Janina Simmons made history in 2019 as the first Black woman to graduate from the Army’s Ranger School. The training is known as one of the toughest in the world—long days, little sleep, heavy gear, and constant challenges. Many soldiers before her did not finish, but Janina pushed through.
Her fight wasn’t only on the field. In 2023, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, and doctors told her it had spread through her body. Even then, she refused to give up. On June 8, 2025, she became the first woman in the Army to be promoted to Sergeant Major while also wearing the Ranger Tab.
Janina doesn’t see herself as special. Growing up, she thought of herself as “an ordinary Joe.” She explained, “That was the first time I realized, if you do a little extra and set a goal, you can achieve greatness. I just put the extra into ordinary Joe, and became extraordinary.”
Congratulations to Sergeant Major Janina Simmons.
(Photo: Janina Simmons / U.S. Army)
0 Comments