November 14, 2025, is a day that Silvia Jemutai will never forget as long as she lives.
On that day, she was officially promoted to become a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army.
The promotion made her the highest-ranking Kenyan military officer serving in the United States Army.
The ceremony, which was held at Fort Lee, Virginia, was attended by Jemutai’s family and friends, some of whom had travelled from Kenya while others resided in the United States.
Jemutai was born in Kopsiya, Poror, in Eldama Ravine, in Baringo County.
She dedicated her achievement to her late mother, Jacqueline Alice Kirui, saying that her strength, prayers, and sacrifice shaped her journey.
In the US Army, a lieutenant colonel (LC) serves as a battalion commander of 300 to 1000 soldiers. LCs are the 23rd rank in the United States Army, ranking directly below a Colonel and above a Major.
According to Military-Ranks.Org, it generally takes an officer 16 to 22 years to achieve the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, Jemutai belongs to the DoD pay grade O-5 and is entitled to a monthly salary of about $6,726. She is also entitled to an automatic increase in her basic salary every one to two years.
Aside from the salary, she is entitled to other allowances and bonus pay, such as hostile fire pay, retirement benefits, clothing allowance, medical benefits, and hazard pay.
Because of these additional benefits, a Lieutenant Colonel stationed in a high-risk area can easily earn compensation of $150,000-$200,000.
Other Kenyans Serving in the US Army
Aside from Sylvia Jemutai, there are many other Kenyans who are serving in the US Army. One of them is Gladys Kipsang, an Army medical officer who was recently promoted to the rank of major.
Kipsang shared the good news on a Facebook post, saying, “Allow me to reintroduce myself. Presenting MAJOR Kipsang! Today was my promotion ceremony, and it was beautiful.”
Kipsang, who has served in the US Army for 13 years, began her career as a Registered Nurse at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas.
She worked at the station from July 2010 to June 2011 before she found a job at another nursing facility in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She joined the US Army in March 2013 as a Healthcare Specialist and slowly rose through the ranks.
Her educational accolades include a master’s degree in Family Practice Nursing from Chamberlain University and a master’s degree in health sciences from Excelsior University.
Mary Miriti, a former teacher from Meru, is another Kenyan-born U.S. Army officer. She joined the US Army at age 48 after quitting her teaching job in Kenya.
Miriti, who studied Business Administration and Marketing at Daystar University, relocated to the US after winning the much-coveted green card.
Upon her arrival in America, she joined the Perkins School of Theology, where she studied to become a gospel minister.
Her chance to join the US Army arrived when her chaplain was recruiting people for Army ministry.
Miriti was promoted to the rank of major in 2021.
As an Army chaplain, she is responsible for preaching to the soldiers, counselling them, and helping them recover from mental conditions such as depression and PTSD.