75.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsLocal newsOn Island Profile: Karen Williams, Public Relations Soldier

On Island Profile: Karen Williams, Public Relations Soldier

Karen WilliamsIn the last 10 years, if you have attended an event honoring veterans or National Guardsmen – be it a parade in Christiansted, a ceremony at a cemetery or a sendoff at the airport – you have probably seen Master Sergeant Karen Williams.

She will be the one moving from the official ceremony itself to the audience, talking to citizens and service person alike, asking if everything is alright, if there’s anything she can do to help.

Williams has spent 25 years handling public affairs, community engagement and media relations in support of the V. I. National Guard.
Her title and rank has changed but never her enthusiastic relationship with the Virgin Island community.

In 2004, she joined the team at the V. I. National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command, where she served as a career counselor (recruiter) and the marketing NCO. In August 2005, she was assigned to the 210th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, a military educational academy, as the operations sergeant.

In addition, she served as the test control officer, branch chief and quality assurance non-commissioned officer. In May 2011, she was assigned to the Virgin Islands Medical Detachment as the senior medical NCO to assume the position as first sergeant.

She has also racked up 20 years of dedicated volunteer service with the Guard Family Program.

Most people know her as a military person, but she is much more.

“I’m – a country girl who grew up on a farm in the hills of Frederiksted with family and grandparents, where we lived carefree. My hobbies are gardening, my three dogs, wild chickens and about 20 feral cats who all seem to think I am working to feed them all. What the heck, they are my company when I get home.”

Her early education was on St. Croix. She attended St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph High School, then set out to explore the world. She traveled to Los Angeles, then on to Boston and Miami before returning home to rejoin her parents and her grandparents.

In 2005 she earned a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, N.J., and in 2010 she earned a masters from Capella University in Minneapolis.

She said she had been well rewarded by her career in the military.

“I learned to be a strong leader, juggle multiple demands and travelled to places I may not have had the opportunity to experience if I wasn’t – a member of the military. – I was deployed to Hungary and Croatia in 1995 for about eight months, from which I became a veteran of active duty service.”

“Giving of oneself is rewarding," she said. :I feel all youth should be required to serve in the Armed Forces for the initial tour of six years; they will discover themselves and decide to stay or leave.”

She credits her family with her success in career and raising a family.

“I was taught to work hard, expect nothing free, be an achiever, and be resilient in order to overcome challenges as I transition through the stages and challenges of life.”

It’s up to each person to determine what constitutes success, she said.

"Success can be viewed in many ways because it’s – a personal perspective. My lifestyle motto is, knowledge is not acquired to hold close, but to inspire others to develop oneself, then to share with others in order to empower them to live with passion and purpose."

Williams has two daughters, Qiahna and Semoya, and a son, Taheem. She also has three granddaughters, Danyscia, Tahliyah and Tahmia.

She enlisted into the Virgin Islands National Guard October 1990 and graduated from Army basic training at Fort Jackson, S. C. May 1991. Her work since then besides a focus on community outreach includes serving – as command historian.

She hopes for the “continuous growth of the Virgin Islands National Guard for future generations. – –

“It is a valuable asset to the people of the territory as the military serves as a support mechanism in times of disasters and crisis,” she said.

Her long list of awards and decorations includes: – Meritorious Service Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal(3), Army Achievement Medal (5), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (7), National Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal (2), Humanitarian Service Medal (2), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserves Component Overseas Training Ribbon (3), NATO Medal, Puerto Rico National Guard Commendation Medal, Virgin Islands National Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Virgin Islands National Guard Commendation Medal, Virgin Islands National Guard Long and Faithful Service Medal (4) and Virgin Islands National Guard Emergency Service Ribbon (2.)

She appears to have no regrets about her career choice. In an email to the Source she wrote,

“The military is a vibrant organization which requires resilience to respond to the training requirements, physical fitness and the multiple demands on your personal life. Yet, the experiencing is extremely rewarding to me and my family. I would make the choice again, if I had to consider joining the Armed Forces of the United States. I was fortunate to be a military mom who raised three well-rounded children and a granddaughter during my career. The military provides various resources to ensure success.”

About the future she wrote, “I hope to spend more time with family when my transition from military service becomes a reality. I am concerned about the economy and opportunities for growth on St. Croix. We lack jobs for the young generation, but also lack a quality of life for other age groups, too. How can one transition from the military, in order to open positions for new members, when the territory lacks options to transition to and maintain quality of life?”

She added that her beautiful hometown of Frederiksted appears to be “deteriorating rapidly." 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.