Vanessa Lettman: West Orange, NJ History Maker

History makers and change agents impact society in relevant ways through their acts of courage, ingenuity, integrity, and selflessness. Some use their skills and wisdom to empower and motivate others to flourish. Vanessa Sofia Lettman is one young woman who is blazing a trail for the world to see. She is the first woman from West Orange, New Jersey, and the first woman of color from Essex County to graduate from the prestigious United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point.

Specific calendar dates are memorable or significant for particular historical or personal reasons. When it comes to Vanessa Lettman, May 25, 2024, symbolizes both. That day is forever marked as Lettman’s transition as a West Point graduate from cadet to military officer.

The West Orange resident was among over 1,000 new 2nd Lieutenants who raised their right hand to accept the Oath of Office as new officers in the Army. Despite the history she made as a ‘first’ twice over, Lettman’s modesty overshadows the accolades that have defined her. 

“At West Point, it was hard to keep reminding myself about that because I was surrounded by other women in similar positions—either first-generation college students or minority women,” said Lettman. It also made me feel that I have all these people looking up to me in my community. But it gives me some satisfaction knowing that I paved the way for other interested students who may want to follow my journey.”

Lettman’s decision to matriculate at the nation’s first military academy, founded in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson, was a natural progression. She and her older sister Jasmyn, a few months shy of being promoted to captain in the Air Force, were shining stars at West Orange High School’s Air Force JROTC program. It is the same program that their beloved friend, Cadet Christopher “CJ” Morgan, had completed before his untimely death in a fatal military vehicle accident at West Point on June 6, 2019. Morgan was not only a ‘big brother’ influence on Vanessa but the impetus behind her decision to apply to the Academy.

Vanessa’s ultimate choice to attend West Point was momentous and 1Lt. Jasmyn Lettman (USAF) could not be prouder of her younger sister’s impressive achievements. “It is intimidating because I feel like I do so many things wrong,” Jasmyn quips humorously, “and I am not a great role model. But Vanessa tells me that she looks up to me and that I inspire her so it is validating to me.”

2Lt. Lettman will have her own opportunity to lead and mentor young soldiers. In July, the recent graduate of the Long Gray Line tradition started a three-month training assignment in the Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC) at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. Upon completion, Lettman will report for her first duty station at Fort Cavazos, Texas, in late October.

“These soldiers are counting on us and they look up to us as officers and adults. We are actually officers in charge, leading these soldiers. Some of them are straight out of high school, some are not. Some have families of their own that they have to care for so in my position, I help guide and make decisions that impact them. I am nervous for that but I am confident that I will be able to do it,” assured Lettman.

Confidence didn’t always come easily for Lettman. While at West Point, she grappled with the hardships and obstacles facing her. “Basic training was not fine. I did not like it. All the screaming and yelling. It was hard. It was a culture shock.” Lettman continued, “And being in the woods, on the ground type of training. They’d say, ‘If it ain’t raining, you ain’t training!’ But once I realized this is what military members need to endure in extreme circumstances, real-life scenarios, and real grit, I got through it.”

Family friend and mentor Curtis A. Harris knows all too well about the travails of basic training from his military years at West Point. The 1978 graduate espouses the same issues Lettman confronted were no different from his own previous experiences. “I would say that when I first met Vanessa in her sophomore year, she just did not have the spark. She was at wit’s end. She looked beat down which is normal,” Harris described. “What I saw in her was despair. Loneliness. And I just felt like I gotta do something to help this lady and that is what I did.”

Harris’ paternal advice aided Lettman in conquering some of the complexities but she contends racism and sexism were far more pervasive than anticipated. She was even moved to write a thesis on ‘Do leaders get me? Understanding the importance of minority representation: Physical and Cultural Similarities’ to express her ambivalence toward social ills. “As a minority, that’s something you pick up on. Perhaps even overanalyze when it comes to certain circumstances. It wasn’t always so overt; it would be more like microaggression. But there were triggers that affected us as minorities which sometimes led to mistrust in military leadership and I kinda battled that,” sighed Lettman.

With her history-making distinction, Vanessa Sofia Lettman has nothing to battle except excellence to those hoping to emulate her outstanding achievements. And her determination comes effortlessly from her devoted mother who raised both daughters as a divorced parent. “My daughter is a badass! A history maker! I am proud of her courage and resilience and also her amazing academic accomplishments at West Point. She crushed it!,” beamed Mercedes Rivero. “Although we are living in scary and uncertain times, I have complete faith in her and what she will accomplish. I wish I had an ounce of her grit. I am in complete awe of her.”