Tiffany Myrick-Woodley: Cultural Support Team in Afghanistan - Ep. 89

Tiffany Myrick-Woodley served two decades in the US Army, and played an essential role in the integration of women into the Army’s Combat Arms occupations. She served as a member of Cultural Support Team – Two (CST-2), enabling the 75th Ranger Regiment and Naval Special Warfare Development Group by engaging the Afghan female and adolescent populations prior to the lift of the Combat Exclusion Policy. 

She was also selected to observe and advise on the implementation of standards during gender integration of Ranger School, the Army’s premier leadership course.

Over the span of her military service, Tiffany discovered that real change comes through policy and education. This prompted her to leave the military to influence policy on a broader scale while continuing to provide inspiration, mentorship, and advocacy to future generations. Her ideals prompted her to accept a role as a board member for the Valkyrie Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to the advocacy and support of female service members.

More about Tiffany:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-m-b477671b6/

The Valkyrie Project: https://www.thevalkyrieproject.org/

Timestamps:

00:00:22 Introduction to Tiffany Myrick

00:01:28 Tiffany’s Roles in the Military

00:03:35 Being On the Other Side of Basic Training

00:05:18 One Station Unit Training

00:06:51 What Did Tiffany Learn from Being a Drill Sergeant?

00:10:03 The Cultural Support Team

00:11:14 Selection Course for Cultural Support Team

00:12:52 The White Board System

00:13:15 Being a Student Versus Being Qualified to Do the Job

00:14:54 Ranger Physical Assessment

00:15:45 Working Closely with the Same Partner for an Entire Mission

00:16:48 Room for One Tactically

00:17:38 What Does the Mission Objective Look Like?

00:20:13 Deciding What Looks Important on a Mission

00:20:40 Interacting with the Local Populous

00:22:43 Main Security Concerns on Assignment

00:23:46 Did Tiffany Know Ashley?

00:24:39 Particular Missions That Stood Out to Tiffany

00:29:23 Moments Where Everyone Is Suffering

00:31:11 Wearing NODs (Night Observation Devices)

00:32:01 Lifting the Combat Exclusion Policy

00:32:59 Sponsor Note: Coaching Mentorship Course

00:33:21 Advisory Role to Integrate Women into Ranger School

00:35:25 Identifying Common Characteristics Among Graduates

00:36:00 What Did the Army Learn as Women Were Integrated?

00:38:33 The Gray Man, Middle of the Pack

00:40:46 Why Couldn’t Women Shave Their Heads Like the Men?

00:41:23 When did Tiffany Retire?

00:41:32 What Led Tiffany to the Valkyrie Project in 2023?

00:44:34 Advice for Women in SOF Pipeline

00:46:34 Similar Stories to “The Ranger on a Ridgeline Getting an I.V.”

00:49:21 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

00:50:59 Outro