U.S. Army Special Forces are known the world over as one of the toughest and inclusive units to work alongside. To keep the men of each Special Operations Group (SFG) functioning at such high levels, it requires a large team of dedicated occupational specialties to ensure that every need is met to allow them to execute the mission.
Those teams are often known as support battalions, and for the first time ever, there is a woman in charge of one.
Lt. Col. Megan Brodgen took command of the 3rd Special Forces Group Support Battalion at a ceremony on June 9 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Col. Bradley Moses, Commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group, said, “She [Brogden] is without a doubt the right choice to assume command of this great unit at this time. Brogden has an unwavering dedication to soldiers, and a long history of supporting and leading special operations soldiers and maintaining the force.”
Since restrictions that limited females to serve in direct combat roles were lifted in 2016, women have been able to serve with infantry commands, even having the chance to earn the coveted Green Beret and special forces tab.
While support battalions have always allowed females to work among their ranks, Brodgen is the first woman to take be given battalion command.
With very few slots open for non-Green Berets, Brogden was awarded the coveted position over her peers.
A recipient of three Bronze Stars, four Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Achievement Medals and the Combat Action Badge, Brodgen not only was a top contender for the post, but she has a record of outstanding service.
Earning her commission through a college ROTC program in 2000, she served at a variety of top level commands before earning her master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval College.
“The percentage of women serving in special operations is comparable to the active Army. The first female service members served alongside the predecessors of today’s special operations soldiers as early as World War II,” Captain Christopher Webb, spokesman for Army Special Operations Command told American Military News.
“Women are already assigned within the Group Support Battalion, have served within U.S. Army Special Operations Command as civil affairs and psychological operations soldiers for nearly two decades and have served in cultural support teams with Army Rangers and as part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment,” Webb added.
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