and lead infantry soldiers into combat.”

“If we have that mindset and we can hold our own, then we definitely can do it," McCaig said Tuesday of the new policies in the coed infantry. "I don’t think it matters if we are female or male.”

When McCaig spoke with her recruiter last week, she said the infantry sounded like the best option.

“I selected the U.S. Army over my other options because I’ve always wanted to join as far as I can remember back," she said.

The military has long been a tradition in the McCaig family. Her grandfathers served in the Army; her father and brother served in the Navy. For McCaig, it came down to a debate between the Army and the U.S. Air Force.

"But the Army definitely won because both my grandpas were in the Army, and so it kind of just was in the family,” she said.

Tara McCaig takes the oath of enlistment at the Military Entrance Processing Station. (Photo: McCaig family photo)
Tara McCaig takes the oath of enlistment at the Military Entrance Processing Station. (Photo: McCaig family photo)

She is scheduled to attend the very first coed Basic Infantry Training at Fort Benning in Georgia next January. She is currently studying criminal justice at Utah Valley University.

The physical qualifications involved in the infantry seem to fit just right with McCain’s personality. Luther McCaig said his daughter was always his “tomboy” and loved sports growing up, so her initial decision to join the Army two years ago did not come as much of a surprise.

When asked what she is most excited for, Tara McCaig said: “Jumping out of the planes. I’ve never been skydiving or anything, but I’ve always wanted to go, and so here’s my chance.”

Luther McCaig said the training is pretty vigorous, and not for everybody.

“I’m proud of her for making up her own mind and doing what she wants to do,” he said. “If she puts her mind to it, she can do it. I’m all for it. I have no reservations.”

Tara McCaig said she encourages other women who are interested to join the Army.

“If you put your mind to it, you can definitely do it. You can’t let the naysayers get to you. If you want it, you have to just go for it,” she said.

Contributing: Sam Penrod

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