As our world transforms itself with exponential speed and tremendous danger, the country’s first female divisional commander must now keep a force of 10,000 service members ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
“We do not know the where or the when,” said Maj. Gen. Laura Yeager said in an interview this week, as she seriously pondered the future while being somewhat bemused about her own past and her military journey that delivered her destiny on Saturday.
The Fountain Valley native has returned to Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base to command the 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard, the first woman ever to lead a major U.S. Army Division.
Yet with more than thirty years of service, Yeager seemed as curious as anyone to fully comprehend everything happening around her as media from around the world came calling, hoping to get a word with the new commander.
“I know, it’s kind of crazy,” she says, reflecting on the media circus that has surrounded her since the Army announced her promotion June 9. “I don’t find myself to be that interesting,” she said, “but I’m really excited about all the interest in the military.”
Though she tends to be modest, Yeager projects a quiet confidence that has become the hallmark of an eventful military career. Quietly, she has earned a reputation as an intellectual, yet pragmatic commander through multiple commands and assignments throughout the country and the world.
Before Saturday’s promotion to a two-star general, Yeager has risen through the ranks since May of 1986, when she first joined the Guard. She was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant after joining the Cal. State Long Beach Reserve Officers Training Corps, ostensibly to get financial help for college. Yeager graduated from CSULB with a bachelor’s degree in psychology before assuming her first assignment.
Although her dad, Maj. Gen. Robert Brandt (ret.), was a top ranked commander and flight instructor during his tour of duty, none of that had rubbed off on her, or so she at first thought. Even so, “my father always had high expectations, but always gave me the independence to choose my own path.”
Brandt recently told military journalists that “I could not be more proud of Laura for having chosen a professional career in which she has devoted her life to the service of our nation.”
When Yeager got her first ride in a military helicopter as an ROTC cadet, however, everything changed. “I wanted to fly. I was determined to go to flight school.” She did, and ironically, got her helicopter pilot’s wings in Fort Rucker, Ala. At the same flight school where her dad was once an instructor.
In fact, Yeager was born in Alabama during the time her dad, was a helicopter flight instructor there, but moved to Fountain Valley at the age of 2 when her dad was transferred to Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
Excited to be a helicopter pilot, Yeager soon graduated from Aeromedical Evacuation courses and began a series of missions and assignments that created a glide path to where she is today. She became an accomplished pilot, flying the military’s workhorse “Blackhawk helicopter” on a variety of missions.
She and her husband, Lt. Col. Curtis Yeager, (ret.) have both enjoyed military careers. At one point, however, when they were both serving on active-duty, Yeager said she decided to take a break shortly after their only son, Scott, was born.
“My husband and I were both serving on active duty and were finding maintaining two active duty careers put a huge strain on our family,” she said. They have four adult sons, three from Yeager’s first marriage and their son Scott. “A modern, blended family,” she says.
While in transition counseling after leaving active duty, someone suggested she resume her career in the Army reserves. She did and soon discovered it was a “perfect balance” for her career.
When her husband retired a few years later, she rejoined the California Guard full-time and in 2011, served two tours of duty in an Iraqi combat zone in her role as deputy commander of the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, the same unit her father once commanded.
Once back from Iraq, the Guard named Yeager Commander of the unit, making her and her father likely the other father/daughter duo to lead the same military unit. “That is one of my proudest accomplishments,” she says, to be able to command the same unit as her father.
Yeager was now getting serious notice by the military. Along the way, Yeager had also earned two master’s degrees. One in psychology and the other in Strategic Studies at the U.S. Army War College.
In rapid career succession, she became the Chief of the Joint Staff for the Joint Forces Headquarters in Sacramento, then assistant to the Commander, then Brigadier General, then Commander of the Joint Task Force North in Fort Bliss, then, on Saturday, she became the first female officer in the history of the United States Army to command the entire 40th Infantry Division.
“What’s going on here,” Yeager said she thought to herself once all the media frenzy broke out. “To me, this is just my next job.” Though she is easy going, she in no way downplays the role and in fact, has obviously thought about her upcoming command.
With the increased media scrutiny, however, has come deep reflection.
“ I am honored to serve at this level and I know it comes with an enormous amount of responsibility,” said Yeager.
“I would not be here without a long-term commitment from the U.S. military and the California National Guard,” she said. “I am so proud to be a part of an organization that doesn’t just talk about diversity, inclusion and equality but delivers it.”
“If I wouldn’t have had all of those assignments, if I wasn’t able to attend all of those schools, I wouldn’t be here,” said a deeply thankful Yeager.
Moreover, in addition to her military role, she hopes to outreach to men and women, but especially to women. With a heart full of gratitude for the military, Yeager wants desperately for women to understand that given today’s corporate culture, the military offers great career prospects.
“I want to encourage women to do this work,” she said. “This has been a great profession for me, and I know it would be for other women.”
Also, she said, “I get paid the same amount as men, given the same level of service. There are few very corporations or entities where you can work where you know you will get the same responsibility and respect.”
“What I enjoy the most about the military,” said Yeager, “is the diversity of people.” Yeager said she often asks her service members ‘what do you do when you’re not in uniform?’ “I’m a librarian, says one, I’m a CEO says another, and I’m a plumber and I own my own small business” Yeager recalls the responses after speaking casually with her troops.
During her more than 30 years of military service, Yeager says she has met men and women of different ethnicities and religions from all over the country, describing her military career as “such a rich experience.”
Regarding being the first woman commander, Yeager said she was the first woman in her last role, and thinks this will be more complex, but no different because of gender.
Actually, she said being a woman or man makes no difference in today’s military. “Troops care about whether or not you’re good at your job and that you can do the work,” said Yeager, “that’s all they truly care about.”
Also, she believes the Army’s ecosystem is so populated with diversity and inclusion that “I may be the first woman to command the 40th I.D.,” said Yeager, but “there are many more behind me. I just got here first.”
With the pomp and ceremony over, Yeager now digs in for the long haul. Yeager knows that the 40th Infantry Division must always be prepared to deploy and stay ready to move. “We do not know the where or when,” she says more seriously of how the call from command could come at almost any moment.
“We live in a volatile world,” she said. Yeager now watches the news every night, watching world developments that could compel command for the division to deploy.
“It is my responsibility now to live up to everything we (40th Infantry Division) stand for,” said Yeager. “Obviously, the division has a great reputation. First and foremost, I want to retain that level of excellence, get the best people…you’ve got to be really good for your division to get the best people.”
“My sense is to get out there from bottom to top so that my vision and intent is understood throughout my entire chain of command,” said Yeager. She will create high maintenance standards and foster innovation.
During her last assignment in Fort Bliss, Texas, Yeager had an apartment so small that “I could vacuum the whole place and never unplug the vacuum cleaner,” she jokes. Now she has moved back to the family home in California.
So, in the meantime, she must still reach for the perfect balance between a major general and a comfortable home life. “If the cat throws up on the carpet or the toilet needs cleaning, being a Major General doesn’t relieve you of that duty.”
Yeager is very happy to be back in California, having memories of Joint Forces Training Base that go all the way back to her father’s service in addition to her own. “I’m happy to be back,” she said, “this feels like home.”