79T
Primary Career Specialty
Recruiting and Retention NCO
A specialized Army National Guard career field focused on recruiting, retention, career counseling, soldier support, community engagement, personnel readiness, and organizational strength.
Military Leadership & Service
Sergeant First Class
LaToya A. Wiggins
Thirteen years of military service shaped by leadership, instruction, operational responsibility, recruiting and retention, and two deployments to Iraq.
LaToya A. Wiggins served in the United States Army and Massachusetts Army National Guard, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class, pay grade E-7. Her career included operational service, recruiting and retention leadership, instruction, career counseling, personnel development, organizational readiness, and responsibility for guiding soldiers through consequential military career decisions.
- Senior Noncommissioned Officer
- Recruiting and Retention NCO, 79T
- Army Instructor
- Two-Time Iraq Veteran
- Honorable Service
Career Record
Service at a Glance
- Final Rank
Sergeant First Class
- Pay Grade
E-7
- Career Length
13 years of military service
- Military Service
United States Army
Massachusetts Army National Guard
- Primary Career Field
Recruiting and Retention
- Primary Military Occupational Specialty
79T, Recruiting and Retention NCO
- Additional Military Occupational Specialties
42F, Data Entry Specialist
88M, Motor Transport Operator
- Final Assignment
Massachusetts Recruiting and Retention Command
- Operational Experience
Two deployments to Iraq
- Character of Service
Honorable
Senior Leadership
Leadership as a Senior NCO
Attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class reflected years of progressive responsibility, professional development, mission execution, and leadership. As a senior noncommissioned officer, LaToya’s role extended beyond completing assigned tasks. She was responsible for developing soldiers, maintaining standards, advising others, supporting organizational readiness, and remaining accountable for both people and mission outcomes.
Her military leadership required discretion, adaptability, administrative precision, sound judgment, communication, and the ability to perform under pressure. These principles continue to shape how she leads organizations, develops systems, and serves others today.
People Development
Preparing, guiding, and supporting soldiers throughout their professional development.
Mission Readiness
Maintaining standards, accountability, and organizational preparedness.
Decision-Making
Exercising judgment and responsibility in demanding environments.
Service-Based Leadership
Understanding leadership as responsibility, not status.
Primary Career Field
Recruiting, Retention & Career Development
As a 79T Recruiting and Retention NCO, LaToya worked in a field requiring relationship management, career counseling, policy knowledge, strategic communication, administrative accuracy, and long-term responsibility for service-member outcomes.
Her work involved helping individuals understand military opportunities, supporting soldiers through career decisions, strengthening retention, maintaining regulatory and administrative standards, and contributing to the readiness and sustainability of the organization.
Core Competencies
- Recruiting strategy
- Soldier retention
- Career counseling
- Relationship development
- Policy and regulatory knowledge
- Administrative precision
- Communication and public engagement
- Organizational readiness
- Personnel development
- Mission-focused leadership
Occupational Record
Military Occupational Experience
42F
Military Occupational Specialty
Data Entry Specialist
Administrative and information-management experience involving accurate data entry, personnel records, document processing, information maintenance, and support for organizational accountability.
88M
Military Occupational Specialty
Motor Transport Operator
Operational experience involving military transportation, vehicle readiness, convoy support, logistics, safety, accountability, and mission execution.
Professional Military Education
Military Education & Professional Development
LaToya’s military education reflects progressive preparation in leadership, instruction, recruiting and retention, tactical readiness, personnel development, and senior NCO responsibility. Her training supported advancement from operational service into instructional and organizational leadership roles.
Leadership Development
Warrior Leader Course
Foundational noncommissioned officer leadership education completed in preparation for continued service and leadership at the rank of Sergeant, E-5. Training emphasized leadership principles, communication, military standards, accountability, team development, and mission execution.
Advanced Leader Course (ALC)
Professional military education supporting leadership at the Staff Sergeant, E-6 level. The course strengthened competencies in organizational leadership, tactical decision-making, personnel development, communication, readiness, and increased NCO responsibility.
Structured Self-Development Level IV
Senior-level professional military education supporting continued NCO leadership development and preparation for increased organizational responsibility.
Instructor Development
Army Basic Instructor Course
Formal preparation in military instruction, lesson delivery, training development, classroom management, evaluation, and facilitation.
Small Group Instructor Training
Professional development in facilitating learning, leading small-group instruction, communicating complex material, and developing soldiers.
Career Specialization
Army National Guard 79T Conversion Course
Specialized preparation for service as a Recruiting and Retention NCO, including recruiting operations, retention, career counseling, policy, communication, and personnel readiness.
Tactical and Operational Preparation
Basic Combatives, Level I
Foundational Army combatives training focused on discipline, physical readiness, control, and close-contact defensive skills.
Basic Combatives, Level II
Advanced continuation of Army combatives training, building upon foundational techniques through expanded tactical application, control, readiness, and disciplined response.
MRT Tactical Training
KuwaitPre-deployment tactical preparation completed in Kuwait before entering the operational environment. The training supported readiness for service in a war zone and reinforced tactical awareness, mission preparation, adaptability, and operational discipline.
Operational Service
Service in Iraq
LaToya completed two deployments to Iraq in support of military operations in both northern and southern regions of the country. These assignments required resilience, adaptability, teamwork, mission focus, and responsible performance in active operational environments.
Northern Iraq
Kirkuk, Iraq
Deployed in support of operations in northern Iraq, with service connected to the Kirkuk operational area.
Southern Operations
Camp Taji, Iraq
Deployed in support of southern operations while assigned through Camp Taji.
These deployments remain a defining part of LaToya’s leadership development and military service. They strengthened her ability to adapt, remain accountable, support the mission, and lead responsibly in demanding environments.
Recognized Service
Decorations, Medals & Service Recognition
- Army Commendation Medal, multiple awards
- Army Achievement Medal
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Army Good Conduct Medal, multiple awards
- Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
- Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device
- Driver and Mechanic Badge with Mechanic designation
- Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-Wheeled Vehicle designation
These decorations reflect achievement, honorable conduct, unit service, professional development, overseas duty, operational mobilization, and service connected to military operations in Iraq and the Global War on Terrorism.
Final Assignment
Final Military Assignment
Massachusetts Recruiting and Retention Command
LaToya concluded her military career assigned to the Massachusetts Recruiting and Retention Command. Her work reflected the Army’s continued investment in her leadership, communication, career counseling, personnel development, recruiting, retention, and organizational-readiness expertise.
Leadership Legacy
How Military Service Continues to Shape My Leadership
01
Leadership Is Responsibility
Rank increases responsibility for people, standards, and outcomes.
02
People Must Be Developed
Strong organizations intentionally prepare others to lead and succeed.
03
Standards Protect the Mission
Accountability, discipline, and consistency create organizational trust.
04
Adaptability Sustains Performance
Leaders must assess changing conditions and make sound decisions under pressure.
05
Service Comes Before Recognition
Leadership is ultimately measured by the people supported and the mission advanced.
“My military service taught me that leadership is not simply the authority to direct others. It is the responsibility to prepare people, protect the mission, uphold standards, and remain accountable for the results.”