The desire to serve starts early, and for the Girl Scouts organization supporting military families, it is a perfect match. The Girl Scout Promise and Law that upholds integrity, respect, character, and service to both community and country align with military core values.
The Girl Scouts organization does quite a lot with the military community. They support military families both stateside and overseas and partner with other military-connected organizations such as the USO and VFW, which offer exclusive scholarships to Girl Scouts.Girl Scouts also engage in National Service Projects and have the opportunity to achieve the Gold Award, where they can enter the military one rank higher and receive more college scholarships.
The similarities in service reflect a cycle of inspiration and patriotism. Captain Terra Gray, U.S. Navy officer and Girl Scouts Troop Leader of the Colonial East, provided Military.com with her views about how she develops youth into leaders through civic engagement, volunteerism and education. She further talked about how she is able to be a mom, a military spouse and a Girl Scouts Troop Leader while also serving active duty in the Navy.
She represents our many active-duty service members and veterans who give back to our communities and build our future leaders.
Kim O’Brien (Military.com):Your military career spans from Aviation Machinist’s Mate to senior leadership. What mentorship along the way most shaped your leadership philosophy today?
CAPT Terra Gray (U.S. Navy Assistant Chief of Staff and Girl Scouts Troop Leader, Troop 948): My success and leadership philosophy haven’t been shaped by a single individual, but rather by an entire support network. I attribute my growth collectively to a supportive husband, fellow military personnel across the ranks, and my extended family, which proudly includes a USMC stepfather and a USCG QMCM retiree father-in-law. Additionally, the community of fellow military families here provides an essential understanding of our lifestyle. Ultimately, it is this network that empowers me to lead effectively and helps me create a sustainable work-life ‘blend’ rather than just a balance.
Military.com:You’ve spoken about creating an intentional work-life blend rather than balance. What does that look like on a typical day, and what advice would you give other military parents trying to lead both at work and at home?
CAPT Gray: I’ve found that a 50/50 ‘balance’ is rarely realistic in the military, which is why we focus on an intentional work-life blend. A typical day for us is rooted in open communication. We actively involve our three daughters in the planning process and set firm boundaries so that family time remains the priority, even with the demands of my Navy career. If I could give one piece of advice to other military parents, it would be to rely on your ‘village.’ My success in blending these two worlds comes down to a strong support network, especially my husband, a USCG retiree, our extended family, and our military community. Approach it all as a team effort.
Military.com:As a Girl Scout troop leader, how do you translate lessons from military service into experiences that help young girls build confidence and see themselves as future leaders?
CAPT Gray: There is a remarkable parallel between the Girl Scout Law and the military’s core values, which makes it incredibly natural to translate my experience as a Naval Officer into my role as a troop leader. Both are built on a bedrock of service, responsibility, and character. I actively apply my military leadership training to our troop activities to help foster courage and confidence. By combining the rich resources of the Girl Scout program with hands-on experiences, it becomes easy to teach new skills and share different perspectives. Through this intentional leadership development, my goal is to actively help these girls grow into strong, confident, and courageous future leaders who are ready to make the world a better place.
I’ve been able to share these values by (examples):
Leading by Example: I strive to embody the principles of both the military and Girl Scouts in my actions and words.
Storytelling: I share age-appropriate stories from my military experience that illustrate the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and service. I have shared lots and lots of sea stories with my girls and the troop. They enjoy the adventure, bravery, and patriotism of knowing that other service members and I protect them and our country from danger.
Although I have many favorites, I wanted to ask my girls their favorites:
- Hattie – “When you served with NATO and got to meet people from all over the world to help make peace.” Translates to Global cooperation and diplomacy.
- Cali – “When you got to fly airplanes and pretend you were Amelia Earhart.” Translates to: Adventure and breaking boundaries.
- Meridian – “When you drove the aircraft carrier and had airplanes landing on it… and when you made a snowman on the flight deck!” Translates to: Leadership in high-stakes environments mixed with winter fun, fun, and more fun!
Military.com:What message do you hope girls growing up in military communities take away from your example?
CAPT Gray: I hope to serve as a living example that women do not have to choose between a demanding career serving their country and raising a family. By actively embodying the shared principles of the military and the Girl Scouts, I want to demonstrate that with a strong support network, open communication, and intentional boundaries, it is entirely possible to be a dedicated leader both at work and at home. Ultimately, my desire is to educate through action so that young girls in military communities recognize their own inherent resilience. By honoring veterans and understanding their families’ sacrifices, these girls internalize that strength. My daughter, Hattie, captured this perfectly when she proudly told me, “My whole family serves, and that’s why I AM BRAVE AND STRONG too!
To learn more about how Girl Scouts supports military families, visit gsccc.org/military.
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