Military and Volunteer Leadership: Captain Terra Gray
Captain Terra Gray has climbed the ranks to now have a high-powered military career. Starting as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, she is currently serving as Assistant Chief of Staff - Manpower and Personnel Readiness at Navy Expeditionary Combat Command in Virginia Beach. While there are many reasons Terra has risen to leadership, a key factor has been her ability to find a work-life blend. It has helped her be successful within her job, as a mother of three girls, and as a Girl Scout troop leader of Troop 948. She says it requires prioritization and developing support systems.
“Successfully balancing my commitment to our country and my dedication to my family hinges on a strong support network an intentional personal strategy,” Terra said. “I am incredibly fortunate to have a supportive husband, extended family, and a community of fellow military and Chesapeake families who provide a unique and essential understanding of this lifestyle.”
Terra’s family faces the demands of military life as a team. There’s an unspoken understanding that open communication is expected; everyone’s opinion counts, and the girls are involved in planning. There’s a conscious effort to set boundaries and prioritize family time which allows Terra to serve both country and her amazing family to the fullest.
When Terra and her daughters are at Girl Scouts, they are there 100%. She loves actively helping girls grow into the strong, confident, and courageous women we all hope they’ll become. She finds the Girl Scout program easy to follow and use. “I love how the Volunteer Toolkit provides practical resources,” she said.
Terra has found that the values instilled by Girl Scouting resonate deeply with her own. “There’s a remarkable parallel between the core principles of both organizations, which I’ve been proud to share with the girls in my troop. The Girl Scout Law and the military core values are built on the same foundation of service, responsibility, and character. Both organizations aim to build individuals of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”
Terra uses her leadership training to help the girls in her troop develop their own leadership styles, encouraging them to take on new responsibilities and challenges. She also opens doors for the girls to learn from other leaders. They have had some amazing experiences over the four years she has led the troop that included touring the USS Comfort where they explored medical spaces and spent time with sailors assembling first-aid kits. They also met service dogs with Mutts with a Mission and made puppy pull toys to donate to the nonprofit. Members in the troop learned about financial literacy through a learning series with the Navy Credit Union, and they have participated in the Veterans Day Parade — these are but a few of the field trips and activities from the troop’s memory book. They have also earned many badges and patches, including Explore the Navy and Explore the Coast Guard patches.
Then there are the stories told around the campfire or at troop meeting circles where Terra has an opportunity to share the excitement of her career. She shares age-appropriate stories from her military experience that illustrate the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and service. She says she has shared lots of sea stories with her girls in her troop and her daughters. “They enjoy the adventure, bravery, and patriotism of knowing that I and other service members protect them and our country from danger. My daughters Hattie, Cali and Meri do have their favorites. Hattie liked when I told the story of NATO and being able to meet people from all over the world. Cali liked the story of me flying airplanes and pretending to be Amelia Earhart, and Meri enjoyed the story of how I drove the aircraft carrier and had airplanes landing on it and when I made a snowman on the flight deck. Whatever the story, the girls’ imaginations are ignited and they know a woman can have some pretty awesome experiences within the military!”
Read more about how Girl Scouts is supporting military families at gsccc.org/military.
