There are over 200 years of service including enlisted and non-enlisted service when it comes to the history of women in the United States military. During their time in the military, women have had to overcome decades of obstacles to get where they are today. Today women are serving in greater numbers, are able to be in combat roles, and hold leadership positions.

With March 2024 being National Women’s History Month, it is a pleasure to be able to honor Andrea Soulek as the Veteran of the Month. Andrea joined the Navy in December of 2015 and ended her active-duty service December of 2019. Soulek is currently a member of the Navy Reserves. Andrea decided to join the Navy after high school because she was not sure what she wanted to do on her career path and was looking for the structure that the military offered. She was very proud to join the Navy as a way to not only financially take care of herself and something that she could do and earn for herself, but also to give back to and serve her country.

Soulek attended basic training in Chicago at the Naval Station Great Lakes. She then attended Navy A School in Pensecola, FL. Andrea joined the Navy undesignated, which meant that Andrea joined without choosing a naval job but was still able to work her first permanent duty station and could decide on a job later in her service. After finishing A- school, Soulek was stationed on a LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) which was an amphibious ship. She was stationed near Makin Island (located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean) for a year. Soulek’s first job was working on the flight deck. She assisted in the landing of helicopters and other (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) VTOL aircraft.

Andrea also worked for the Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Pacific (HSM) out of San Diego. After learning that she was pregnant with her second child, Andrea retook the ASVAB in order to switch jobs to become a logistics specialist. She worked for shore command, which is on-shore installations and facilities that support the fleet’s operating forces with repairs, fuel, ammunition, training, and medical help among other things. While doing shore command, she was stationed at Coronado Island, CA. Soulek finished her active-duty naval career at Lemoore, CA where she worked with the VFA-122 Navy Unit, which was a Strike Fighter Squadron.

Soulek knew that after her four years of service it was time for her move back home to the Lake Andes/Armour/Wagner area and focus on her family. Andrea had several highlights from her military service. Soulek worked on air crafts in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and completed Naval training in beautiful Key West. Not just anyone can say that they have seen helicopters and other air craft land and take off, nor can many say they have been a part of the team responsible for being able to complete those feats.

Andrea was born and raised in the Lake Andes and Armour area. She is a 2012 graduate of Armour High School. Soulek is the daughter of the late Andy Soulek and Kim Zephier. Andrea is the mom to three beautiful daughters Amayah, Alana and Ayla. Her oldest two daughters attend school in the Armour School District. After moving back to the area, Andrea took a couple of months off to get reacquainted with the area and to readjust to civilian life. She then missed the structure that the military offered her along with the fact that the Navy had always afforded her the opportunities to go further in her career and push herself to be her best. She made the decision to re-enlist with the Naval Reserves. Soulek’s unit is out of Sioux Falls. Her unit works with the Commander Naval Forces Japan. In addition to her weekend service once a month, Soulek attends her annual training in Japan for two weeks.

Soulek also worked for the tribe for a brief period of time before deciding that it would be best to focus her time on raising her daughters and managing the family farm. Andrea enjoys working out, is a part of the Wagner Volleyball League and participates in many activities with her young daughters. She has also been very active in the community since returning to South Dakota. Andrea is currently taking classes to become a sexual assault victim’s advocate through the military, is a member of the South-Central Cooperative Against Human Trafficking out of Wagner, assists with CCD preschool classes in Armour and is a member of the South Dakota Funeral Honors for the Navy. She has been a member of the Funeral Honors program since 2019, which is a big honor for Andrea. This allows Andrea to proudly give Navy Veterans a proper farewell throughout the state of South Dakota.

As a woman and mother while being an active-duty soldier in the Navy, Andrea faced many challenges as most woman do. It is never easy whether as a male or female serving and having to be a part from your children and family. It was definitely a different feeling and experience since she was pregnant and had a child while serving. After having her second daughter, Andrea had to spend three months away from her baby. As a soldier she saw how her service was not only for the betterment of her country, but also for her family in the providing of benefits and financial security for them. Andrea is very proud to have been an active-duty member of the Navy and that she is able to continue to serve her country now as a reservist. She feels very honored to have been and to continue to be a part of the military which has allowed her to take care of herself and support her daughters.

Thank you, Andrea, for your continued service and sacrifice for our country and for being this month’s Veteran of the Month. You are a wonderful role model not only for your daughters, but also for the young woman of the Lake Andes/Wagner/Armour area to see what all can be accomplished through ones military service.