Women’s History Month Spotlight – 2nd Lt. Kaitlyn Isabella Randall, 5th Medical Brigade

No Army story is typical, and you can never know the whole story of an Army Reserve Soldier. 2nd Lt. Kaitlyn Randall is a 65C, Army dietitian, with a series of licenses after her name on her signature block. Like many others, Randall comes from a military-related background, with a twist; she was born and raised in Germany until age 19.

“My mother is a Department of Defense (DoD) teacher so I grew up around the military community but never had to move around,” remarked 2nd Lt. Kaitlyn Randall.

Upon high school graduation, she studied first at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY, due to her strong passion for cooking, but began to realize the nutrition of food was her true calling.

“Upon completion of a year of training at the CIA, I decided to transfer to Central Michigan University (CMU) to pursue an undergraduate degree in dietetics,” she describes.

This switch led Randall to pursue the opportunity to serve in the military. “When I left home in Germany, I realized I wasn’t just homesick for my immediate family, but the military community I had always been surrounded with,” Randall said. Adding, “While I was attending CMU, I contracted through ROTC and commissioned into the Army Reserve upon graduation.”

CMU and ROTC gave Randall the ability to bridge all of her passions. 

“I went on to complete my dietetic internship and subsequently became a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). I am now also a licensed dietitian (LD) in the state of Alabama and currently work as an Olympic sports dietitian at the University of Alabama at Birmingham,” Randall said.

Kaitlyn is not one to rest and become complacent; after completing her Medical Basic Officer Leadership Course she continued her education and built a career, along-side her husband, who is also serving in the Army as an active-duty military intelligence officer.

“Right now, I am completing my graduate degree in nutrition and human performance through Logan University and I am the proud owner of my own company where I provide completely virtual nutrition coaching,” she said. Adding, “I absolutely love cooking and hope to help people understand that healthy food can taste good with the right preparation and knowledge.”

The Army Reserve has allowed Randall to serve her country, apply her civilian and military training, have a career, all while also experiencing living life, saying, “My husband and I both enjoy traveling, good food, and everything fitness-related!”