U.S. Army Honors
Heroes Among Us
Photo:
MAJ Gwendolyn Tavira, U.S. Army
Former Jackson State Faculty Member and Alumna Continues Eclectic Career Path
Gwen Erby Tavira recalls poring over a variety of college scholarships she had been offered, as she approached graduation from Callaway high school in 1984. The drum major and honor student had already selected her favorite college: hometown Jackson State. The only outstanding issue was how to finance her education. In the pile of front of her were several scholarships that provided money for room, board, tuition and books. But one, in particular, seemed to call her name. It also offered a monthly stipend.
Gwen wasn’t sure what this scholarship from the U.S. Army ROTC entailed, but she knew where to find out. She asked her Dad, Tom, an instructor of military science at Alcorn State, and a career Army pilot who had flown three tours of duty in Viet Nam.
“He was shocked that I was even interested in an ROTC scholarship!” she recalls. “I was the only one of his four girls who was the slightest bit interested in following in his footsteps.”
During her four years at Jackson State, Gwen worked hard—and played hard. She was an honors biology student, ROTC cadet, captain of the cheerleading squad, and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Gwen’s biology degree first led her to a post in Baumholder, Germany, where she worked as a division artillery chemical officer, training troops for nuclear biological chemical warfare. After spotting an ad for NFL-Europe’s cheerleading squad tryouts, Gwen convinced her commander that cheerleading was a sport, too, and he granted her permission to audition. She was among 75 women who tried out for the squad and one of five Americans who made the team. Two were soldiers. As was the case at Jackson State, she became the team captain.
After a year of traveling throughout Europe as a cheerleader, Gwen’s four-year tour of duty ended and her life dramatically changed. She returned to the States, married her soldier sweetheart whom she’d met in Germany, and became an Active Reserve Officer.
The couple had four children before they divorced. An open position in the military science department lured her back to her alma mater.
“It was the highlight of my Army career,” she smiled, “being able to teach, mentor and develop young people. You can’t imagine how it felt to give them what had been given to me!”
After five years, Gwen said goodbye to the Jackson State campus again. This time, she left with a new husband. She’d met Eric Tavira through his mother, Isabel, who’s a Jackson State employee and graduate student. Last year, the couple welcomed son, Jaiden, who’s now 11 months old.
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Today, Major Gwen Tavira is back on active duty, working as a quality assurance officer in the Army’s training division at Fort Monroe, where she monitors and evaluates training materials for reserve soldiers.
“These days, it’s even more important for reserve soldiers’ training to be as current and relevant as active duty soldiers,” she explained.
Major Gwen Tavira: Mom, mentor, educator and soldier, demonstrating what it means to be Army Strong.
For more information about the U.S. Army’s traveling photo exhibit, Heroes Among Us, or to obtain a copy of the Heroes Among Us lesson plan for high school students, visit
http:www.goarmy.com/bhm.
Posted By: Jehan Bunch
Thursday, March 8th 2007 at 12:16PM
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