Greta Railsback

"From Day 1, being part of a team and gaining trust very quickly that normally builds over time was amazing," said the native of Mineral Bluff, Georgia. "Our cadre and students who were seniors had responsibility for us, and I felt part of a team that was cohesive and trusted."

That sentiment stuck with Railsback during her career as a cadet at UNG. She embraced the responsibility and rose in the ranks to be company commander in her senior year.

"UNG and the Corps of Cadets set you up to be successful," said the 1999 graduate with a degree in criminal justice.

Her success continued into the U.S. Army. In October 2019, Railsback was promoted to a full colonel and became the first female UNG graduate to earn this rank. The 42-year-old took the news in stride.

"It means that the Army is placing a greater amount of responsibility on me," said Railsback, who is the director for the Center for the Army Profession and Leadership stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. "The expectations are higher now and you have to step up and work harder."

Based on her promotion, she expects more female graduates of UNG's Corps of Cadets to follow.

"We'd all like to high-five each other, but I know we can do better. Every year, I want to see us do better," Railsback said. "We have a lot of male North Georgia graduates who are doing well. We need to step up to the plate to ensure our female graduates are offered the same opportunities. Because this promotion is not winning for us, it is just the beginning."