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May 2008
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LTF. The initials stand for Logistics Task Force. Formerly known as the Support Battalion, the LTF Battalion is the backbone of the Army's operations. The 141 LTF Battalion is part of Joint Task Force Phoenix and has the mission of providing resupply, maintenance, and medical services for the task force. In addition to its unique mission, the 141 LTF stands out as being the only battalion commanded by a women, Lt. Colonel Sundquist. "I am the second female to be in command of the 141 LTF... we have very few female commanders so it's a privilege."
Following her graduation from high school, Sundquist received a nomination to West Point, an event that she states, "... got me into the military." She subsequently chose to attend New Mexico Military Academy where she received her commission. In 1987 she went on active duty being assigned as an Air Defense officer at Fort Lewis, Washington. Serving there for over four years, she concluded her tour, leaving the Army to pursue a career in teaching. Lt. Col. Sundquist continued teaching for nine more years, where she reached a point in her life where she felt she needed to make a decision. "I entered that point in life where I needed to make a decision on my career... [that] decision was between teaching or the military... So I decided to go back into the military and rejoined the Guard as a full-time Mobilization Officer." She did that for four years until she was mobilized. Having met her husband while on active duty at Fort Lewis, Sundquist admits that, "[my husband's] military experience is all through me, vicariously." Laughing, she continued, "I've always said to him, 'Why didn't you just join?' He critiques my papers, he loves watching the battles on TV, he loves going out to the field, and he enjoys listening to my stories. It's a good relationship." And a supportive one as well. A deployment as a married couple is a challenge, and more so with children. Sundquist continues, "I wanted to do this mission, and so my husband and I sat down and talked a lot about it. And I said, 'You know this is going to be a combat mission, but I'll never have this chance again,' and so we committed to me being able to do this... It's a once in a lifetime opportunity." However, Sundquist admits, "It is a reverse role for him; he's having to wake up our daughter in the morning, make sure she's got dinner, make sure she's got lunch, all that kind of stuff and keep her going... I'm sure he has a lot of hesitations and a lot of reservations. I know that both sides of the family have reservations but I also know that both sides of the family know that this is what I enjoy doing and everybody is being real supportive." One of the factors that helps bridge distance and aid in maintaining a presence in the deployed family's lives is communication. Sundquist and her husband considered this subject carefully. "We've prepared for this deployment; we've known for two years about it... [My husband and I] decided as we went through this process to try and figure out how I'd be able to communicate, especially with [our daughter], so she wouldn't have that detachment... and we realized that with the internet connectivity and phone calls, we could use web cameras... The hard part is going to be when [an incident occurs that requires] a blackout period [which will require] that we shut down the internet system, that we shut down the cell phone connectivity." However, having been deployed for Hurricane Katrina last Fall, Sundquist adds, "Katrina was kind of the pre-test of the test in trying to make sure we had systems in place." With adjustments made, Sundquist feels confident that her family will remain strong in her absence over the next 14 months. With the pride of a parent, and the sadness of a deployed mother, she adds a final note about her husband and daughter, "She's Daddy's girl, after all."
Being a women in command offers unique challenges. "I think in most cases [women] work just as hard if not harder in order to make sure that we're respected for being able to do the same things that the males are." With that comes a variety of perceptions which are reflected both in nicknames and roles that a commander must assume. "I have lots of names, everything from 'mother' to the 'task master.' It all depends on the role that I'm in. I really try to focus on the mission; I'm very serious when it comes to the mission, but I'm also very relaxed if I want to take the group out to socialize. There is a time and place; there's a time and a place to be relaxed and a time and place to know what business has to get done... I joined the military knowing that I was joining a male organization and I knew what the expectations were going into that, so I've pretty much tried to live up to that." The role of command, especially for a women commander can be very isolating. Sundquist continues, "Because of the rank structure you're not necessarily able to socialize, and so being the senior female there aren't many others I can socialize with in the organization except for the male commanders. So I do have a lot of friends that are males. Having been in the organization ten years, you kind of get used to having conversations with the men more so than having a female friend around. So you have conversations with men that they never expected you would have." In terms of the deployment to Afghanistan, Sundquist places her position in perspective, "Women don't have to be in a powerful leadership role. I'm in a leadership role but I'm not the ultimate one in charge. I manage my soldiers and my organization but I still answer to another individual who is a male." This perspective has given Sundquist an insightful approach to her mission in Afghanistan, "There are three pieces to this mission: to supply the Afghan National Army, resupply the United States Army, but also to find ways that I can help build that relationship for the Afghans to [offer] new ideas of things to do in their communities for women. So I hope I can bring some of those experiences, where you don't have to have a women in power, for [women] to have responsibilities, to take pride in themselves, to take pride in their village, and take pride in their children." She concludes, "Hopefully I'll have some of those opportunities."
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