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Image One Col. Clydea Prichard-Brown

Meet The Twin Colonels Giving Army Leadership a New Look

Meet the sisters who capture the new look of Army leadership.

Image Two Col. Clydellia Prichard-Allen

Col. Clydea Prichard-Brown (Left)

Col. Clydellia Prichard-Allen (Right)

Two accomplished Colonels, who also happen to be twin sisters, share how they’ve thrived in the Army while remaining unapologetically themselves—and how they’re helping a new generation of women do the same.

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If asked to imagine an Army leader, some might picture a man in a crew cut barking orders. Col. Clydea Prichard-Brown and Col. Clydellia Prichard-Allen, however, don’t fit that mold. The twin sisters represent the new generation of Army leadership. We spoke with them about how they’re helping to transform the Army into a space where women can live authentically, serve their country, and hone their leadership skills to reach their full potential.

Rising Through the Ranks Together

Since birth, Prichard-Allen and Prichard-Brown have taken on life’s biggest challenges together. “Our mother gave us our very first mission in life: You will finish college,” Prichard-Brown says. The women had already completed three years of college prior to entering the military. But it was hard for a single mother to support two daughters with one paycheck, so Prichard-Allen was excited to learn about the U.S. Army’s many educational and monetary benefits, including the College Loan Repayment Program (LRP). By enlisting in the Army Reserve, she was able to ease her mother’s financial burden while pursuing the completion of her degree with the promise of a stable career ahead. “Soon I had a conversation with my sister. I told her, “I’m truly enjoying serving and am even having fun.”

When she heard about her sister’s positive experience in the Army Reserve, including financial stability and time to pursue her degree, Prichard-Brown enlisted as well. This allowed them to support one another as they navigated their rise through the ranks to Colonel. Even when stationed continents apart, they’ve managed to talk multiple times a day. (Their first video call usually happens around 5 a.m.)

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We’re each other’s mentors and sounding boards.”

- Col. Clydellia Prichard-Allen
Slide 1

empowering the next generation

It’s no coincidence that both twins have had such success in the Army. They’ve been able to turn to one another for advice and support. Their close bond helped the twins blaze new trails throughout their Army careers. They’ve long supported the Army’s efforts to better reflect the population it serves. Both twins had been the only female battalion commanders in their brigades and today Prichard-Brown serves as Chief of Staff of her unit and Prichard-Allen serves as Director of the National Capital Region.

Their accomplishments inspired other female soldiers to ask them for advice on how to achieve a similar level of success. Prichard-Brown found herself answering the same questions over and over, which made her realize that many female soldiers didn’t have the built-in support network that she and her sister provided for one another. That’s why they created the Female Mentoring and Morale Program (FMMP). The mission of the program is to build an infrastructure where female soldiers and civilians can ask questions, share ideas, and motivate each other to become the next generation of Army leaders. The program provides insights, resources, and opportunities soldiers need to grow their careers in the Army.

Programs Working for Soldiers

In addition to the Female Mentoring and Morale Program, the Army continues to launch new initiatives to put every soldier in a position to succeed.

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Resources

The Army’s Directive on Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum (PPP) provides soldiers with resources to care for their growing families. This benefit provides male and female soldiers with family care planning, paid parental leave, fertility treatments, pregnancy loss support, and more.

Icon Two Health &
Wellness

The U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) System offers soldiers a suite of resources that address the five domains of health: physical, mental, nutritional, sleep, and spiritual wellness.

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Women

The Women’s Initiatives Team is open to all Army soldiers and civilians of any rank and demographic. The team helps to develop and advocate for policies, programs, and new resources that support and empower female soldiers.

Growing Support for Female Mentorship

Prichard-Brown had an uphill battle to get the Female Mentoring and Morale Program off the ground, but, after briefing her commanding general, he immediately signed off on it. “I asked, ‘What made you want to support this program?’ And he said, ‘I have three daughters. If any of them came into the Army, I would want them to have a program that they could come to and feel safe, and an environment of peers and senior leaders who would help them navigate through an ever-changing landscape.” The program also received immediate support from the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Secretary of the Army after the program was launched.

Today, FMMP has 39 current and pending chapters throughout the Army. That’s a massive accomplishment in any organization, particularly one as complex and sophisticated as the U.S. Army. One reason the program has been so successful is that it welcomes anyone who wants to make the Army more diverse and inclusive. In fact, some of the most impactful work done by the FMMP involves helping men in leadership positions better relate to the growing number of female soldiers.

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We’ll help you find your voice.”

- Col. Clydea Prichard-Brown
Slide 4

What Change Looks Like

Prichard-Brown and Prichard-Allen enlisted in the Army in the late 80s and early 90s, respectively, when the rules around personal expression were much stricter than they are today. Prichard-Allen shared, “females were expected to look a certain way, which was not complimentary for females. Our hair had to be pulled back in a neat bun, with no makeup or appearance of our feminine qualities. However, over the past five or six years, the Army relaxed the hair standards and, in the past three to four years, it eased the standards around nails, lipstick, and other grooming requirements allowing us to celebrate our beauty.”

Prichard-Brown believes these changes were a necessary step in keeping morale high among soldiers who come from diverse backgrounds. “The Army had to go through a cultural change. But allowing both men and women to be ourselves has helped the Army retain our talents,” Prichard-Brown says. As the Army continues to evolve, Prichard-Allen notes how there’s been more openness to change. “Leaders held listening sessions. They sat down with soldiers and asked, ‘What is it that would help you continue to serve without feeling constricted?’”

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We like to wear our earrings and makeup, but that doesn’t take away from our abilities and skills.”

- Col. Clydea Prichard-Brown
Slide 3

Changes For the Better

The desire to retain talent from all backgrounds inspired Army leadership to change the following grooming standards in recent years.

Hair Styles

Female soldiers are now allowed to braid, twist, lock, cornrow their hair, or wear it in a ponytail. All soldiers can also have natural highlights now as well.

Jewelry

Soldiers can now wear screw-on, clip-on, or post-type earrings in gold, silver, or diamonds. The new standards give women in the Army more opportunities to express their individual style.

Cosmetics

Soldiers who choose to express their personal style through makeup and nail polish can now wear a wider variety of lipstick and nail colors.

Staying True to Their Styles

The Prichard twins are active in their personal lives. Prichard-Allen is the Director of the Dee’s House of Hope Bikers Against Domestic Violence Motorcycles Riding Group and the Marketing Director for the Faith City Bible Institute. Prichard-Brown is the Founder of the FMMP and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

By maintaining their unique styles and personalities, and through their work with the Female Mentoring and Morale Program, the Prichard twins are helping shape the future of the Army. Their work means “Be All You Can Be” isn’t just a slogan for those who put on the uniform—it’s something that Army leaders empower fellow soldiers to do every day.

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“

My sister rides motorcycles, but I was always more glamorous. Now, I can be unapologetically female while still being a soldier.”

- Col. Clydea Prichard-Brown
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Find out how today’s U.S. Army lets you serve in style.