Alumni Profile: Deciding Factor

Colonel Erica Ingram is photographed at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Photo by Brian T.. Williams

DECIDING FACTOR

ALUMNA ERICA INGRAM'S CHOICE TO JOIN UAPB ROTC LED TO HER BEING APPOINTED THE FIRST FEMALE AFRICAN AMERICAN COLONEL IN ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD HISTORY

by Tisha D. Arnold

The auditorium at Camp Robinson was standing room only. There were so many people present, the staff began to place extra chairs to accommodate guests. While promotion ceremonies in the Arkansas Army National Guard are nothing new, this one was special.

As the loudspeaker announced the beginning of the program, the audience stood to welcome program participants along with the guest of honor, UAPB alumna Erica Ingram. This event, this moment marked the first time an African-American woman was elevated to the position of Colonel within the 215-year history of the Arkansas National Guard.

Colonel Erica Ingram gives remarks during the promotion ceremony held in her honor.

“The entire ROTC program at UAPB prepared me for where I am today...My experience during those competitions helped me develop the mindset that I have what it takes and I am just as good whether I’m the only person that looks like me or not.”

THE CROSSROAD

Almost 30 years ago, the Wilmar, Arkansas, native was a senior at Wilmar High School trying to figure out what she was going to do after graduation. Having applied to UAPB and other institutions and obtaining several scholarships, she was at a crossroad of deciding which state school would be the best fit for her career aspirations. Regardless of the school, she planned to major in business administration with a minor in management. Ingram’s interest in the industry was solidified by her involvement as Treasurer of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) since freshman year.

The high school principal knew the professor of Military Science at UAPB and encouraged Ingram to apply for the ROTC scholarship. While she has family members that served in the National Guard, Army, and Navy, she was not really interested in it. Although she applied, Ingram admitted that she didn't plan to accept the ROTC scholarship if it was offered. A self-proclaimed girly girl, she was not willing to sacrifice her hot-pink nails and the highlights in her hair.

“I was the cheerleader type, not the basketball player,” she quips.

For as long as she can remember, Ingram says she was always surrounded by a village of support.

“If I didn’t succeed in life, I can only blame myself,” she said.

She says she was fortunate to have two parents who loved and supported her unconditionally. Her father John Johnson was a supervisor at a lumber mill and mother Vera was a beautician. Through their daily actions, they taught her

strong work ethic and to truly value people. Ingram said her parents would give a person the same level of respect, regardless of what a person looked like, where they came from, or how much money they had. While they weren’t thrilled about the idea of their daughter going to the military, they supported her decision.

After being notified that she was awarded the ROTC scholarship, Ingram says she was up at night trying to figure how she was going to graciously deny the offer. Ultimately, she decided to take the offer because it had an option to leave the program after a year if she decided it wasn’t a good fit. At the end of the first year, she was approached by Staff Sergeant Elton Forte who convinced her to remain in the program for the full term of four years.

“Even though I agreed to stay in the program, I still didn’t think it was for me,” admitted Ingram. She didn’t have to do drills because of her involvement in the simultaneous membership program with the National Guard. While she appreciated the structure and discipline of the ROTC program, Ingram had her mind set to obtain a corporate job in human resources. While matriculating at UAPB, she encountered educators like Dr. Barbara Grayson who taught her business communication and keyboarding, among other subjects.

“The entire ROTC program at UAPB prepared me for where I am today,” says Ingram. “We were the only historically black program in Arkansas. There were certain times we did competitions together and other institutions thought they were better than us.”

Even in 2019, Ingram recalls sitting around most tables where there are 40 people and she is the only female and/or African American. “My experience during those [ROTC] competitions helped me develop the mindset that I have what it takes, and I am just as good whether I’m the only person that looks like me or not.”

Colonel Ingram’s daughters Desarie Ingram (left) and DeeDee Shantelle pin insignias on Ingram’s uniform during her promotion ceremony at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock.

AT AN IMPASSE

After four years on active duty, Ingram said she planned to leave the military, however, a conversation with a recruiter resulted in joining the Army Reserve. She joined the Arkansas Army National Guard in December 1999, where she now serves as deputy chief of staff personnel and manages the main building of the Arkansas National Guard, the Medical arm of the organization, and the Joint Services program.

Rising through the ranks, Ingram garnered several awards and recognitions that include the Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon and Arkansas Service Ribbon. She is also a past president of the National Guard Association of Arkansas and a "big sister" with the Big Brother/Big Sister of Central of Arkansas program.

THE ROAD TO COLONEL

Some people grow up dreaming to become Colonel – for Ingram, it was not a goal but became a possibility the longer she stayed in the military. After having been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2010, Ingram says it looked like the rank of Colonel was an option. The process of being considered for the rank is a tedious one. The vetting component itself has to encounter at least 25 offices that include the Pentagon, Senate, and the President’s desk, in addition to an extensive background check.

Col. Ingram said that the promotion ceremony was the most overwhelming day of her life.

“Three days before, I could not eat or sleep,” she said, recalling her experience serving as MC for several programs. “I was so nervous and didn’t go to sleep the night before until 2:00 a.m.”

Sleep deprived from the last three days, Col. Ingram says she wasn’t sure what she was going to say. When she saw the sea of people that came to witness the ceremony, she was floored.

Every time she went to write her speech, she would start tearing up. Once she took the podium and began her speech, the anxiety began to wane. During her comments, Col. Ingram gave credit to her village for becoming the person she is today - from her parents, to the people that impacted the direction of her life in Wilmar, Arkansas, to the educators that influenced her at UAPB and in the military. During her acceptance speech at the promotion ceremony, she summed up her experience by quoting Major General Marcia Anderson, the first African-American woman to become a major general in the United States Army: “My wish, my desire is that at some point in our history there won’t be a ‘first woman’ or ‘first African American’ doing anything, it will just be somebody doing something.”

The morning after the promotion ceremony, Ingram says she paused for a moment to take in what occurred. She knew she was going to the same office to do a job she’d been performing for the last 39 months. It was more than her title that changed.

“I always received respect before the promotion, but people treated me differently,” she said. “Maybe it was a bigger deal than I thought.”