LTC Jeannette M. Molina graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and was commissioned in the Adjutant General’s Corps in 2003. She holds a Master of Arts in Union Labor and Human Resources.
Following graduation from Adjutant General Corps Officer Basic Course, Lieutenant Colonel Molina was assigned to 2d Chemical Battalion, 13th Sustainment Command, Fort Hood, Texas where she was the Postal Platoon leader for 4th Platoon, 151st Postal Company. She deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II where she was the Postal Officer in Charge for the Liberty Army Postal Office. She later served as the Executive Officer for the 151st Postal Company and as the Battalion S1 for 2d Chemical Battalion. Later, she was assigned as the Operations Officer and then Executive Officer for the Columbus, Ohio Military Entrance Processing Station.
After graduating from the Adjutant General’s Captains Career Course, LTC Molina was assigned to the Headquarters, United States Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, where she served as the Chief, Enlisted Management Branch and then Chief, Strength Management Branch. She was later assigned as the Brigade S-1 for 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32d Army Air Missile and Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas before deploying in 2012 to Al Udeid, Qatar during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
After graduating from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, LTC Molina was selected to command the El Paso Military Entrance Processing Station in Fort Bliss, Texas. Following completion of command, she was assigned as a Board Recorder and later Executive Officer for Department of the Army Secretariat, Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky. She then was assigned as the Chief, Personnel Management and thereafter, the Executive Officer, General Officer Management Office, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC. Finally, she served as the Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, Headquarters Department of the Army, Washington, DC.
LTC Molina’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), the Joint Commendation Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
LTC Molina is married to Mr. Zachary Bini of Radcliff, Kentucky and they have two sons and two daughters: Zahara, Michael, Jaden, and Ellianna.
Episode Transcript: Hispanic Heritage Month – Jeannette Molina
Stephanie Crider (Host)
(Prerecorded Hispanic Heritage Month intro) The US Army War College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. This year, to observe the occasion, the US Army War College Press recorded a series of interviews showcasing war college leadership, faculty, staff, and students. Listen in to hear their insights, anecdotes, and more.
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the podcast guests and are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army, US Army War College, or any other agency of the US government.
This episode’s guest is Carlisle Barracks Garrison Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jeannette M. Molina. Molina graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in English and was commissioned in the Adjutant General’s Corps in 2003. She holds a master of arts in union labor and human resources. Molina was selected to command El Paso Military Entrance Processing Station in Fort Bliss, Texas. Following completion of command, she was assigned as a board recorder and, later, executive officer for the Department of the Army Secretariat Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky. She was then assigned as the chief, personnel management, and, thereafter, the executive officer, General Officer Management Office, Office of the Chief of Staff of the (US) Army, Washington, DC. She served as a military assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G1, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, DC.
Thank you so much for being a part of the Hispanic Heritage Month podcast series.
(Jeannette Molina)
Well, thank you, and I truly appreciate the opportunity. I’m excited to be able to share my story with all of you.
(Host)
Well, let’s get started then. How has your heritage impacted your work?
(Molina)
So I think I’ll start answering this question with a little background on my heritage and where I come from. At the age of 10, my dad came to the United States from Guayaquil, Ecuador. New York City, specifically. And then, my mother was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. She moved to New York City as a young child, and both were raised there. My parents came from large families and grew up fairly poor. They were high-school sweethearts and got married after graduating. My dad, understanding he now had to provide for his family and wanted better than what they had currently had, enlisted into the United States Army. So, this opportunity to enlist didn’t only provide him a steady paycheck or a place to live, but it also gave him the opportunity to gain his US citizenship, earn a bachelor’s and master’s in education, and then retire honorably after 20 years of service.
So my mom—she went to school and learned the skills of being a dental assistant, and so she became a (General Schedule or) GS employee for the (US Army) Dental Command for over 20 years as well. So watching my parents work so hard to be able to provide for us taught me to be proud of my heritage and gave me a different cultural, social, and economic perspective on life.
So, to answer your question, I try to be open and transparent about my background in hopes that it will promote understanding in others. Recognizing and appreciating our broad and diverse perspective helps shape a better understanding and contributes to mission accomplishment. I think it’s an important aspect of command to not only value your own insight, but to have a broad and diverse perspective that incorporates experiences and diversity of your team.
(Host)
Let’s build on what you were talking about just a minute ago about accomplishments and all the great things your parents did. What’s your biggest professional accomplishment to date?
(Molina)
So I’ve been in the Army for a little over 19 years, and my specialty is human resources. So I have a bachelor’s in English, and I have a master’s in union labor and human resources. But, more importantly, I get my job satisfaction by helping someone, whether it’s a soldier, a family member, retiree, or even a stranger on the street. So when I see a smile on their face, that every time gets me. That is my ultimate accomplishment each time.
(Host)
I love that. Would you be willing to share a pivotal moment in your life that maybe changed the trajectory of where you ended up: your career, your personal life?
(Molina)
Yes, absolutely. So I think most children don’t understand what they want to do when they grow up. So I mentioned before my parents worked very hard to make their children’s lives better. When I reached my junior year in high school, my dad, he would make me go every Saturday for about four hours to the library and we would apply for scholarships every Saturday. His thought process was a better life for me was going to college. So I applied for over 50 scholarships. I actually received 15. And of that, I had two full scholarships for the Army and (US) Air Force (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or) ROTC programs. Of course, I joined the Army because I always wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps. But I know for certain that if he wouldn’t have guided me and kind of pushed me to do that, I would not be doing this today.
(Host)
What are you working on now that you’re really excited about?
(Molina)
So, I’m actually excited to answer this question.
(Host)
Oh, good.
(Molina)
Because I took garrison command in July of 2021, and that was a time when the pandemic was still persistent in our community. I can honestly say that my garrison team has been working really hard to rebuild and reset and improve all of the services in the community. So with that, this year alone, we have been able to renovate the kitchen of our childcare development center; provide brand-new gym equipment for Jim Thorpe and Indian Field facilities; regrade the softball fields; we’re refurbishing the basketball, racquetball courts; and completely renovating our (post exchange or) PX to include a new pharmacy and food court. What we have scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, hopefully—fingers crossed everything goes well: 24-seven access to the Jim Thorpe Gym (Jim Thorpe Fitness Center); restoring the farmhouse to its original state; renovating the bowling center and (Letort View Community Center or) LVCC to give it more of a fresh and modernized look in conjunction with the new (US) Army War College that’s coming up in summer of ‘23; and then, renovating Reynolds Theater so the (United Service Organizations or) USO can begin showing monthly movies for the community and have a space to provide. So, lots of exciting projects to look forward to in our greater community, and I’m hoping this just enlightens and helps the Carlisle experience just a little bit more.
(Host)
That’s an impressive list.
(Molina)
Oh, I tell you what, I have an impressive team. They all care so much about the community and just making this place the premier institution for learning and exactly where you want your family to be raised.
(Host)
I love that. Where can our listeners find out more about you and your work?
(Molina)
So we have multiple platforms. They can check us out on the garrison’s web page on home.army.mil/carlisle. And on that web page, my command sergeant major—Command Sergeant Major Addison—and I actually do monthly podcasts as well. And then, we have a garrison Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter page, and all they have to do is join by searching “Carlisle Barracks garrison commander.”
(Host)
Great, thank you so much. This was a real pleasure.
(Molina)
Thank you for taking the time to sit with me. This was actually really neat.
(Host)
Oh, good. Yeah, I’m glad to hear that.
The US Army War College celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. This year, to observe the occasion, the US Army War College Press recorded a series of interviews showcasing War College leadership, faculty, staff, and students. Listen in to hear their insights, anecdotes, and more. The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the podcast guests and are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army, US Army War College, or any other agency of the US Government.