Cape Resident Wins Ms. Veteran America Runner-Up

Cape St. Claire resident Rose Forrest goes by many names – coach, manager, troop leader, mom, lawyer and U.S. Army lieutenant colonel.

She has an extensive record of accomplishments, including advancing in her career to be the Maryland National Guard's first female staff judge advocate, a legal expert providing advice to commanders on legal matters, and leading the organization’s legal team.

Most recently, she added another accomplishment — first runner-up in the 2020 Ms. Veteran America competition.

The contest was founded by Final Salute Inc., an organization designed to meet and understand the unique needs of homeless women veterans and their children — a cause Forrest passionately supports. Judges choose winners at an annual gala, which also serves as a Final Salute fundraiser.

A 22-year veteran, Forrest entered the contest after reflecting on her military career, and eventually, her future life as a civilian. She'll be eligible to retire in the winter of 2021. She wanted to honor women who have gone before her and stand for the cause she believes in.

The competition, usually held in an Orlando theater, became virtual on October 11, 2020. Viewers paid $25 a ticket to watch the show, and judges deliberated live.

Out of 100 contestants, 25 finalists Zoomed-in from their homes to participate in the live segments. Portions were pre-recorded.

"Everybody was told to prepare a lip sync, and to make it fun and as artistic as possible," Forrest explained. Each woman put her spin on the act. One contestant did a ballet, another juggled, all while lip-syncing. Forrest wore her combat boots and played guitar to "These Boots are Made for Walking."

A large piece of the competition is advocacy regarding homeless women veterans.

Though the pandemic made it a little more challenging to advocate, Forrest focused on fundraising, performing pushups on Facebook Live, one for every $25 raised. By the end of the fundraiser, Forrest performed 111 pushups. She invited young girls in her neighborhood to help. They brought beach towels, laid them out in Forrest's yard, and did the exercises along with her.

"I loved the symbolism,” Forrest said. “I'm doing what I do to honor women who have blazed the trail in front of me, and I'm making myself available as a role model to my fierce little sisters coming behind me."

Forrest also filmed herself filling rucksacks with weights and climbing a rope. Each weight was labeled with issues such as underemployment, homelessness and alcohol abuse – symbolizing the types of issues women veterans face when transitioning to the civilian world.

Other sections of the competition included runway walks in evening gowns (pre-recorded), a pushup competition with "last man standing," which Forrest won, and an interview period regarding women's military history, veteran issues, current legislation and policy.

Forrest is thrilled to be the first runner-up. She will provide backup for Ms. Veteran America and help in any way she can.

In addition to her accomplishment as a judge advocate, Forrest served as a platoon leader, assistant brigade S1, materiel management officer, commander, assistant staff judge advocate, chief of administrative law, law of land warfare officer and deputy staff judge advocate. She participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 2/28th ID Brigade Combat Team.

Forrest has served with the 728th Main Support Battalion in Lockhaven, Pennsylvania; the 628th Division Aviation Support Battalion in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania; the 2/28th Brigade Combat Team in Ramadi Iraq, the 1297th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Havre de Grace, Maryland; Joint Force Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland; and the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade in Edgewood, Maryland. She is currently assigned to Joint Force Headquarters in Maryland.

Forrest has three children, Andrew, 13; Sophie, 11; and Joseph, 7.