Sgt. 1st Class Ashley Lowery always knew she wanted to pursue a career in human resources, and her time in the Army set her on the path toward her dream job.
“I always wanted to have a career in human resources,” Lowery says. “I love helping people and being a steward of my profession.” And in her current role as a military pay instructor (IPPS-A MilPay MTT), Lowery does just that. She loves connecting with and training other HR professionals in the military regularly.
Certification has played a key role in her professional development so far, and as her career progresses, Lowery is confident that HRCI® certification is opening even more doors for her.
When COVID-19 suspended travel for Lowery's military pay instructor position, she decided to invest her extra time in certification. Although she was anxious about taking the exams because she'd heard how tough they were, she committed to studying — and succeeding. In just a year's time, Lowery earned the Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®), and she is preparing to take the Global Professional in Human Resources® (GPHR®).
Lowery has enjoyed studying and learning about HR, as well as the satisfaction that comes with earning certifications, and encourages other military HR personnel to apply. For the Army specifically, Lowery recommends looking into ArmyIgnitED, which provides assistance with tuition and credentialing costs. "If you use ArmyIgnitED, you don't have to have your command sign off on it," Lowery says. "You can just go apply for it."
Certification has already enriched Lowery’s military career. The Army recently modified their promotions process to evaluate and rank staff sergeants and above based on performance. The order of merit list (OML) identifies top performers for training, specialized assignments and other opportunities.
Lowery recently went through the evaluation process herself, and she placed in the top 10 percent of all HR professionals in the Army at the same rank. "Having one of HRCI's certifications is looked at very favorably by evaluation board members for promotion," Lowery says. "I strongly feel that having the PHR helped me place in the top percentage."
Lowery intends to take full advantage of certifications to enrich her career in the Army. She hopes that having the GPHR will set her up for being stationed overseas. For now, Lowery, her husband (himself retired from an Army HR career) and their three children are preparing for their move to Lowery’s next position in Fort Meade, Md.
By earning certifications 15 years into her career instead of waiting closer to retirement, Lowery is setting herself up for a successful HR career after her military tenure. “Do not wait till the last minute to get HR certification, because it's definitely going to set you apart,” Lowery says. By the time she retires (in about five years), Lowery believes her certifications and ongoing education will prepare her for an HR career in the civilian sector, possibly in talent strategy or acquisition.
“I've gotten more accomplished in the last 12 months than I have in a very long time,” Lowery says. “I've come a long way compared to where I thought I was going to be.”