For retired Army Warrant Officer Raquel Patrick, an impressive four deployments, one to Somalia and three to Iraq, wasn’t enough. The moment she heard about the Cultural Support Team program she knew it was for her. Motivated by a life-long desire to serve, she was confident she could make a difference. Even her children supported her decision to apply. Not only was Raquel selected, but after grueling physical training and cultural studies at Fort Liberty, she was made a CST Leader.
Her deployment began in the dead of night when she and her partner fast roped from a helicopter into a safe house in a desolate area of southern Afghanistan filled with Taliban. Hear why she and her CST partner rarely left the safehouse without wearing full makeup and colorful headscarves, how they developed trust with local communities of women, and how Raquel effectively worked with her Special Operation team members to blend different communication techniques that enabled them to accomplish the mission.
Raquel’s riveting story exemplifies not only her courage under fire, but a deep-seated passion to try to make the world a better place.
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