Uniontown woman looks back at long military career
From ROTC to active Army to National Guard to Army Reserves, Lieutenant Colonel Michaelene A. Kloster of Uniontown has served her country well for nearly two decades. “I’ll probably stay as long as they let me,’ smiled Kloster, 40. “I threaten I’ll leave at 20, but I just can’t get away from it. ‘
Friendly and personable, Kloster carries an air of confidence and is patient with those unfamiliar with military ways. She is proud of her work and enjoys it. Her current assignment is battalion commander of the 444 Personnel Services Battalion in Pittsburgh, a job that includes units in Pennsylvania, Maryland and _Virginia.
“I really like working with the soldiers,’ said Kloster. “There’s such a camaraderie that develops. It’s almost hard to describe. Whether you’re going into battle or just getting a job done, we’re all doing it for the same reason – to defend our country.’
She continued, “When you see a soldier come in young and scared with no confidence and then see that soldier a year later, developed and confident because of the training we do, it’s probably the most rewarding thing I’ve ever experienced.’
Kloster is one of many women in the military today. She estimates that women make up 11 to 12 percent of the Armed Forces.
A decorated soldier, Kloster has served has a commander in the active Army (both in Europe and the United States), in the National Guard and the Reserves. She said she hasn’t experienced any problems because of her gender.
“People don’t worry about differences as long as you’re a good troop,’ she said. “I’ve never had any negative reaction because I was a female.’
She further pointed out, “I entered the Army in 1984. Women had already been to West Point and graduated. The first class graduated West Point in 1980. By the time I joined, women had been assimilated into the Army and were not a separate part.’
A native of Wilmington, Del., Kloster entered the Army while a junior at the University of Delaware through ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps).
“I had friends in college who were in ROTC,’ she explained. “I became interested listening to their stories. I was a history major studying military and cultural history. I tried it for a summer and the discipline and structure clicked with me.’
A ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate, Kloster graduated from college in 1984 and went to Fort Bragg, N.C., for training. She attended schools for airborne, adjutant general officer basic and advanced course (honor graduate) nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, company commander’s course, combined arms services staff school, selective service course, and Command and General Staff College.
She was sent to Germany from 1984-88 where she worked in human resources, which included administration and personnel management. Her assignment was a combat environment. They did not experience any combat but did have to react to a lot of terrorist activity that Kloster is not allowed to talk about. Although a lieutenant, she was made a commander.
She returned to the United States to work at a military entrance processing station (induction center) in Kansas City which processed soldiers going on to active duty.
Kloster was here during the Gulf War.
“I was bummed that I didn’t get to go over. But part of the job is processing people to get them over so I felt I contributed,’ she said. “You spend all those years training and you want to be part of it. You want to be there.’
In 1992, Kloster moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., which at any given moment is the largest company in the Army with 3,000 soldiers. She was also a commander here.
In 1994, Kloster came off active duty and onto the National Guard as she took a civilian job.
“I served as the first female commandant of the 35th Infantry Division in Kansas. It was very unusual to do that,’ she said.
Civilian-wise, Kloster ended up working at TeleTech in Kansas City as a human resources manager. A little over three years ago, the company asked her to come to Uniontown where she is employee development manager.
She also transferred from the Kansas Guard to the Reserves as protocol officer of the 99th Regional Support Command in Pittsburgh. She was a staff writer for two generals at headquarters and this past June, she transitioned into battalion commander for the 444 Personnel Services Battalion in Pittsburgh.
“This battalion is gigantic. It’s eight companies, which is unusual. Most have three. Were have units in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, outside Philadelphia, outside Baltimore and in Richmond,’ Kloster said. “Every weekend finds me at one of the locations dealing with one of the companies.’
A busy woman, Kloster spends two to three weekends a month on her Reserves assignment in addition to her civilian work with TeleTech.
“I enjoy my job at TeleTech and I enjoy my job at the military so I don’t feel stressed. I have a lot of work to do and I’m tired, but I’m not stressed,’ Kloster said, crediting exercise with relieving stress.
Along the way, Kloster also earned a master’s degree in management from Baker University in Kansas and a doctorate in business administration from Kennedy Western, which is attached to the University of Wyoming.
With the country now in wartime, the reservists do a lot of training and there exists the possibility that Kloster will be sent overseas if the war escalates. She said the active Army is not big enough to support a war that size.
How does she feel about that?
“Let’s go,’ Kloster said. “As a commander, I took this job knowing it’s a possibility. I’ve been training for 18 years. My soldiers have been training. If that’s where I need to be, that’s where I’m going to be. If my soldiers are asked to go to war, I’m going with them.’
Asked if she would encourage women to enter the military, Kloster said, “I would encourage anybody who’s interested in military for the right reasons: opportunity and the love of our nation – no matter who they are.’