{"id":8202,"date":"2023-05-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=8202"},"modified":"2023-05-02T06:49:55","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T06:49:55","slug":"female-army-reserve-soldier-receives-ranger-tab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=8202","title":{"rendered":"Female Army Reserve Soldier Receives Ranger Tab"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n 1 \/ 7<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria (center) poses with her mentor SSG Jeremy Dornbusch (left) and Cpt. Ignacio Naudon (right) while celebrating after her Army Ranger School graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA, April 28, 2023.
\n (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Richardson)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"1st
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 7<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, is greeted by family and friends after her Army Ranger School graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA, April 28, 2023.
\n (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Richardson)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"1st
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 3 \/ 7<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, shows off her newly acquired Ranger Tab after her Army Ranger School graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA, April 28, 2023.
\n (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Richardson)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"1st
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 4 \/ 7<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, (center) gives a Hawaiian \u2018Shaka\u2019 while waiting for her Army Ranger School graduation ceremony to begin at Fort Benning, GA, April 28, 2023.
\n (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Richardson)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"1st
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 5 \/ 7<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, shows off her newly acquired Ranger Tab after her Army Ranger School graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA, April 28, 2023.
\n (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Richardson)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"1st
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 6 \/ 7<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria (right), 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, shouts the Ranger Creed with her platoon during her Army Ranger School graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA, April 28, 2023.
\n (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Richardson)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"1st
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 7 \/ 7<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, (center) and her best friend Katie Sepkovich (left) react to each other in celebration after Zaccaria\u2019s Army Ranger School graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA, April 28, 2023.
\n (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Richardson)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cAnyone can do it, if you set your mind to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many children grow up hearing such platitudes, and most of us stop believing in them by the time we are young adults. This is not the case for 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria of the U.S. Army Reserve, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry. She always knew that she really could do whatever she set her mind to do. And for Zaccaria, pushing herself has always been attached to a higher purpose. \u201cShe\u2019s been doing volunteer work since she was in 7th grade. She\u2019s always wanted to serve, but I never thought it would lead to this,\u201d said her mother, Jane Zaccaria.<\/p>\n

On Friday, April 28th, Zaccaria joined the short list of women who have pinned the coveted U.S. Army Ranger Tab. She graduated from the grueling course without any need for recycling or retraining. Zaccaria is also the first female Army Reserve Infantry Officer to pin the Ranger Tab. Prior to Ranger school, she completed the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course (IBOLC), which is touted as another extremely challenging course for soldiers. While there, she became the first female Soldier to ever win the prestigious Iron Man Award. But preparing to earn the Ranger Tab came with its own unique challenges.<\/p>\n

Ranger school is not for the faint of heart. It is one of the most difficult, rigorous training courses for a soldier to complete. When soldiers pin the Ranger Tab, they are expected to be experts at leading other soldiers through difficult missions. During the 61-day course, the soldiers are pushed to exhaustion both physically and mentally while being trained in combat arms skills. Preparing for the Ranger course is a huge task. Successful students usually seek out assistance from other, more experienced soldiers – mentors who can guide them and push them to achieve excellence.<\/p>\n

Zaccaria found a mentor in combat veteran and 9th Mission Support Command Soldier Staff Sgt. Jeremy Dornbusch, who took her under his wing. Dornbusch had to incorporate many methods to challenge Zaccaria.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a program that incorporated tactical training directly associated with Ranger School. We added rucking, tactical knowledge\u2026cardiovascular training in the ocean with short and long swims, cross training workouts, land navigation, weapons training, and team events\u2026all to ensure she had the tactical awareness and skills needed to prepare,\u201d he said. Such preparation took a lot of personal time for both the mentor, Dornbusch, and his mentee, Zaccaria, however Dornbusch found all the effort worthwhile, saying, \u201cIt was such a joy to work with someone who was so driven. She is a true leader who wants to be challenged\u2026and is one of the best I\u2019ve ever worked with.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, what inspired Zaccaria to go from swearing in as an Army Reserve Soldier to earing a Ranger Tab? \u201cThree years ago, I saw an article about Maj. Kristen Griest, who was the first female to get the ranger tab. I had recently just joined the Army Reserve and I just thought, That’s the coolest thing of all time,\u201d she said. Zaccaria was a multi-sport athlete, competing in swimming, rowing crew, lacrosse, and soccer in high school, as well as cross country and track in college. Thus, the physically challenging demands of the Army didn\u2019t intimidate Zaccaria, they invigorated her.<\/p>\n

Many soldiers don\u2019t know they can go to Ranger School while being in the Army Reserve, but once Zaccaria found out it was possible, she was determined to do it. \u201cI read about Ranger School, and I thought, I want do that! She did it (Maj. Griest), so why can\u2019t I?\u201d Three years and sixty-two days later, she has a Ranger Tab.<\/p>\n

It has been a succession of high achievements for the Army Reserve Lieutenant. But those who know her best say Zaccaria\u2019s joy throughout the process is what stands out most. \u201cShe takes it in stride, she\u2019s got tenacity. She doesn\u2019t have any fear and she is the epitome of a Ranger from all they told us (at graduation) today. She\u2019s had a smile on her face throughout the whole process,\u201d said her mother, Jane Zaccaria. Her father Anthony Zaccaria remarked, \u201cIt\u2019s been humbling as her parent to watch it happen. It\u2019s been both a humbling thing and a proud thing to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lt. Zaccaria noted that success at Ranger school depended more on character than individual skillset. \u201cBe a good dude. That\u2019s sort of the saying at Ranger School. It\u2019s all about teamwork, it\u2019s all about working with (your squad) and doing things for the person next to you. As long as you have the mindset that you\u2019re going to go in, and shell out for the Ranger next to you, you will be successful.\u201d She further stated that leaning on mentors who have been through similar army challenges is critical.<\/p>\n

It is true that accomplishing our dreams takes hard work. But Anna Zaccaria has shown that determination and grit, powered by joy, can accomplish almost anything. \u201cAnybody that wants to can do it. All that it takes is a little preparation. It doesn\u2019t matter if you are a man or a woman, as long as you come in prepared.\u201d Zaccaria continues to forge a path that pushes all those around her. Her friend from basic training, Katie Sepkovich, said, \u201cI can\u2019t stop smiling, she\u2019s such an inspiration!\u201d Indeed, such perseverance inspires us all. Tab up, Zaccaria. Rangers, lead the way!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 1st Lt. Anna Zaccaria (center) poses with her mentor SSG Jeremy Dornbusch (left) and Cpt. Ignacio Naudon (right) while celebrating after her Army Ranger School graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA, April 28, 2023. (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Richardson) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 \/ 7 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8204,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8202"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8212,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202\/revisions\/8212"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}