Army veteran, Staten Island mom and college student, Ashley Plymale, believes that teamwork and a willingness to share knowledge are key virtues to follow. This is part of the reason she received a prestigious honor from the U.S. Army in October.
Plymale, 36, a business major at the College of Staten Island, was awarded the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. It’s one of the highest honors the army gives out to company grade officers.
“I am extremely honored to have received the award,” Plymale, an Eltingville resident, said. “Though I have it displayed in my home, it is really a representation of all the men and women I have been able to serve with. I have never operated without the support of a team. I have had the privilege to work for and with some exemplary men and and women throughout my career. And I’ve have been afforded the opportunity to work in positions that forced me to develop technical and tactical skills pretty quickly.”
Being Selected
The GDMLA is presented to 24 captains and 4 chief warrant officers across all three army components. (These are active duty, reserve and national guard.) The award isn’t given out lightly, and the nomination process is very selective and rigorous. It requires a memorandum of concurrence, with explanation of why the commander concurs, from each level of command.
When asked why she thought she was chosen for the award, Plymale explained with a hero’s modesty. To her, it’s important to be a leader who helps the rest of the team. She stressed the importance of sharing knowledge and expertise. In other words, not holding on to important information that could help others.
“For me, the military is really about leadership and the continuum of knowledge. Passing it on from one generation to the next. I think that is what stood out to my superiors.” Plymale said.
Being a Military Mom
Plymale is a 17-year veteran in the army. Born in Mobile, AL, she knew she wanted to enlist in the military after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. She served in Iraq and in many positions. Currently, she’s a chief of operations for a mission command support group. Simply put, she oversees a small team whose main function is to ensure that their assigned units meet the requirements to deploy as detachments in support of operational missions around the world (phew!)
But Plymale, along with her wife Liliana, also oversees a small team at home: their two kids, Brice, 10, and Bailey, 6. Both women are in the military. Although being in the army is a rewarding career, Plymale admits it’s not without its challenges on home life. Children of military parents often deal with many obstacles, including lengthy separations from their enlisted moms and dads, frequent relocations, lots of responsibilities at home and more.
Plymale knows how tough her career can be on her kids. She’s very proud of them and impressed by their resiliency.
“They have had to bear the burden of military service during Liliana’s and my deployment, and they’ve always shouldered it well,” she said.
She’s also very grateful to her kids’ school community—P.S. 55—for their ongoing support.
“We wouldn’t be able to be successful without a great school community and village to help us keep the kids on track when we aren’t able to be physically present,” Plymale said. “P.S. 55 is amazing.”
Being a College Student
With so much on her plate, Plymale still finds time to get another academic degree at CSI. A self-described life-long learner, she already has an associate degree and bachelor’s degree behind her. Currently, she’s majoring in business with a focus on management.
Like so many members of the armed forces, Plymale’s military service has helped her as a student in so many ways. This is especially true when it comes to discipline and resiliency. Having a strong family support network that includes her mom and dad has helped, too.
“I have a great support system and have had great examples of hard work from the time I was a child. My family has a very strong work ethic. This has helped me immensely in both my military and academic careers,” she explained.
What’s Next for this Military Mom
The CSI student wants to start a family-owned real estate business once she gets her next degree. And of course, her family will continue to be her focus. She’s scheduled to go back to active duty for operational support in Fort Dix, NJ, next month and has about three years left in the army.
“Serving in the military and carrying on the legacy of all those who have served before me has been the honor of my life,” Plymale said.
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