LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Many are observing Veterans Day this weekend as a time to recognize those who've served in the country's military, both past and present.
One Arkansas woman is leading in more ways than one as she paves the way for other women to follow after becoming a high-ranking military officer.
Brigadier General Tomika Seaberry knows a lot about firsts. Her rank of Brigadier General makes her a senior officer in the armed forces.
Seaberry has more than 25 years of service under her belt and has continuously made strides in her career. However, as she tells it, the success that followed graduating from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff didn't come easily, it took hard work and a team.
“I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth,” Seaberry explained. “My mother worked hard as a single parent, and she always told us the way to get anything out of life is through education.”
Before Brigadier General Seaberry began climbing the ladder, she listened to her mother's words and took in all that education has to offer.
“Coming out of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff ROTC program I’ll say the cadre are who really helped develop me into who I am today,” Seaberry said.
Brigadier General Seaberry graduated from UAPB in 1997, and from there she put boots on the ground.
“My first duty assignment was in Korea, which is one of the hardest assignments you can take as a second lieutenant,” Seaberry said.
This difficult assignment put her in the position to lead for the first time.
“A 20-something-year-old college student who now has to lead,” Seaberry said. “I had 30 personnel that I had to lead. You are responsible for our sons and daughters, people are trusting you to take care of their loved ones.”
Instead of letting doubt seep in, Seaberry believed in herself.
“I had the confidence bestowed upon me to lead which all goes back to trusting my training,” Seaberry said.
Before her current role, she commanded the United States Army Garrison Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico and holds a laundry list of other titles.
So, that confidence Seaberry carries is crucial in her journey, especially as an African-American woman, climbing the ranks in a male-dominated field.
“There's a lot of microaggressions out there. People tell you well, you didn't get this because, or you can't do this because,” Seaberry added.
Even with the confidence and the success to back it up, she said that all of it was made possible by her support system.
“I always tell people that we're giving one mouth and two ears for a reason,” Seaberry said. “Every ladder and every success that I've made, it's definitely been with the support of my family and community.”
In December, Seaberry will be featured in a Mosaic Templars Cultural Center exhibit. Her story is one that exhibit curator, Courtney Bradford, knew Arkansans needed to see.
“After digging a little deeper into Black representation in the military, to see her be able to accomplish such great height within the military, being such a high-ranking officer female officer, we wanted to feature her in this part of the exhibition,” Bradford described.
As for the Brigadier General, her 20-plus years of partnership in the military are what's truly being recognized.
“The military itself is one of the first institutions that has allowed people like me to exceed,” Seaberry said. “So, it's not me, it's the work of others that is being honored.”
Seaberry expects to attend the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center’s grand opening.
Bradford added that the cultural center is bringing back old stories while incorporating new ones that have yet to be told.
Each of the stories connects to Arkansas, and pulling them together has been a 3-year process that Bradford is excited to see come to life.
Attendees can see Brigadier General Tomika Seaberry’s inclusion in the exhibit on December 3 in Little Rock.