Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
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Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Maggard shares a moment with her daughter and husband, Freddie Maggard, as her sister, Pfc. Logan Green looks on during Maggard's promotion ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 12, 2014. Following the promotion, Maggard swore her sister into the Kentucky Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- When the Kentucky National Guard describes itself as a family organization, it has the proof to back it up. Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Maggard's story is a prime example.
Sept. 12, 2014 will remain a special date for the family as Maggard was promoted to chief warrant officer three in front of friends and family, just before she swore her younger sister Logan Green into the Kentucky Guard.
"I am very proud to have my sister serving with me in uniform," said Maggard. "She has always been an enthusiastic determined young lady, not letting anyone tell her she couldn't do something. She moved to Florida when she was three, so I have missed a lot of the special events in her life. I hope now I can be of more support to her and watch her grow into a young leader for the Kentucky Guard as well as in life."
"Growing up I watched my sister do so much in the Kentucky Guard," said Logan. "I watched her go to flight school and do so many other things, so I look forward to seeing where my career can take me, what I can do and the things I can do to make myself better through the Kentucky Guard."
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Pfc. Logan Green is sworn into the Kentucky National Guard by her sister, Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Maggard during a ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 12, 2014. Green transferred for the Florida National Guard and will attend the University of Kentucky. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Logan is a freshman at the University of Kentucky, where she plans to major in the medical field. She's also joined their Army ROTC program. She will simultaneously serve in the Kentucky Guard as a multiple-launch rocket system specialist as she works toward becoming an Army officer after graduation.
Maggard has served in the Kentucky Guard since 1998, enlisting as a junior in high school, which Logan did as well. Maggard he currently works as a resource manager for the Recruiting and Retention command. She is also married to former Guardsman Freddie Maggard, who serves as the Kentucky Guard’s Community Relations Liaison.
"When I first joined the Guard I was just a family member who served in the Guard," said Maggard. "Joined now by my husband who served, my brother and now sister who both serve, we are a true Guard family and happy to call the Kentucky National Guard home."
The brother of the family, Spc. Doug Green works as an aviation mechanic with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation in Frankfort. He thinks it's an honor for the siblings to be able to represent the military as well as they can as family.
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Warrant Officer Jennifer Maggard hugs her sister Logan Green during Maggard's graduation from warrant officer candidate school in 2008. (Courtesy photo)
"I am very proud to be the older brother of these two," Doug said. "It's great that Logan was able to transfer up here and that all three of us are together here now in the Guard."
"On of them already outranks me, and in a few years the other will as well," he said. "You have to be proud of that."
Chief Warrant Officer Dean Stoops, Kentucky's command chief warrant officer was on hand to help promote Maggard and to welcome her sister. Stoops mentored Maggard as a young warrant officer and helped guide her into flight school. He also started his own career in artillery, like Logan, and said he feels a kinship with the family.
"It's great to able to participate not only in an official ceremony such as this, but one that is such a family affair and in particular, one that the Guard is such a big part of it," said Stoops.
Logan said the day began a new chapter of her relationship with her sister, and recalled times spent apart.
"We didn't grow up together, but we're still very close and it's nice to know that we can look forward to the memories we're going to make now that I'm closer. I think the connection I have with my brother and sister will just get a lot closer and stronger."
"Some of my greatest memories I have with my sister is going to get our nails done and hanging out and being sisters and having that one-on-one time that we didn't always have when we were growing up."
Maggard said she look forward to the day when she has to salute her little sister, but until then she wants Logan to learn from Maggard's experiences and build upon the basic principles of family.
"This is her career and it will be what she makes of it; she can be as successful or unsuccessful as she wants to be. Know that someone is always watching even when she thinks they are not. Most importantly to always believe in herself and know she is surrounded by family and friends who believe in her, support her, are proud of her and love her."
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Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Maggard (center) gathers her family for a group photo following her promotion and sister, Pfc. Logan Green's swearing in into the Kentucky National Guard in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 12, 2014. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Logan remembered that she wanted to enlist in the military since she was four-years-old, after watching her sister leave for basic training. Both sisters recalled the Disney movie "Mulan" and how it had an underlying theme of their relationship. Appropriate that a story of a strong, independent and self-sufficient girl who goes on to become a warrior is a favorite of the two.
Both shared memorable stories of seeing each other graduate from different Army schools, but this day will certainly rank high on their lists for years to come.
"I was excited that the timeline worked out that I could be to watch my sister's big moment and be a part of it for her," said Logan. "And excited about my other sister coming up and my brother's here, so all four of us are together again."
"My own family got to introduce me to the larger family of the Kentucky National Guard. It's such a great support system and I'm so glad to be a part of it now."