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AMERICAN MILITARY WOMEN

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Fordham was one of the first universities in the country to commit to full participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which removes any financial obstacles between eligible post-9/11 service members and a Fordham education. And today, even in the face of a new national cap, we have reaffirmed our Yellow Ribbon commitment to cover all tuition and mandatory fees for eligible post-9/11 veterans and dependents. That guarantee applies to any of our three campuses and to any of the 10 schools to which you are admitted.

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You signed what amounted to a blank check when you chose to serve. Now that you’re out of harm’s way, we’d like to thank you by paying you back for your service: No-cost tuition and fees for eligible veterans in the Yellow Ribbon program A central point of contact for hands-on assistance, and guidance from Veteran Faculty Liaisons in each of our four colleges.

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Lance Cpl. Sharhonda Jones, a female engagement team member with Regimental Combat Team 7, Combat Outpost Coutu, Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Photo: Lance Cpl. Megan Sindelar, USMC.

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From the Editor

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Wings Across America

Vice Adm. Michelle Janine Howard Navy’s First African-American Female Three-Star Oﬃcer By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Phil Beaufort

National Military Appreciation Month Operation Gratitude – Save the Date – December 7th

Women in Military Service for America Memorial

First Qualified Female Submarine Oﬃcers Receive Dolphins From Commander, Submarine Forces Public Aﬀairs

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Rear Adm. Robin Braun First Female Navy Reserve Commander

Senior Women Share Stories on Their Roles as Leaders By J.D. Leipold, Army News Service

Rear Adm. Elaine C. Wagner Chief, Navy Dental Corps

All-Female C-17 Crew Delivers By Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen

Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger First Female Air Force Four-Star General

WASPS: Breaking Ground for Today’s Female USAF Pilots

Gen. Marcelite Harris Leads Way as First African-American Female USAF General

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A team of Sailors aboard USS John C. Stennis prepare for an underway replenishment with USS Bridge. Photo: Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Jayme Pastoric, USN.

49 Women Thrive as Leaders and Innovators at Raytheon

50 Maj. Gen. Suzanne M. “Zan” Vautrinot Commander, 24th Air Force, Lackland Air Force Base

52 DOD Opens More Jobs, Assignments to Military Women By Karen Parrish

58 Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho

Army’s First Nurse and First Female Surgeon General By Rob McIlvaine

62 Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson

Army’s First Female African-American Major General By Andrea Wales

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66 Brig. Gen. Laura Richardson

Army’s First Female Division Deputy Commander By Christie Vanover

68 Army Opens More Jobs to Women By Caitlin Kenney

72 Newly Designed Female Body Armor By Bob Reinert

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Corpus Christi Army Depot’s First Female Test Pilot By Jaclyn Nix, AMC

77 Army Combat Uniform May Have Female-Only Version in 2014 Courtesy of PEO Soldier

BECAUSE YOU SERVE, WE THANK YOU. It’s because of your dedication to country that we provide the quality products and superior member service you deserve. With over 220 branches on or near military bases, thousands of free ATMs,* 24/7 phone support, and convenient online and Mobile Banking,** we have the benefits of membership you deserve. Plus, once you join, your family can, too.

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Airman Basic Celena Baker (far left), and Airman Basic Kristie Bareika (far right) have a laugh after seeing themselves in camouflage paint for the first time. Photo: JO1 Robert Benson, USN – Military Photographer of the Year Winner 1998

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Female Engagement Teams Train for Afghan Future By Sgt. Christopher McCullough First Female Marine General Blazed Trail for Others By Sgt. Priscilla Sneden Cpl. Elizabeth R. Morrill From Oil Painter to Rocket Primer By Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright

Robyn G. Westbrook From Military to Student to AU Staff Member

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AMERICAN MILITARY WOMEN PUBLISHER

LaFayette Marketing Group, Inc. PO Box 1287 • Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785 Ph: 727-531-5090 • Fx: 727-524-3073 www.lafayettemarketinggroup.com www.asalutetofreedom.net

John D. Kerin PRESIDENT

Gabrielle D. Wood EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Karry Thomas ART DIRECTOR

Lori Dawson WEB MASTER

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Bill Brooks Henry Daytree Catherine Richmond Jennifer Simmons Joe Walker SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude; Robyn Westbrook, Auburn University.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY:

Mass Comm Spc Seamen Desiree Green, USN; Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Jennifer A. Smith, USN; Mass Comm Spc 2nd Class James R. Evans, USN ; Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs; Andrea Sutherland, Fort Carson; Cpl. Lindsay L. Sayres, USMC; Sgt. Christopher McCullough, USMC; J.D. Leipold; Sally Harding, Ft Knox VI; Graham Snodgrass; Rob McIlvaine; Courtesy of U.S. Air Force; Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen, USAF; Courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps; History Division; Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright, USMC; Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon, USMC; Courtesy of U.S. Army; Courtesy of PEO Soldier; William C. Bunce, Fort Hood DPTMSVI; David Kamm, NSRDEC; Spc. Canaan Radcliffe; Megan Locke Simpson; Caitlin Kenney; Ervey Martinez, AMC; Kiana Allen, AMC; Cpl. Emily Knitter; Sgt. Christopher McCullough; Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas, Staff Sgt. Russel Lee, USA; Courtesy of U.S. Navy; Chief Mass Comm Spc Ahron Arendes, USN; Mass Comm Spc 1st Class James Kimber, USN; Mass Comm Spc 1st Class Rafael Martie, USN; Mass Comm Spc 2nd Class James R. Evans, USN; Sr. Mass Comm Spc Dave Kaylor, USN.

COVER PHOTO:

101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldiers salute during a moment of silence for all the men and women in uniform who lost their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo: Pfc. Thomas Day, 40th Public Affairs Detachment. Copyright © 2013 LaFayette Marketing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or images in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission from publisher. LaFayette Marketing Group, Inc., assumes no responsibility for advertisements or claims made therein. The publisher expressly disclaims any liability for inaccuracies or omissions of information contained herein whether occurring during the publication of such information for publication or otherwise. All trademarks, service marks, logos and registered trademarks are the sole property of respective owners. Disclaimer: Neither the Department of Defense nor any other component of the Department of Defense, nor any other government or military bodies have approved, endorsed or authorized this product or promotion, service or activity. 8

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Corporal Jessica Ward, a Female Engagement Team (FET) member with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, searches Lance Cpl. Sarah Skiados during a class on the flight deck of USS Ponce. Photo: Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon

From the

Editor

here have been women in the military, even before women were allowed to be in the military. During our American Civil War, women were utilized on the battlefields in capacities befitting a woman as nurses and aides. These women were heavily relied upon to perform their duties, yet were still treated as second-class citizens. Some women chose to impersonate men by cutting their hair and trussing down their bosoms to don uniforms in order to fulfill their call to duty and their need to protect their loved ones and stand for the fight of freedom. As time marches on there are countless women who continue to join our military services, to show their patriotism and loyalty to our country, and to fight for our freedoms. And, thankfully, as the decades pass, woman are acknowledged for their tremendous contributions; allowed to advance in the ranks as their male counterparts have always been allowed and encouraged to do. This book is only a small sampling of first women, blazing trails for those who wish follow. Brave, strong women who have made it their mission to stand in honor, to lead with grace and dignity and to be recognized for their achievements and for the incredible examples they have set for future generations. Women in our society have, throughout the decades continued to break through ceiling after ceiling in proof of their capabilities to be leaders, in business, in higher education, in government. Amazingly, it has taken until the 21st Century for the many male powerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that be to outwardly enable women in military roles that, given the circumstances of being in war, have made it impossible for them to avoid. In 2011 the U.S. Defense Department began looking at loosening its near-universal ban on women serving in direct positions of combat. In 2013, the United States Armed 10

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Forces overturned a 1994 rule banning women from serving in certain combat positions, a move that potentially cleared the way for the presence of women in frontline units and elite commando teams. During WWII, the formation of the WASPs, although highly beneficial to the U.S. Air Force, was a group of women who were refused recognition by the military and the government. They were not issued uniforms, or taken care of as enlisted personnel yet their bravery and perseverance were to the astonishment of many, what helped sustain our Air Force during that time. The main task assigned to WASPs units was to as act as test pilots for aircraft that had been repaired after being damaged in combat. Since the WASPs were created to allow male pilots to be free to fly combat missions, there werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t many male volunteers waiting to test newly repaired planes, but the WASPs agreed to take on any job that allowed them to fly. These women took their jobs seriously, and performed their duties above and beyond the call of duty. However, it took more than 65 years for them to be honored for their services. It is uplifting to know that women who are put into extraordinary situations and perform to the highest possibilities will no longer be left to the way side and recognized posthumously by a president someday. Rather than presenting a well-earned medal of honor to a loved one as a token of gratitude for valor gone by, women will forever more, stand proudly with the leader of our country as they are duly honored for their incredible service to our nation.

G.D. Wood Editor-in-Chief

Female Soldiers with 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division, pose for a photo after the 2010 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Equality Day observance. Photo: Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas, 4th AAB, 3rd ID, USD-C Public Affairs

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NMAM – National Military

Appreciation Month – May 2013

s a nation, we observe and participate in various national cultural and social awareness events through mass media attention and educational curriculum. However, we have not allocated appropriate recognition of the most important presence in the world today, an entity that impacts each and every American in a significant way, the Armed Forces of the United States of America. National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM), as designated by Congress, provides a period encompassing both the history and recognition of our armed services with an in-depth look at the diversity of its individuals and achievements. It allows Americans to educate each generation on the historical impact of our military through the participation of the community with those who serve encouraging patriotism and love for America. This month gives the nation a time and place on which to focus and draw attention to our many expressions of appreciation and recognition of our armed services via numerous venues and also to recall and learn about our vast American history. National Military Appreciation Month (May 2013) includes Loyalty Day (1st), (10th), VE Day (8th), Armed Forces Day (18th), and Memorial Day (27th). This very important month honors, remembers, recognizes and appreciates all military personnel; those men and women who have served throughout our history and all who now serve in uniform and their families as well as those Americans who have given their lives in defense of our freedoms we all enjoy today. It recognizes those on active duty in all branches of the services, the National Guard and Reserves plus retirees, veterans, and all of their families – well over 90 million Americans and more than 230 years of our nation’s history. HOW IT ALL BEGAN National Military Appreciation Month started as a simple idea; to gather America around its military family to honor, remember, recognize and appreciate those who have served and those now serving. In its 14th year, volunteers continue to work for the preservation of May as National Military Appreciation Month. The first legislation was in the United States Senate in 1999 designating May as National Military Appreciation Month. With the support and sponsorship of Senator John McCain, (R-AZ) and Representative Duncan Hunter, (R-CA) of San Diego and over 50 veteran service organizations, this important and timely legislation was set forth. In April 2004, more comprehensive legislation was passed by unanimous consent of both Houses of Congress, H. Con. Res. 328, that May is National Military Appreciation Month, urging the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the American people to recognize this special month of May through appropriate ceremonies and events. Instrumental to achieving these results from early on is Duncan Munro, MSgt USAF (Ret) of Virginia who serves as National Events Coordinator and supports the website. Michael Fleming from Los Angeles works diligently as the Public Relations and Media Contact to promote and encourage participation worldwide. In addition, Rita Whaley Thompson, Executive Director of Time for America, walked the halls of Congress helping to pass the initial legislation and lastly, Alice Wax, NMAM Executive Director, is the Founder who worked for passage of related legislation. Additional kudos goes to Shauna Fleming of A Million Thanks who served for four years as National Spokesperson and continues to appear on radio and television shows. She visited to the Oval Office while working on her own goal of collecting 2.6 million letters of appreciation for our troops through A Million Thanks. Other military support organizations embracing NMAM include Shop APO FPO.com, Rebels With A Cause, Armature Radio Military Appreciation Day (ARMAD) and The Thank You Foundation.

Shauna Fleming of A Million Thanks

Our military has played a major role in the development of our country chronicled through their unbending honor, their dedication to duty and their love of country. Because most holidays commemorating historical military events have become little more than three-day weekends lacking focus on their original purpose, this month is needed to remind us of the sacrifices and the history we as Americans have been privileged to participate in throughout the past 230 years. Through appropriate means and incentives, Federal, State, and local governments and private sector entities are invited to participate in this special month and to encourage everyone to sponsor and participate in programs via multiple venues, giving the nation a time and place upon which to focus, draw attention, and express our appreciation and thanks to our military family. Due to military deployments worldwide protecting our national interests, Americans are being asked to serve. Employers are being asked to accommodate lengthy absences by key employees. Our military represents the highest caliber of professionalism and technology. We ask them to willingly risk their lives on a moments notice; should we not willingly and openly recognize their contributions and their sacrifices as well? GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES! A M E R I CA N M I L I TA RY WOM E N

Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Hurel, assigned to Navy Cargo Handling Force helps guide equipment during the offload onboard Motor Vessel (MV) 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, as it stands at anchored off the coast of Chuk Samet, Thailand. Photo: Photographerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mate 2nd Class Jennifer A. Smith, USN

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Wings Across

America

n inspirational, cutting-edge, digital history project, educating and motivating generations with the incredible history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP of WWII, first women in history to fly America’s military aircraft. WASP ON THE WEB Wings Across America’s WASP website, with 2,000 pages of resources, games, videos, audio, photos, articles, and primary records. The site, which won “Yahoo Pick of the Week,” was reviewed in the New York Times. A priceless online resource, WASP on the WEB is linked by PBS, Britannica and NASA. www.wasp-wwii.org “I have the utmost respect for all members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. They were hard working, dedicated pilots who served our country well, playing an important part during the war. ‘Wings Across America’ will be invaluable in preserving the WASP history and teaching the current and future generations of their proud history.” —Chuck Yeager, BRIG. GEN., USAF, Ret. DIGITAL VIDEO ARCHIVE Wings Across America’s most priceless resource: digital video interviews with 114 WASP, most in their own homes. This archive will eventually

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be encoded and uploaded as searchable video information, containing 300 hours of footage. Still in the fundraising stages, this project has gained international recognition from The Voice of America, the Pentagon Channel and the Air Force News. YOU CAN HELP build this valuable, educational resource for future generations. Visit our site today and give your support. www. wingsacrossamerica.us/wings “Thank you so much for your truly remarkable efforts in documenting the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. You are breaking new ground in this educational effort that will inspire and captivate generations to come. The WASP were and still are my role models.” —Eileen M. Collins, COL, USAF (Ret.) Former NASA Astronaut FLY GIRLS OF WWII Wings Across America’s inspirational traveling WASP exhibit, showcasing the history of the WASP. Display is filled with stories, video, photos, quotes and authentic WASP uniforms and memorabilia. www.wingsacrossamerica. us/flygirls

WINGS ACROSS AMERICA 1819 River Street, Waco, Texas 76706 254.772.8188 fax: 866.275.4064 Wings Across America — a non profit, 501c3 project at Baylor University Contact: Nancy Parrish, Director nancy@wingsacrossamerica.org www.wingsacrossamerica.org

A special thanks for your service.

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Women in Military Service

America Memorial for

t was in 1983, nearly 30 years ago, that World War II women veterans approached former Ohio Congresswoman Mary Rose Oaker about national recognition for their service. The newly dedicated Vietnam Veterans Memorial had generated a lot of interest in publicly recognizing veterans for their service so the World War II women stepped forward and asked Congresswoman Oaker, “What about us?” Little did any of them know that their inquiry would eventually change the face of monumental Washington when on October 18, 1997, the Women In Military Service For America Memorial was officially dedicated. Some 40,000 women veterans, their family 20

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members and friends and a worldwide television audience witnessed this extraordinary event. Called by some the event of the century for women, the stunning structure at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery became and remains today America’s only national memorial to honor the over 2.5 million women who have served in the nation’s defense. The Memorial’s mission is to tell the story of women’s service. Its 33,000 sq. ft. education center houses an exhibit gallery which chronicles the history of women’s service, beginning with the American Revolution; a 196-seat theatre, a book store with some 250 titles by and about military women and their service, a Hall of Honor and several

other unique features. But the heart of the Memorial is, indeed, the Register, the room that electronically houses some 235,000 names, pictures and memorable experiences of the nation’s military women who have served throughout the ages – past and present. It’s an awesome experience for visitors to scroll through over two centuries of American history. Housed there are the rich, collective stories of Revolutionary War heroines, Civil War nurses and spies, World War II pilots, the nation’s first woman space shuttle commander and thousands more. And, it’s particularly thrilling to run across someone familiar. Imagine seeing ones mother, a friend or oneself featured in a major national memorial. What a thrill to

take your rightful place in history, among the nation’s long line of women patriots! “The Women’s Memorial is about military women but it’s for all women,” said retired Air Force brigadier general Wilma Vaught, president of the foundation that built and now operates the $22.5 million facility. “If you look at the history of American women, particularly in this century, it’s the trailblazing actions of military women that pried the door open for others to follow. Women’s military service in World War I tipped the balance for giving women the vote. The some 400,000 women who stepped forward in World War II came home with GI benefits that gave them educational opportunities to help them move

Photos: J.D. Leipold

Hundreds of women veterans and guests attend the 15th anniversary of the dedication of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Oct. 20, 2012.

Army veterans listen to guest speakers at the 15th anniversary of the dedication of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Oct. 20, 2012. A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

into the work force as professional women, paving the way for the rest of us, military and civilian. And military women, in more recent years, have championed some of the nation’s landmark cases on gender discrimination, specifically Frontiero vs. Richardson for those familiar with the law. And these are just a few examples. So this is a place for all of us to discover and celebrate the contributions of women to our country, society and the world.” An ever-continuing, major effort by the Foundation is to identify and register all eligible women. According to General Vaught, only about 15 percent of women veterans are registered, and further only 8 or 9 percent of those serving today can be found in the Memorial’s database. “The Memorial will never be complete until every eligible woman has been registered, because every woman’s story is important to this legacy,” said General Vaught. WIMSA hopes to have 250,000 women veterans in its historical record by the end of the year. Vaught said they’re shy that figure by just 301, but she’s confident the foundation will reach its goal. “That’s our mission, to tell the story of women’s service,“ says General Vaught. “So we hope everyone will help us give these women their place in history. I tell everyone, ‘if you know a military women, past or present, register her.’ It’s a wonderful, very

visible tribute to them and their service to the country. And, I think we owe it to our daughters and the women of the future, as well as the women of the past, to preserve this history and continue to build this legacy for them. It’s seems particularly meaningful as more and more young women serve in Afghanistan and Iraq today, doing things in a combat environment that women have never done before and doing it superbly.” The Memorial also hosts a variety of programs and seminars that are free and open to the public. Programs have included women’s health seminars with some of the country’s leading medical specialists; leadership programs; hands-on education programs for students, K through high school; book signings; theatrical and musical programs; art exhibits; wreath-layings; and formal, patriotic ceremonies for Memorial and Veterans Day. An ever-growing asset is the Memorial Foundation’s archives. As the only known collection and archives to focus exclusively on items related to military women of all eras and all services, it is the premier resource for researchers, educators and writers. Every year, scores of donations are made to the Foundation of uniforms, personal documents, photographs and other memorabilia from women veterans, their families or individuals interested in preserving the history of women in the

military. Every item enriches the knowledge of the subject and the ability to tell this important piece of history. Though the Memorial will celebrate its 16th anniversary in October 2013, work continues to fully furnish and equip the facility and to add more special and permanent exhibits. In building the Memorial, support came from federal grants; proceeds from the sale of commemorative silver dollars; and corporate, organization, and individual donations. Keeping the Memorial up and running has become the real challenge, as it is required to raise $3 million annually to meet payroll and maintenance of the 33,000 square-foot education center. While the memorial sees an average of about 150,000 visitors a year, the hopes of the founders were to see the about 500,000 visitors, a small percentage of the 4.5 million who visit Arlington National Cemetery every year. To learn more about the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, how to access the archives, schedule a tour or get information on how to register an eligible servicewoman, past or present, please visit www.womensmemorial.org or call 800-2222294 or 703-533-1155. The Memorial is open every day except Christmas, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., 1 Apr to Sep 30; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1 Oct to 31 Mar.

Flanked by active duty and retired women service members, Wilma L. Vaught, president of the Women’s Memorial Foundation opens the 15th anniversary celebration of the dedication of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, Oct. 20, 2012, at Arlington National Cemetery, Va. 22

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A woman Marine recruit descends from a rappelling tower during basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parrish Island, SC.

Remembering

Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Sunday, May 12th

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Embrick, kisses her son during her return to Norfolk Naval Station after a seven-month deployment aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams. Photo: Mass Comm Spc Seamen Desiree Green

Navy Promotes First African-American Female Three-Star Officer By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Phil Beaufort, U.S. Fleet Forces Public Affairs

ice Adm. Michelle Janine Howard has been a trailblazer throughout her entire career. She was the first AfricanAmerican woman to command a U.S. Navy warship, the first female graduate of the Naval Academy to achieve the rank of rear admiral, and the first African-American woman to command an Expeditionary Strike Group at sea.   Howard reached another milestone Aug. 24, when she became the first African-American woman promoted to three-star rank in the U.S. Armed Forces with the assumption of her new job as deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces headquartered here.   With a career highlighted by firsts, the path to Howard’s current assignment as a Navy vice admiral initially began with an obstacle. It is an obstacle that taught her to embrace change, find strength in the challenges she faced, and to not be afraid to lean on others.   Howard said her Navy career began as a chance encounter while watching television. It was a documentary about one of the military service academies that opened Howard’s eyes to a possible future career as an officer in the military. But as Howard learned, not all opportunities were available to women at that time.   The 12-year-old Howard went to her older brother to get his opinion on her becoming an officer. He informed her that U.S. military academies were not open to women.  Undeterred, she spoke to her mother who told her that if she really wanted to join the military as an officer, she would have to wait until she was old enough. Hopefully by that time, society would change, and if it does; then she should go after it. And go for it Howard did.   Four years after that discussion, the federal law concerning the acceptance of women into the nation’s service academies changed. At 17, Howard applied and was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.   In 1978, Howard entered the Naval Academy as a freshman. She was in only the third class to accept women. At that time women made up only five percent of the Navy. With more than 200 years of naval history and traditions, there was some resistance to change.   With a self-deprecating laugh Howard said that the Academy wasn’t easy. In retrospect, she’s realized that expecting a smooth sail wouldn’t have been very realistic.   “When you look at where society was at the time, this was before there was even a woman on the Supreme Court, before Sally

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Officer

Ride was an astronaut, and it was also only five or six years after we became an all volunteer force in the military, so our society was still going through a lot of changes.”   She says the one person who was incredibly helpful in putting her experiences in context was Wesley Brown. Brown was the first black Naval Academy graduate, Class of 1949. They met when Howard was a lieutenant commander.   “He talked about how great this country is and how much it has changed; that as the country changed, people changed. And even though he was the only African-American to attend Annapolis in the 1940s, when he attended reunions he was a member of that class,” said Howard. “What I really learned from him was that he was a man who could forgive and go on with his life. There is a lot of strength in that.”   Change is inevitable, and Howard rode a wave of it as she moved through her career.   “In the 1980s when the Navy opened the logistics ships to women, that was huge, because it allowed a lot of opportunities for women to serve at sea. Then it was just a few years later that we were engaged in Operation Desert Storm. So even though women weren’t serving on warships, women were still serving in a combat arena, and that started a national conversation.  ‘What is a woman’s role in the military?’ So coming out of that time frame, the combat exclusion law was repealed and that meant that women were going to serve on combat ships and fly combat aircraft,” said Howard.  After serving sea tours aboard several ships, Howard fulfilled her dream in 1999 of commanding a Navy warship at sea. She took command of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), becoming the first African-American woman in such a role.   “The crew was wonderful. To this day that’s what I think about. When you are going into command you think it’s going to be challenging, you believe it’s going to be fun, and it definitely was fun, but there are always challenges you don’t expect. At the same time you go in with the expectation that Sailors can do anything, and that was the ship that proved it. We are so lucky that we have the people who not only have the talent, but who care and want to get it right.”   Howard was selected for the rank of rear admiral lower half in 2006, making her the first admiral selected from the United States Naval Academy class of 1982 and the first woman graduate of the United States Naval Academy selected for flag rank.   In 2009, Howard put on her second star and assumed

Vice Adm. Michelle Janine Howard A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Vice Adm. Michelle Janine Howard, center, has her shoulder boards replaced by her husband, Wayne Cowles and her sister, Lisa Teitleman, during a promotion ceremony at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. Photo: Mass Comm Spc 1st Class Rafael Martie, USN.

command of Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and deployed in the Gulf of Aden to conduct anti-piracy operations. Within one week of checking aboard her flag ship, amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), she was immersed in the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips, commanding officer of the MV Maersk Alabama.   “That’s an eye-opening way to start a new job. Very quickly we had several ships, special forces, aircraft and it seemed like everyone in the world was focused on one American and trying to make sure he didn’t end up on shore in Somalia. Synchronizing that kind of might and capability was pretty amazing.”   Not including the 3,000 Sailors and Marines in her task force, Howard said they also had support from reconnaissance aircraft out of Djibouti, intelligence support from the United States, and she was in constant communication with the staff at U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain.   30

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“When you think about it that’s a lot of people, and I’m going to say that’s the right call. The Department of Defense is there to protect America’s interest, America’s property and America’s citizens. And in the end there is a deterrence factor. You want the average pirate to look at an American ship and say, ‘we’ll just let that one go by.’”   For the women who are following in her footsteps, Howard has this advice.   “You have to keep your sense of humor. You have to develop stamina and you need to be adaptable. Finally, you need to stay connected to women. It’s important to be able to share experiences and to be able to tap into those shared experiences.”   During her career, Howard has seen dramatic changes in the Navy and the nation, but there is one more change she’d like to witness.   “I would like to see our nation appreciate the importance of the Navy. We are blessed to live in a time where

the average citizen really appreciates their Sailors; when we walk anywhere in a uniform we get thanked. If I could change anything I’d like to have Americans understand who they are thanking and why. How do you convince a nation this big that they are a maritime nation? Our founding fathers got it; they understood the importance of international commerce and that is why they said maintain a Navy in the Constitution. And ironically enough, we are even more dependent on maintaining safe water ways now than they were then.”   Howard may get her wish. As the newest vice admiral in the Navy and deputy commander of U.S. Fleet Forces she will have the opportunity to reach a much larger audience than ever before. As she has proven time and again, there is a first for everything.   For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy

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First Qualified Female Submarine Officers Receive From Commander, Submarine Forces Public Affairs

hree Sailors assigned to USS Maine (SSBN 741) and USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) became the first female unrestricted line officers to qualify in submarines Dec. 5, 2012. Lt. j.g. Marquette Leveque, a native of Fort Collins, Colo., assigned to the Gold Crew of Wyoming, and Lt. j.g. Amber Cowan and Lt. j.g. Jennifer Noonan of Maine’s Blue Crew received their submarine “dolphins” during separate ceremonies at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., and Naval Base KitsapBangor, Washington.   In order to receive their dolphins, Leveque, Cowan and Noonan were required to qualify as Officer of the Deck and Engineering Officer of the Watch, perform damage control functions, and demonstrate satisfactory qualities of leadership.   Cowan was pinned by her husband, Naval Flight Officer Lt. Adam Cowan. Noonan chose a former Maine shipmate and mentor, Lt. Jason Brethauer, to pin her dolphins. Schaeffer decided to have Lt. Joe Westfall, a current shipmate from the Blue Crew, conduct his pinning. The Commanding officer of Maine’s Blue Crew, Cmdr. William Johnson, pinned Barclay.    “I am honored to participate in today’s ceremony honoring these four fine officers who have proven themselves over the past year,” said Johnson. “They are truly worthy to join in the great legacy of submariners that have gone before us as ‘qualified in submarines.’”   32

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Dolphins

In Kings Bay, Leveque, along with fellow Gold Crew officer Lt. j.g. Kyle E. McFadden, participated in a ceremony presided by Cmdr. Christopher Nash, commanding officer of Wyoming’s Gold Crew. Leveque was pinned by her husband, Lt. j.g. Luke Leveque, a qualified submariner onboard the ballistic missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738). McFadden was pinned at the ceremony by Nash.   “Today was a very special occasion. It was special because two talented young officers earned the right to lead the next generation of submarine sailors in the most capable Navy the world has ever known. It was also special because these young leaders fully represent the future of our nation’s technical talent,” said Nash.   Leveque, Cowan and Noonan are three of 24 women – 17 line officers and seven supply officers – assigned to Maine, Wyoming, USS Ohio (SSGN 726) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729). Maine and Ohio are home-ported in Bangor, while Wyoming and Georgia are home-ported in Kings Bay.   “I am honored to be joining the long tradition of the submarine force by earning my dolphins and excited for the journey to come. I could not have accomplished this without the help of the wardroom and crew of the USS Wyoming,” said Leveque.   Leveque, Cowan and Noonan have each completed strategic deterrent patrols aboard their respective submarines.

“Qualifying is a huge accomplishment for any submariner, and it feels no different for me,” said Noonan. “I am thrilled to finally be a member of this elite community. I’m particularly grateful to my crew, officers and enlisted, for supporting me and holding me to the same standards as those who have gone before me. I look forward to being able to fully contribute to the crew now that I’m a qualified submarine officer.”   “Qualification in Submarines is more of a personal achievement,” said Cowan. “It requires understanding of the many facets of submarine life and has you perform so many skills that when I take a step back and look at everything that I have done and what this qualification means I will do, it is pretty amazing. I see it as that point where I have demonstrated the knowledge and the instinct to perform safely and smartly in all areas of the ship and its missions. Ultimately, it is a monumental mark of the confidence my command and crew has in me. And earning that respect and acceptance is a feeling that I will hold with me for my entire life.”   Prior to reporting to their boats beginning in November 2011, Leveque, Cowan, Noonan and the other women assigned to Ohio, Maine, Wyoming and Georgia graduated from the Submarine Officer Basic Course in Groton, Conn. In addition, the submarine line officers under instruction graduated from the Naval Nuclear Power School at Charleston, S.C., and underwent naval nuclear prototype training.

Lt. Adam Cowan congratulates his wife, Lt. j.g. Amber Cowan, assigned to the Blue crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741), after pinning on her submarine warfare officer. Photo: Chief Mass Comm Spc Ahron Arendes, USN

Lt. j.g. Luke Leveque, assigned to the Gold crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) pins the submarine officer warfare device on his wife, Lt. j.g. Marquette Leveque. Photo: Mass Comm Spc 1st Class James Kimber, USN

Lt. j.g. Jennifer Noonan, assigned to the Blue crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741), receives her submarine warfare officer device from former shipmate Lt. Jason. Photo: Chief Mass Comm Spc Ahron Arendes, USN

A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Rear Adm. Robin Braun First Female Navy Reserve Commander

Photo: Lance Cpl. Natasha J. Combs, USMC

ollowing a May 2012 nomination from President Obama, Rear Adm. Robin Braun was officially confirmed as the 12th chief of the Navy Reserve, in an August ceremony held in Washington, D.C. Her confirmation to the post also allowed her to become the first woman to lead any Reserve component of the military. In a separate ceremony, Rear Adm. Braun was presented with her third star. In a change of command ceremony, Adm. Braun succeeded Navy Vice Admiral Dirk Debbink, who has retired from service. Adm. Braun thanked her husband Mike, son Tyler, daughter Rachel and her extended family, who attended the ceremony, for their support. She also thanked her father, a naval aviator and combat veteran who served in the Navy for 32 years. “My dad is with us in spirit today,” the admiral said. “He made this seem attainable, and back in 1979, he didn’t see any reason why his daughter couldn’t be a naval aviator or an admiral. And he supported me 100 percent in everything that I did.” “And I’m very proud to wear his wings, and his sword at my side,” she added. Her previous assignments include deputy director of the European Plans and Operations Center for U.S. European Command and commander of Navy Recruiting Command. An aviator, she has logged more than 5,800 hours in naval aircraft.

Vice Adm. Robin R. Braun Vice Adm. Robin R. Braun is the daughter of a career naval aviator. Born in Pensacola, Fla., she is a graduate of Northern Arizona University and was commissioned in 1980. Designated a naval aviator in February 1981, her first assignment was to Training Squadron (VT) 31, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, where she served as an instructor pilot in the T-44 aircraft. In 1983, Braun was assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 3, NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, serving as a mission commander, aircraft commander, and instructor pilot in the EC-130Q aircraft. Subsequent squadron tours include Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 61, NAS 34

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Whidbey Island, Wash., and VR-51, NAS Glenview, Ill. Staff assignments include naval intern on the Joint Staff (J3), aviation detailer at Navy Personnel Command, and Chief of Staff, CNO Operations and Plans supporting OPNAV N3/N5.  Braun served as commanding officer of VR-48, NAF Washington, D.C. During her tour, the squadron was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Safety Award. Subsequent command tours include: Navy Air Logistics Office (NALO); Navy Reserve Carrier Strike Group 10 supporting the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Joint Task Force Katrina; and Tactical

Support Center 0793 supporting Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Five.   Flag assignments include Deputy Commander, Navy Recruiting Command; Director, Total Force Management for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6), and Deputy Director, European Plans and Operations Center (ECJ-3), Stuttgart, Germany. Her awards include the Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards).

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Senior Women Share Stories on Their Roles as

Leaders

By J.D. Leipold

panel of two senior executive service Army civilians, an Army major general, a colonel and a sergeant major, all of whom are women, shared their personal stories on what drove them to be in the positions they are today.   The five women offered their leadership perspectives and gave tips to a nearly full house of Army civilian employees and Soldiers of all ranks as well as those from allied countries as part of a two-day Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium that was held in March 2012 at National Harbor, Md., on the Potomac River.    While several of the women said they were always geared toward leadership roles, the others said they didn’t set out to be leaders; they more or less fell into leadership positions by being recognized for their hard work by their seniors.

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Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army Reserve for Individual Mobilization Augmentees Maj. Gen. Marcia D. Anderson, the Army’s first African-American woman to achieve her present rank, discusses leadership skills with other senior Army women at the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium March 6, 2012, at National Harbor, Md. From left to right: Mary S. Matiella, Assistant Secretary of the Army (FM & C); Anderson; TRADOC Deputy Chief of Staff (P & I) Ellen M. Helmerson; Col. Irene M Zoppi, House of Representatives Army liaison; Sgt. Maj. Tammy Coon, and panel moderator Lt. Col. Cheryl E. Bryant. Photo Credit: J.D. Leipold

GROWING LEADERS   Sgt. Maj. Tammy Coon, who serves as Army liaison to the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill, grew up on a farm in Illinois and joined the Army out of a desire to simply be patriotic. She planned on a four-year hitch, but 28 years have passed since she signed on in 1984.  “In the Army we grow leaders, and that’s what happened with me,” she said. “As a leader I feel you can mold folks, see them grow and for me that’s important, so I took leadership roles because first of all I needed to develop and grow, face new challenges and be part of the bigger picture. While serving in those capacities I always strove to make sure I influenced and molded folks in such a way for the betterment of the Army and for the betterment of Soldiers.”   25 JOBS, 18 COUNTRIES   Ellen M. Helmerson, a senior executive who serves as Army Training and Doctrine Command’s deputy chief of staff for personnel and logistics, began her thus-far 31-year Army career as a GS-2.    “I don’t know that I chose to be in a leadership role; I think that I demonstrated through competency that I had potential,” said Helmerson, whose career has taken her through 25 Army jobs and 18 countries. “I found that

just by doing a good job and working hard that I was going to get recognized and then I was selected as a very junior person to lead a study on reorganizing the Army in Europe for a four-star general whom I had to brief weekly.  “I know my boss saw leadership ability in me, though I didn’t necessarily see it in myself yet,” she recalled, adding that part of being a good leader involves not only being recognized by seniors, but also recognizing subordinate leaders and passing that on.   “We need to be looking at that staff sergeant and junior officer, recognize their abilities, then mentor and enable them,” she said. “You also have to put yourself out there, and as women sometimes you had to grab opportunities that were not offered, but raise your hand first and say that job is for me, I don’t care if it’s hard.”   BREAKING BARRIERS   Hailing from Puerto Rico, Col. Irene M. Zoppi, a reservist presently attending the Army War College, remembered when she was a private first class in 1985 and how her Army journey started with little self-confidence.   “Number one, I had a lot of things against me – I was Latina, and number two, I had a really bad accent because I could barely speak English,”

said Zoppi who holds a doctoral degree. “But one of the things that drove me was the slogan, ‘be all that you can be’ and the other was the NCOs (noncommissioned officers) who drove and taught me about confidence.”   Zoppi, who was selected one of the top 100 women in Maryland in 2009, said she gained all the desire to succeed, but the opportunities weren’t there.   “I told my grandpa that I wasn’t getting opportunities and he said, ‘then make the opportunity.’ He said, that means if you knock on the door and the door doesn’t open, either break down the door or go to a window and try that.”   “Know thyself, because if you don’t know yourself you can’t lead,” she said, also advising the audience to take a SWOT analysis (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) and a Myers-Briggs personality test, then develop a plan of attack. “I want you to add fun, family, travel and take care of your health.”    MAKING A DIFFERENCE    “Hispanic and African-American women – we were pretty much told while we were in high school that we were not college material,” remembers Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller) Mary A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Sgt. Maj. Tammy Coon holds Olympic and World Wrestling Championship medals of U.S. Army World Class bobsledder Capt. Garrett Hines (left) and Greco-Roman wrestler Sgt. 1st Class Dremiel Byers (right). Photo: Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

S. Matiella, who also earned doctoral degree. “I’ve wanted to make a difference in the world ever since I was small watching my father show leadership – I wanted to be like him.”   Matiella said she knew in order to make a difference there would have to be change – there would have to be change in the way people interacted with her and that first meant to prove herself more than capable of doing a particular job. That all boiled down to the critical words – trust, integrity, confidence and education, she

said, advising the crowd to avoid the easy jobs if they really want to make a difference.   “If you want to be a leader, you have to be trusted and when people trust you, you’re perceived to have integrity and they perceive you to care,” Matiella said. “When you’re trusted, you’re also perceived to be confident and you’re perceived to be confident when you have an education and experience. And, take the hard jobs, you will make a difference in those areas that are hard to do.”

“If you want to be a leader, you have to be trusted and when people trust you, you’re perceived to have integrity and they perceive you to care.” 38

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EYE FOR DETAIL   Maj. Gen. Marcia D. Anderson, the first AfricanAmerican woman to achieve her current grade, credits her leadership abilities to the Soldiers and the noncommissioned officers who lead the way and by just plain being attentive and sharp eyed.   “I’ve always made sure I was observant, that I saw what worked, what motivated people and followed my instincts,” said Anderson, who holds a law degree and presently serves as deputy chief of the Army Reserve for Individual Mobilization Augmentees. “I talk with Soldiers and make it clear that I care, that I’m genuinely interested in them by just remembering little things about them,” said Anderson.   “You learn from good leaders and bad leaders, and sometimes you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she noted. “The bottom line is you learn and then you move on.”   “Admit where your weaknesses are, while capitalizing on your strengths and express what you’ve learned along the way,” said Coon. “Make every experience your own and never be satisfied with the status quo. Make it better than what it was, even if it isn’t broke.”

Rear Admiral Elaine C. Wagner

Commander, Navy Medicine East Commander, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Chief, Navy Dental Corps

n January 18, 2011, Elaine C. Wagner, D.D.S. became the first certified pediatric dentist to be promoted to Admiral of the United States Navy Dental Corps. She was named Rear Admiral Lower Half during a ceremony at the Navy Post Graduate Dental School in Bethesda, Maryland. Admiral Wagner grew up in southern Indiana and attended Butler University (BA, 1976) and Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS, 1980). She completed residency at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis in 1982 and was certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 1991. After 18 months in private duty practice, Dr. Wagner was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in December 1983. After distinguished tours in San Diego and the Philippines, she was assigned to the National Naval Medical Center as the Dental Department’s first pediatric dentist in 1992. Following that assignment, her career carried her through many distinguished Navy dental positions, including a year as a Commanding Officer at the Navy’s Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) in Kuwait. The EMF task in Kuwait was to “organize, equip, and train personnel to provide medical support to the expeditionary medical facility in Kuwait and other remote and austere combat environments in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.” In 2009, Admiral Wagner assumed command of the Naval Health Clinic New England. In August 2010, she assumed the duties as the director, Medical Resources Plans and Policy Division, OPNAV code N931 and chief, Navy Dental Corps. In September 2011, she assumed command of Navy Medicine East and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Admiral Wagner has received many military decorations and awards, including: Legion of Merit with two gold stars, Meritorious Service Medial and three gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medial with three gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze star, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze star, The Philippine Presidential Citation Ribbon and the Expert Rifleman Ribbon. AbouT THe nAVy denTAL coRPS In 1912 an Act of Congress created the U.S. Navy Dental Corps. Today, the Dental Corps is made up of naval officers who have a Doctorate in either Dental Surgery or Dental Medicine (DDS or DMD) and who practice dentistry for sailors, marines, and dependent family members.

RADM Wagner addresses a question from a student during a Boston emergency medical services class about Navy preparedness for humanitarian aid. Wagner talked with students and technicians about Navy trauma care and battlefield medicine during Boston Navy Week 2012. Photo: Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Dave Kaylor, USN. 40

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United Concordia, administrator of the Active Duty Dental Program, is passionate about taking care of military members, veterans and their families. This has been our company’s mission since 1996 and remains our primary focus. That’s why we are so honored to support our nation’s women in uniform. We salute your courage and honor.

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All-Female C-17 Crew Delivers by Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen, 376th AEW

he phrase “once in a blue moon” refers to an event that takes place on rare occasions. In the maledominated aircrew career fields, an all-female flight crew might be considered just that rare. However, Air Force has come a long way since 1991 when Congress repealed a law prohibiting women from flying in combat. Recently a C-17 aircrew deployed to the Transit Center at Manas in Kyrgyzstan had the opportunity to fly a combat mission with “just the gals.” Capt. Lisa Cannon, pilot; 1st Lt. Amy Morse, co-pilot; and Staff Sgt. Kelsey Gainer and Airman 1st Class Casey Jackson, loadmasters, are all deployed from the 62nd Operations Support Squadron at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and assigned to the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here. While the crew was excited to be part of an all-female flight, they really just see it as another day at work. Gainer, who has 2,500 flying hours - 1,300

in combat zones – said, “We’re not trying to be special or anything ... but it is a male-dominated career path so it’s just kind of fun to have an allfemale crew.” As Jackson sees it, it doesn’t matter who makes up the crew. If you are part of the crew, you’re family. “We’re all on the same team ... you get the mission done, and you don’t really let gender get in the way,” said Cannon, a 2002 Air Force Academy graduate with 294 combat sorties to her credit. During dinner the ladies joked and had fun as if they were at the family dinner table. However, once they set foot on the aircraft it wasn’t a female running the preflight check list, or a female setting up to receive pallets. They were Airmen focused on completing the mission, which was transporting coalition troops and their equipment safely to Afghanistan. Moore, a 2008 Air Force Academy graduate with 160 combat flight hours, never saw herself flying combat missions as a child. However,

she feels privileged to have the opportunity to participate in that type of mission now. “It’s neat to have a measurable impact (on contingency operations) with the large amount of cargo we move and troops we transport,” Moore said. Though the crew looks at this mission as they would any other, they also see the potential to use opportunities like this for recruiting efforts. Gainer thinks it will be “more motivating for young women to want to join ... saying, ‘hey look at all those women doing awesome things’.” Female Airmen flying in combat is nothing new, and all-female crews are probably more frequent than most people see. When these Airmen found they would be flying together, they didn’t see it as an attention getter or a news story. These Airmen, who happen to be female, only saw it as a chance to work with close friends. “You fly with different crews all the time and you might not even know the person with whom you are flying,” Moore said. “So, it’s fun to fly with someone with whom you already get along.”

Top: From left, Airman 1st Class Casey Jackson, loadmaster, Capt. Lisa Cannon, pilot, 1st Lt Amy Moore, co-pilot, and Staff Sgt. Kelsey Gainer, loadmaster, aboard a C-17 Globemaster III at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. All are deployed from the 62nd Operational Support Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and are part of an all-female combat support mission into Afghanistan. Center Left: Staff Sgt. Kelsey Gainer runs through a pre-flight checklist at the loadmaster panel. Gaines has 1,300 combat flying hours. Center Right: 1st Lt. Amy Moore, 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron co-pilot, prepares a C-17 Globemaster III for flight. Bottom: Airman 1st Class Casey Jackson, left, pushes a pallet into place as Staff Sgt. Kelsey Gainer watches to ensure the pallet matches up to the locks on the floor on a C -17 Globemaster III. Jackson and Gainer are both loadmasters assigned to the 817th Expeditionary Airlift. Photo credit: Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen, USAF 42

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A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger First Female Air Force Four-Star General Courtesy of the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

he Senate confirmed Air Force Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger for promotion March 26, 2012, making her the first female four-star general in Air Force history. Wolfenbarger currently serves as the military deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition here and she is one of four female lieutenant generals in the Air Force. “This is an historic occasion for the Air Force,” said Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley. “General Wolfenbarger’s 32 years of service, highlighted by extraordinary leadership and devotion to duty, make her exceptionally qualified for this senior position and to serve as the next commander of Air Force Materiel Command.” “I am honored to have been confirmed by the Senate for promotion to the rank of General and to serve as commander of Air Force Materiel Command. Until I take command of AFMC, I will continue to focus on the important Air Force acquisition work here at the Pentagon,” said Wolfenbarger. Wolfenbarger, a native of Beavercreek, Ohio, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1980 after graduating in the first class with female cadets at the Air Force Academy. She also holds a graduate degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. The general has held several positions in the F-22 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; served as the F-22 lead program element monitor at the Pentagon, and was the B-2 System program director for the Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB. She commanded ASC’s C-17 Systems Group, Mobility Systems Wing and was the service’s director of the Air Force Acquisition Center of Excellence at the Pentagon, then served as director of the Headquarters AFMC Intelligence and Requirements Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB. Prior to her current assignment, Wolfenbarger was the vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB. 44

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She has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. Wolfenbarger received her third star in December 2009 and became the Air Force’s highest-ranking woman in January 2010. Women currently make up 9.1 percent of the Air Force’s general officer ranks. In addition to the 4 female lieutenant generals, there are 12 major generals and 11 brigadier generals. “This is an exciting time that pays homage to the generations of female Airmen, whose dedication, commitment and sacrifice helped open the doors for General Wolfenbarger and other female Airmen who will follow,” said Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz. Gen. Wolfenbarger’s change of command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is scheduled for June 5.

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WASPS

Breaking Ground For Today’s Female Usaf Pilots

s early as 1930, the War Department had considered using women pilots but the Chief of the U.S. Army Air Corps had called the idea “utterly unfeasible,” stating that women were too “high strung.” Famed woman aviator Jacqueline Cochran in 1939 wrote Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt (wife of then-President Franklin Roosevelt) to suggest women pilots could be used in a national emergency. Aviatrix Nancy Harkness Love in 1940 made a similar proposal to the Air Corps’ Ferry Command. Nothing was done until after American entry into World War II. Facing the need for male combat pilots, the situation by mid1942 favored the use of experienced women pilots to fly U.S. Army Air Forces aircraft within the United States. Two women’s aviator units were formed to ease this need and more than 1,000 women participated in these programs as civilians attached to the USAAF. These were merged into a single group, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program in August 1943 and broke ground for U.S. Air Force female pilots who would follow in their footsteps. The Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), never numbering more than 28, was created in September 1942 within the Air Transport Command, under Nancy Harkness Love’s leadership. WAFS were recruited from among commercially licensed women pilots with at least 500 hours flying time and a 200-hp rating. (Women who joined the WAFS actually averaged about 1,100 hours of flying experience.) Their original mission was to ferry USAAF trainers and light aircraft from the factories, but later they were delivering fighters, bombers and transports as well. Meanwhile, under Jacqueline Cochran, a training program for women pilots was approved on Sept. 15, 1942, as the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD). The 23-week training program begun at Houston included 115 hours of flying time. Training soon moved to Avenger Field at Sweetwater, Texas, and increased to 30 weeks with 210 hours of flying. Trainees were between 21 (later dropped to 18) and 35 years old, and already had at least 200 hours pilot experience (later reduced to 35 hours). Their training emphasized cross country flying with less emphasis on acrobatics and with no gunnery or close formation flight training. In August 1943 all women pilots flying for the USAAF were consolidated into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program with Jacqueline Cochran as USAAF Director for Women Pilots. Nancy Harkness Love was named as WASP executive on the Air Transport Command Ferrying Division staff. More than 25,000 women applied for pilot training under the WASP program. Of

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these, 1,830 were accepted, 1,074 graduated and 900 remained at program’s end, plus 16 former WAFS. WASP assignments after graduation were diverse – as flight training instructors, glider tow pilots, towing targets for air-to-air and anti-aircraft gunnery practice, engineering test flying, ferrying aircraft and other duties. WASPs had the privileges of officers, but they were never formally adopted into the USAAF even though they were led to believe this would happen. They remained civil service employees without injury or death benefits. In 1944 bills in Congress to militarize the WASPs met with strong opposition from some individuals, including famed columnist Drew Pearson, and failed like other attempts. Due to political pressures and the increasing availability of male pilots, the WASPs were disbanded effective on Dec. 20, 1944, with no benefits. The exploits of these dedicated women were largely ignored by the U.S. government for more than 30 years. However, in November 1977 President Carter signed a bill granting World War II veterans’ status for former WASPs. The WASP pilots were an important element in the movement of women into war work to free men for combat and other duties. Gen. H.H. Arnold, speaking before the last WASP graduating class at Sweetwater, Texas, on Dec. 7, 1944, paid tribute to them in this manner: “You … have shown that you can fly wingtip to wingtip with your brothers. If ever there was doubt in anyone’s mind that women could become skilled pilots, the WASPs dispelled that doubt. I want to stress how valuable the whole WASP program has been for the country.” Women pilots sometimes encountered resentment from males. For example, the only WASP in a P-47 class of 36 males was considered an intruder – until she became the fourth in the group to solo in the huge fighter. WASPs later routinely ferried P-47s from the factory. WASPs made demonstration flights in the “hot” B-26 Marauder and the new B-29 Superfortress, challenging male egos and showing that these aircraft weren’t as difficult to fly as some men felt them to be. Ann Baumgartner became the first woman to fly an USAAF jet at Wright Field when she flew the Bell YP-59A twin jet fighter. WASPs flew virtually every type of USAAF aircraft from light trainers to heavy four-engine bombers. They flew about 60 million miles or 2,500 times around the world at the Equator, with 38 deaths. Before and after graduation, their accident rate was comparable to that for male pilots doing similar jobs.

WASP trainees and their instructor pilot. (All photos: U.S. Air Force)

Nancy E. Batson, WAFS pilot.

Bell YP-59A Airacomet.

Alternates photo with WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish at top of wing.

A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Marcelite Harris African-American Leads Way as Female USAF General

First

orn about the time the Tuskegee Airmen were earning their reputation over the skies of North Africa and Italy, Marcelite Harris would go on to break a number of racial and gender barriers during an illustrious Air Force career. Harris was born Jan. 16, 1943, in Houston and attended Spelman College in Atlanta, where she earned a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in speech and drama in 1964. She then attended Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where she was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1965. During the early days of her career, Harris held assignments as an administrative officer in California and West Germany, before transitioning into the maintenance field by attending the aircraft maintenance officerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s course at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill., and graduating as the first female aircraft maintenance officer. Her first assignment as a maintenance officer was to support the Vietnam War as a maintenance supervisor with the 49th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Korat Royal Thai air base, Thailand. After stints back in California and Washington, D.C., Harris broke another barrier as one of the first women to be an air officer commanding at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. After commanding an avionics maintenance squadron and a field maintenance squadron, both in Kansas, and a director of maintenance in Okinawa, Japan, Harris would make another first - this time as the first woman deputy commander for maintenance. But her biggest accomplishment lay ahead, when in 1991, Harris became the first female African-American general, when she pinned on her first star as the vice commander of the Oklahoma Center Air Logistics Center. 48

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Harris retired from the Air Force in early 1997, where she had been serving as the director of maintenance, deputy chief of staff for logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. At that time, she was the highest-ranking female officer in the Air Force and the highest-ranking African-American female within the Department of Defense. Harris continues to contribute to the Air Force even after her retirement. In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed her a member of the Board of Visitors for the United States Air Force Academy. As a board member, she inquiries into the morale, discipline, curriculum and other matters deemed appropriate. The board submits reports to the secretary of defense and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and Congress via the secretary of the Air Force. As she continues to serve the Air Force she serves her community. She is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In 2010, Harris was nationally recognized with the Trailblazer Award by the Black Girls Rock Foundation.

Women Thrive as Leaders and Innovators at Raytheon

aytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 years, the company provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. Its headquarters are in Waltham, Mass. Raytheon has facilities, businesses and customers in nearly every corner of the globe, and its team regularly interacts with people from extremely diverse backgrounds. The company views its own diverse workforce as the cornerstone of its ability to provide solutions for the international market. Diversity is an integral part of its business model as well as a core company value. As part of its strong commitment to diversity, Raytheon has a tradition of empowering women and inspiring new generations of girls. Its corporate leadership team includes women in the roles of chief information officer and leader of Global Business Services; vice president of Corporate Affairs and Communications; Supplier Diversity director; and leader of one of Raytheon’s four primary businesses. Companywide, women play key roles in legal, finance, supply chain and other functions, as well as engineering and program management. The Raytheon Women’s Network (RWN) is the company’s largest employee resource group with more than 4,000 members. Its mission is to provide employees with career development

opportunities by enhancing their leadership skills and increasing their exposure to company leadership. Through its MathMovesU® program, Engineers Week events and other community outreach efforts, Raytheon works to inspire girls to excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and to seek rewarding careers in those areas. For U.S. military women, Raytheon proudly offers career opportunities and resources as part of its firm commitment to the men and women who serve. The company recognizes that those who hire veterans hire men and women with some of the world’s best teaming skills and leadership training. Raytheon supports veterans and service members through several organizations, such as The Wounded Warrior Project which helps combat veterans adjust, integrate and develop skills for the civilian workplace; Student Veterans of America, a group that assists veterans enrolled in school to make the social adjustment and reach graduation; and Operation Homelink which provides free computer technology to wounded warriors and veterans and facilitates email communications between deployed U.S. forces and their families. To learn more about Raytheon, visit www.raytheon.com. To pursue career opportunities, visit http://jobs.raytheon.com/.

A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Maj. Gen. Suzanne M. “Zan” Vautrinot Commander, 24th Air Force, Lackland Air Force Base

aj. Gen. Suzanne M. “Zan” Vautrinot is the Commander, 24th Air Force; and Commander, Air Forces Cyber; and Commander, Air Force Network Operations, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. General Vautrinot is responsible for the Air Force’s component numbered air force providing combatant commanders with trained and ready cyber forces, which plan and conduct cyberspace operations. Twenty-fourth Air Force personnel extend, maintain and defend the Air Force portion of the Department of Defense global network. The general directs the activities of three operational cyber wings, two headquartered at Lackland, and one at Robins AFB, Ga., as well as the 624th Operations Center at Lackland. General Vautrinot entered the Air Force after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1982. She has served in various assignments, including cyber operations, plans and policy, strategic security, space operations and staff work. The general has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels, as well as the Air Force Recruiting Service. She has served on the Joint Staff, the staffs at major command headquarters and Air Force headquarters. Prior to assuming her current position, General Vautrinot was the Director of Plans and Policy, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md., and the Special Assistant to the Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. After 31 years of service, General Vautrinot will retire on October 1, 2013. EDUCATION 1982 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 1986 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1989 Master of Science degree, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 1992 Air Command and Staff College, with honors, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1996 Joint and Combined Staff Officer School, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. 1998 Air War College, by correspondence 2000 National Security Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters 50

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Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal National Defense Service Medal with bronze star OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2000 Women in Aerospace Leadership Award 2007 Aerospace Citation of Honor, Air Force Association 2007 ‘Women Worth Watching’ Issue, Profiles in Diversity Journal PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS Board of Directors, Uniformed Services Benefits Association 2006 – 2008 Board of Directors, Museum of the U.S. Air Force Advisory Board, The Warrior Tours

WOMEN IN THE MILITARY

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DOD Opens More Jobs, Assignments to Military By Karen Parrish American Forces Press Service

ilitary women, particularly soldiers, will see more than 14,000 new job or assignment opportunities because of policy changes made by the Defense Department. The changes are included in a report the department submitted to Congress, based in part on findings the Military Leadership Diversity Commission reported in March 2012. The report includes a “vision statement”: “The Department of Defense is committed to removing all barriers that would prevent service members from rising to the highest level of responsibility that their talents and capabilities warrant.” A Pentagon news release accompanying the announcement quoted Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta as saying women have proven themselves in and out of battle. “Women are contributing in unprecedented ways to the military’s mission,” he said. “Through their courage, sacrifice, patriotism and great skill, women have proven their ability to serve in an expanding number of roles on and off the battlefield. “We will continue to open as many positions as possible to women so that anyone qualified to serve can have the opportunity to do so,” the secretary added. The biggest barrier DOD is lifting is a 1994 policy prohibiting women from jobs -- such as tank mechanic and field artillery radar operator -- that take place near combat units. With that bar removed, more than 13,000 Army jobs will be available to women soldiers for the first time. The second change is an “exception to policy” that will allow the Army, Navy and Marines to open select positions at the battalion level in jobs women already occupy. The current policy, also set in 1994, bars women in jobs such as intelligence, communications and logistics from assignment at units smaller than a brigade. Nearly 1,200 assignments will open to women soldiers, sailors and Marines under the exceptions. 52

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Women

As the law requires, the Defense Department will not implement the new policies until Congress has been in continuous session for 30 days, which should happen later this spring. The report notes the policy changes reflect conditions already common in the past decade’s wars, where attacks can occur without warning and battle lines can shift to formerly “rear echelon” areas. “The dynamics of the modern-day battlefield are nonlinear, meaning there are no clearly defined front line and safer rear area where combat support operations are performed within a low-risk environment,” the document’s authors wrote. Pentagon statistics show 144 military women have been killed and 865 wounded in combat and noncombat incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some 20,000 of the 205,000 service members currently serving in Afghanistan are women, and they make up about 280,000 of the more than 2.3 million troops who have served in operations over the past decade. The 1.4 million-member active-duty force now serving includes about 205,000 women. The report notes the changes will expand career opportunities for women, provide a greater pool of troops from which combatant commanders may draw, reduce the operational tempo for “male counterparts” by increasing the number of service members available to support direct combat forces, improve consistency in assignment policy, and give field commanders more flexibility in meeting combat-support mission requirements. Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters the policy changes follow an extensive review that involved input from all the services. “We believe it is very important to explore ways to offer more opportunities to women in the military,” he said. Little said the department will continue to look for ways to increase opportunities for military women. He acknowledged

Air Control Officer Lt. Nydia Williams, left, Radar Operator Lt. j.g. Ashley Ellison, Plane Commander Lt. Cmdr. Tara Refo, Pilot Lt. Ashley Ruic, and Mission Commander Lt. Cmdr. Brandy Jackson, all assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125, pose for a photo before flying the first all-female-crewed combat mission in an E-2C Hawkeye aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo: Mass Comm Spc 2nd Class James R. Evans, USN

most of the positions involve the Army, as the nation’s primary ground force. “Most positions in the Air Force are already open to women,” Little noted. “The vast majority of positions in the Navy are already open to women, so most of these positions do involve the United States Army.” The report states that 99 percent of all Air Force positions, officer and enlisted, are open to women. The figure is 66 percent for the Army,

68 percent for the Marines, and 88 percent for the Navy. The 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule identified five elements affecting women’s military service: direct ground combat, berthing and privacy, collocation, longrange reconnaissance and special operations forces, and physically demanding tasks. Today’s report addresses two of these with full or partial policy changes, and addresses the

The 1.4 million-member active-duty force now serving includes about 205,000 women.

others by stating department officials are working to establish gender-neutral job standards. “This will mean a thorough analysis of jobrelated physical requirements … expected of service members,” the report reads in part. “These standards will help determine which specific positions presently excluded under the special operations and physical standards criteria are suitable for general assignment of both genders.” The report’s authors acknowledged there are “practical barriers that require time to resolve to ensure the services maximize the safety and privacy of all service members while maintaining military readiness.”   The secretary directed the services to report results six months after the policies take effect, on their implementation of the new assignment standards and their progress developing gender-neutral physical standards. A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

A woman Marine recruit fires an M-16A2 rifle from a standing position during basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.

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Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho Nurse and Army’s Female Surgeon General

First First

By Rob McIlvaine

t. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, the first nurse and first woman appointed, has become the Army’s 43rd surgeon general. She was nominated to the position by President Barack Obama and was later approved by the Senate.   She succeeds Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, who has retired his post. “Over the past decade, Army medicine has led the joint health effort in the most austere environments.” Horoho said. “As part of the most decisive and capable land force in the world, we stand ready to adapt.”

Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho speaks to the crowd after getting her third star and being named 43rd Army surgeon general. Photo: Rob McIlvaine 58

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A decade of this war, she said, has left a fighting force with both physical and psychological scars.    “We are dedicated to identifying and caring for those Soldiers who have sustained psychological and physical trauma associated with an Army engaged in a protracted war,” she said, adding that the war fighter does not stand alone.    Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, who passed the U.S. Army Medical Command flag to Horoho in a ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, promoted her to lieutenant general and administered the oath to swear her in as the Army’s top medical officer.   “The Army cannot provide trained and ready forces to the nation without our talented medical professionals and leaders. In everything we do, we rely on medical command and the surgeon general to set the vision for this community and have the courage to carry it out,” Odierno said.   Horoho has commanded the Army Nurse Corps since 2008, when she received a rare two-grade promotion from colonel to major general.   As Army surgeon general, she will direct the third-largest healthcare system in the United States, behind the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Hospital Corporation of America.    With an annual budget of $13.5 billion, the surgeon general manages more than 480 facilities and 29 executive agencies, many of which lead groundbreaking research efforts. She also will also oversee 140,000 military and civilian employees, and more than 3.5 million beneficiaries, globally.    The Army surgeon general’s impact, said Odierno, extends far beyond the Army to the national and the international level, collaboration and partnership with other public and private entities on research, standards of practices, national leadership in areas such as brain injury, concussive disorders, mental health promotion and pain management.    “This position requires a special officer who can lead change and achieve unity of effort in a dynamic, joint interagency and also in a multi-national role, working with our allies and partners around the world,” Odierno explained. “For these reasons, it’s important to pick the right person. And we are absolutely, incredibly lucky to have Lieutenant General Patty Horoho as the 43rd Army surgeon general.”   “She’s earned this extremely important leadership position, not only because of her incredible past performance and achievements, but more importantly her outstanding potential, as she will lead Medical Command and lead as the Army surgeon general,” Odierno said, adding that her 28 years of experience and

Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Army chief of staff, and retired Col. Ray Horoho, her husband, pin the three-star epaulets on the shoulders of Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho. Photo: Rob McIlvaine

education will prove to be “an inspiration for many others.”    “Army medicine,” Horoho said, “has a responsibility to all those who serve, to include family members, and our retirees who have already answered the call to our nation. We will fully engage our patients in all aspects of their healthcare experience at each touch point, starting with the initial contact.   “We will make the right care available at the right time by demonstrating compassion to those we serve and value to our stakeholders. The collective healthcare experience is driven by a team of professionals partnering with the patient, focused on health, health promotion and disease prevention to enhance wellness.   One of Army medicine’s greatest challenges over the next three to five years, she said, is managing the escalating cost of providing world-class healthcare in a fiscally constrained environment.   “I see these challenges as windows of opportunity for us to shape the future of Army medicine and I am confident, regardless of the environment

or the landscape, we will meet all challenges in true Army medicine fashion – with innovation, dignity and strength. Together, we will usher in the new era of possibilities.   While deployed to Afghanistan, Horoho remembered asking a young medic how he would describe Army medicine.   “He replied, ‘We carry healthcare on our backs.’ As we sit here today there are young men and women willing to put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Thank God we have young medics who are carrying innovative quality and precision healthcare on their backs, regardless of risk to personal safety. This is our privilege. This is our honor, and this is why Army medicine will face all challenges with strength, resolve and dedicated focus,” she said.    As a Registered Nurse, Horoho earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina, her Master of Science degree as a clinical trauma nurse specialist from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a resident graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College and

the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, where she earned a second Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy. Other military assignments include: Staff nurse on a multi-service specialty ward, staff and head nurse of a level III emergency department, Evans Army Community Hospital, Fort Carson, Colo.; nurse counselor, 1st Recruiting Brigade (Northeast) with duty at Harrisburg and Pittsburgh Recruiting Battalions; head nurse of a 22-bed emergency department, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, N.C.; chief nurse and hospital commander of a 500-bed field hospital, 249th General Hospital, Fort Gordon, Ga.; assistant branch chief, Army Nurse Corps Branch, United States Total Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, Va.; assistant deputy for Healthcare Management Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; deputy commander for nursing and commander of the DeWitt Health Care Network, Fort Belvoir, Va.; and deputy commander for nursing, Walter A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Reed Army Medical Center and North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, Washington, D.C.   Recognitions include being selected in 1993 by “The Great 100” as one of the top hundred nurses in the state of North Carolina. In the same year, she was selected as Fort Bragg’s supervisor of the year. She deployed to Haiti with the Army’s first Health Facility Assessment Team.    After she co-authored a chapter on training field hospitals that was published by the U.S. Army Reserve Command surgeon in 1998, Horoho was honored Dec. 3, 2001, by Time Life Publications for her actions on Sept. 11, 2001, at the Pentagon.    She was among 15 nurses selected

Sept. 14, 2002, by the American Red Cross and Nursing Spectrum to receive national recognition as a “Nurse Hero.” In 2007, she was honored as a University of Pittsburgh Legacy Laureate. In April 2009, she was selected as the USO’s “Woman of the Year,” and in May 2009, she became an affiliate faculty with Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing, Tacoma, Wash.   “And most recently, she was deployed to Afghanistan as a special assistant to the commander of International Security Assistance Force Joint Command – incredible, impeccable credentials,’ Odierno said.   “With Soldiers deployed, taking care of families, taking care of wounded warriors

– exactly the kind of leader we want to be our surgeon general,” he added. On Aug. 29, 1898, Dr. Anita Newcomb broke new ground for the Office of the Surgeon General by becoming the first woman to hold the office of acting assistant surgeon, Department of the Army. She was assigned to the Surgeon General’s Office as superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps, which she organized.   Another nurse, Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, served as acting Army surgeon general from March through December 2007, temporarily filling the post after Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley was relieved as a result of aging facilities at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. But Horoho is the first nurse and first woman to be nominated for the position and confirmed by Congress.

Lieutenant General Patricia D. Horoho – The Surgeon General and Commanding General of the United States Army Medical Command Lieutenant General Patricia D. Horoho assumed command of the U.S. Army Medical Command on 05 December 2011 and was sworn in as the 43rd Army Surgeon General on 07 December 2011. Her previous positions include Deputy Surgeon General, Office of The Surgeon General, Falls Church, VA, from 2010 to 2011; 23rd Chief of the US Army Nurse Corps, from 2008-2011; Commander, Western Regional Medical Command, Fort Lewis, Washington, from 2008 to 2010; Commander, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington, from 2008 to 2009; Commander, Walter Reed Health Care System, Washington D.C., from 2007 to 2008; and Commander, DeWitt Health Care Network, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, from 2004 to 2006. Lieutenant General Horoho earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982. She received her Master of Science degree as a Clinical Trauma Nurse Specialist from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a resident graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, where she earned a second Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy. Other military assignments include Staff Nurse on a multi-service specialty ward, Staff and Head Nurse of a Level III emergency department, Evans Army Community Hospital, Fort Carson, Colorado; Nurse Counselor, 1st Recruiting Brigade (Northeast) with duty at Harrisburg and Pittsburgh Recruiting Battalions; Head Nurse of a 22-bed emergency department, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Chief Nurse and Hospital Commander of a 500-bed field hospital, 249th General Hospital, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Assistant Branch Chief, Army Nurse Corps Branch, United States Total Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, Virginia; Assistant Deputy for Healthcare Management Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; Deputy Commander for Nursing and Commander of the DeWitt Health Care Network, Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and Deputy Commander for Nursing, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, Washington, D.C. In 2011, Lieutenant General Horoho deployed with 60

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I Corps, as the Special Assistant to the Commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, Kabul Afghanistan. Recognitions include being selected in 1993 by “The Great 100” as one of the top one hundred nurses in the State of North Carolina. In the same year, she was also selected as Fort Bragg’s Supervisor of the Year. She deployed to Haiti with the Army’s first Health Facility Assessment Team. In 1998, she co-authored a chapter on training field hospitals that was published by the U.S. Army Reserve Command Surgeon. Lieutenant General Horoho was honored on December 3, 2001, by Time Life Publications for her actions at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. On September 14, 2002, she was among 15 nurses selected by the American Red Cross and Nursing Spectrum to receive national recognition as a “Nurse Hero.” In 2007, she was honored as a University of Pittsburgh Legacy Laureate. In April 2009, she was selected as the USO’s “Woman of the Year,” and in May 2009, she became an affiliate faculty with Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing, Tacoma, Washington. In May 2010, the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences appointed her as Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School of Nursing. In 2011, University of North Carolina School of Nursing selected her as the Alumna of the Year. On February 24, 2012, she was recognized by the University of Pittsburgh as a Distinguished Alumna Fellow. Recently, Lieutenant General Horoho was awarded the Doctor of Public Service in Nursing Honoris Causa from University of Pittsburgh. She is also a member of the Uniformed Services University Board of Regents. Lieutenant General Horoho’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2 OLC), the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and various service and unit awards. She served as the Head Nurse of Womack’s Emergency Department when the hospital was awarded the Superior Unit Citation during the Pope AFB Crash in 1994. She is also authorized to wear the DA Staff Badge and is the recipient of the Order of Military Medical Merit Medallion.

Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson 62

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Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson Female Army’s African-American Major General

First

By Andrea Wales, U.S. Army Human Resources Public Affairs Office

.S. Army Human Resources Command’s deputy commanding general became the Army’s firstever female African-American officer to obtain the rank of major general during her promotion and departure ceremony at the Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Maude Complex in 2011.    Those who attended the proceedings were each “a witness to history,” said Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, commanding general of the U.S. Army Accessions Command and Fort Knox, who co-hosted the ceremony with HRC commander Maj. Gen. Gina Farrisee.    “We honor a leader, an officer, a lawyer, a wife, a mother and a grandmother – summed up, a great American,” Freakley said.   Major generals lead major formations across the Army. They are the bridge between the operational and the tactical aspects of the Army, Freakley said. They run centers like Human Resources Command and command Army divisions of up to 16,000 Soldiers. They perform major tactical operations and conduct sustained battles and engagements. “They build our Army, and that’s no easy task!” Freakley said. “Marcia has assisted in the huge responsibility of moving three separate HRC commands to Fort Knox and combining their efforts into one great command.”

The HRC commander lauded Anderson for her being an untiring advocate for consolidating the Active and Reserve Component functions at HRC.   “She has been very much the force behind the integration itself,” Farrisee said. “She has worked diligently on total-force solutions while at the same time not letting the command forget the unique needs of the Reserve Component Soldiers we serve. Marcia’s tenacity for integration extends into cyberspace. One of our top priorities has been for the HRC website to reflect virtually the integration we’ve turned into reality.”   Anderson served the informational needs of the Soldiers to ensure that the most relevant information was available to them, Farrisee said.   Anderson’s journey to becoming the Army’s first female African-American major general was made up of things that were largely unplanned.   “I firmly believe that we are never in control of very much,” she said. “The most we can do is have a set of values and beliefs, and adhere to them as closely as possible.”   Anderson said she valued curiosity, tolerance and striving for excellence.   “Be a lifelong learner. Accept people for who they are. Accept change because it is inevitable,” she said. “Do not expect to be rewarded just because you show up on time, do what is

expected of you and leave at the same time every day, because that is merely C-grade work.”    Anderson said she learned from peers and senior officers what it means to be a good leader, and she incorporated their advice into her personal leadership style:   “Good leadership is not about telling people what to do or how to do it – it is knowing how to listen, when to delegate, how to provide space and resources to your staff, making sure they get the praise for a job well done,” she said, “and that YOU take the responsibility when a plan fails.”    Anderson’s time at HRC has been a pivotal year. Anderson helped guide HRC as it completed the base realignment and closure, or BRAC, process months ahead of the congressionally mandated September 2011 deadline.    Continuing to communicate with HRC customers during BRAC was crucial to successfully combining HRC’s three main elements in Alexandria, Va.; St. Louis and Indianapolis at one location at Fort Knox. Updating the hrc.army.mil website to reflect HRC’s new location and contact information was just the beginning.   “My major project since I’ve been here has been to completely redesign the HRC website A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson receives her second star from husband Amos during a at Fort Knox, Ky. The U.S. Army Accessions Command and Fort Knox commanding general, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley (at left), watches the pinning of the two-star rank. Anderson, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, is the first-ever female U.S. Army African-American officer to obtain the rank of major general. Photo: Sally Harding, Ft Knox VI

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I firmly believe that we are never in control of very much. The most we can do is have a set of values and beliefs, and adhere to them as closely as possible.â&#x20AC;? Maj. Gen. Anderson, delivers remarks at a Promotion and Farewell ceremony in her honor at Fort Knox, Ky. Anderson was awarded a Legion of Merit during the ceremony. Photo: Sally Harding, Ft Knox VI 64

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to make it more informative, more current and as interactive as possible for Soldiers, families and the public. There will be a completely new look, a brand-new search engine, podcasts. We’ve added the Facebook link,” Anderson said. “My vision is that someday new Soldiers will be handed a smart phone with apps (software applications) available from the Army to help them manage their careers.”   BRAC caused many changes at HRC. Many civilian employees took the opportunity to retire and stay in their communities. New employees were hired to take their places.   “It brought a lot of energy, but we were losing some of the institutional knowledge,” Anderson said. “That required us to do some digging on processes that were already being done. It compelled us to look for more efficient and effective ways of doing things.”   To accomplish that, HRC uses Lean Six Sigma, the Army’s process-improvement methodology to support business transformation. LSS methods can improve any process, including those in a service-oriented organization like HRC.   “New employee training includes certification at the lowest level of LSS (white belt),” Anderson said. “We are not afraid of change. We embrace it. We are constantly working to find more efficient ways to improve the way we serve Soldiers and families of all components – Active Duty, Army Reserve and National Guard.”  Anderson stressed that all components are part of the Army family. What reminds her of that fact is a row of clocks: Kuwait, Afghanistan, Europe, Korea.

“When I see those, it makes me think of the Soldiers. They have a name on one side (of their uniforms), and the other side just says, ‘U.S. Army.’ Adversaries see that you are a member of the U.S. Army. By the same token, when Soldiers give an Afghan child a soccer ball or send a medical team out, all those people know is they’re being helped by a member of the U.S. Army,” she said. “If that’s all they see, then that’s all we should see, too.”   Sept. 11, 2001, revealed how all components should always interact.   “Since 9/11, they’ve worked together. They didn’t ask, ‘What component are you from?’ It didn’t matter who you were. It was just about what you brought to the table. It was just about Soldiers getting the job done,” Anderson said. “We use the talents of everyone to the fullest extent.”   Anderson’s background sculpted her into the personable, successful woman she is today.   Anderson attended an all-girl Catholic school in East St. Louis, Ill. It fostered excellence in young women that might be otherwise masked in a co-ed educational environment.   “Going to an all-girl high school definitely formed part of who I am today. You weren’t trying to impress any boys. Excellence was valued. You were just doing what everybody else was doing. You were trying to excel,” she said. “The faculty every day encouraged you to excel, and you just did. There were a lot of great role models among the faculty – all very accomplished. They spent a lot of personal time with you.”

Anderson said that experiencing that type of support leads to fulfilling your role models’ expectations.    “You want to validate their faith and confidence in you, and it makes you excel,” she said.   Family life, too, enhanced her search for knowledge.   “You were encouraged to be more aware of the world around you and curious. I never grew out of asking, ‘Why?’ The news was part of my house every evening. My mother took me to the library every Saturday,” Anderson said.   Asking “Why are we doing that?” is still a big part of the way she does business, Anderson said.   As a child, Anderson was very shy. It was the Army that changed her. In her Reserve Officer Training Corps, or ROTC, course (which she only took to fulfill a science requirement), she was told, “Today, you’re the platoon leader,” and she had to starting talking to people.   “You couldn’t sit in the corner anymore and observe,” Anderson said.   A milestone in her personal development – going from shy to outgoing – was when a professor of hers told Anderson that if you’re giving the speech, you’re the subject-matter expert.   “You know more (about that subject) than anyone else in the room so don’t worry about it,” he said.   One by one, your life experiences make you who you are.   “You just get better and better,” Anderson said. “It’s not about the grades you get in school. It’s what you do with it AFTERWARD that counts.”   For more information about U.S. Army Human Resources Command, visit: www.hrc.army.mil

MAJOR GENERAL MARCIA M. ANDERSON – Deputy Chief, Army Reserve Major General Marcia M. Anderson has commanded at the Company level through General Officer. She has also served in a variety of staff positions at Battalion, Brigade, and Division level to include S-1, S-3, S-4, and G-1, as well as an Assistant Division G-3. In July 2005, she assumed Command of the 6th Brigade, 95th Division (Institutional Training), where she was responsible for the 95th Division (Institutional Training) Drill Sergeant School located at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as well as the conduct of Intermediate Level Education (ILE) and Combined Arms Exercise courses for officer professional development over an eight state area. In June 2006, General Anderson was appointed acting Assistant Division Commander-Operations for the 95th Division (Institutional Training) in Oklahoma City, Okla. In April 2007, she was confirmed for promotion to Brigadier General and in October 2007, assumed command of the 85th Support Command (Regional Support Group West), Arlington Heights, Ill., which supports the collective training efforts of First Army. General Anderson was later named Deputy Commanding General-Support of First Army West. She assumed responsibility as Deputy Commander of the U.S.

Army Human Resources Command 1 October 2010. Effective 1 October 2011, Major General Anderson was assigned as the Deputy Chief, Army Reserve with duty at the Pentagon. Her military education includes the Adjutant General Basic and Advance courses, Basic and Intermediate Government Auditing, Command and General Staff College Course, Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Capstone, and the United States Army War College, where she was awarded a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies. General Anderson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Creighton University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Rutgers University School of Law. Her military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist Badge, and Physical Fitness Badge. As a citizen-Soldier, General Anderson is employed by the United States Courts, where she serves as the Clerk of Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Wisconsin, located in Madison, WI. She is married to Amos Anderson. A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Brig. Gen. Laura Richardson Female Division Army’s Deputy Commander

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By Christie Vanover, III Corps

ne week after pinning on her first star, the Army Chief of Staff announced that Brig. Gen. Laura Richardson will become the Army’s first female to serve as a division deputy commander. Richardson, who is currently the commanding general for the U.S. Army Operational Test Command at Fort Hood, will take over as a deputy commanding general for the 1st Cavalry Division in her next assignment. The general is no stranger to the cavalry. The aviation officer served as a company commander in the 6th Cavalry Brigade in the mid-1990s. “The cavalry throughout the history of the United States Army is rich with tradition, esprit de corps and accomplishment,” Richardson said. “It’s a great honor and privilege to once again be part of the cavalry, and I look forward to serving with the Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division.” Although the Army Chief of Staff ’s March 9 announcement was historical for women and coincidentally made during Women’s History Month, Richardson said she is humbled by the opportunity. “Each of my assignments – from platoon leader to company commander to the commanding general of the Operational Test Command – has challenged me to learn and excel as a Soldier and a leader,” she said. “I am as excited about being one of the 1st Cavalry Division’s deputy division commanders as I was about being a company commander in the 6th Cavalry Brigade.” Under Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, the 1st Cav. Div. has three deputy commanding generals. Brigadier Gen. Gary Volesky serves as the one for maneuver, Brig. Gen. James Richardson is the one for support and Canadian Brig. Gen. Karl McQuillan is the one for coalition. It has not been announced which slot Richardson will fill.

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Under Secretary of the Army Joseph Westphal meets with Brig. Gen. Laura Richardson, during his visit to Fort Hood, Texas. Photo: William C. Bunce, Fort Hood DPTMSVI

Brig. Gen. Laura Richardson, commanding general Operational Test Command, accepts her one-star flag from Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, as her parents and daughter look on during her promotion ceremony. Photo: William C. Bunce, Fort Hood DPTMSVI

Her background includes logistics, personnel and operations. She has held two company commands, staff officer assignments and a battalion command with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and has been the director of the Army’s Transformation Office and a garrison commander at Fort Myer, Va., and Fort McNair, Va. She also served as the military aide to the vice president and one of the Army’s liaison officers to the United States Senate. Richardson deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while commanding the 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, an assault helicopter battalion, and has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, three Legions of Merit and many more awards.    Richardson’s historical assignment comes on the heels of the Department of Defense’s announcement Feb. 9 that six military occupational specialties and some battalionlevel positions in combat units will soon be opened to women.

The general said, however, that she never dreamed of holding specific positions in the Army; instead, she focused on the task at hand to accomplish the mission and take care of her troops. “My goals were always to do the best that I could in the job that I was in, not to dwell on what was next, and I believed the rest would take care of itself,” she said, crediting her parents for teaching her values of determination and hard work. Being the first female deputy commanding general in an Army that is nearly 85 percent male could be intimidating, but Richardson said the pressure to prove herself normally comes from within. “There is always pressure on any individual as they transition into a new job and to become an effective member of the team as quickly as possible,” she said. “I believe the key to transition is to keep focused on the purpose and listen.” She plans to lead the division, as she leads

the OTC, with the five tenants of excellence, leadership, teamwork, caring and safety. “These tenets have served well in OTC and other positions, and I look forward to instilling a passion for excellence, leading by example, building the team vertically and horizontally, treating everyone with dignity and respect and ensuring the safety of the team,” she said. Her future goals are not to become another monumental first for Army females. She is, and always has been, focused on the task at hand. Her goal for the near future as a leader in the Army is to assist in meeting and dealing with the current strategic and fiscal challenges.    For those inspired by her accomplishments, Richardson advises both male and female Soldiers how to succeed: “Be a competent and confident professional, accept new challenges and always take care of your people.” www.army.mil/article/75831/Army_s_first_ female_division_deputy_commander_to_lead_ America_s_First_Team_/ A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Army Opens More Jobs to

Women

By Caitlin Kenney, Fort Sill

omen Soldiers came to work May 14, 2012 with more opportunities than ever before.    A new policy opened up 14,325 additional positions or 3 percent more Army jobs, according to the Department of Defense and the Army Times respectively.    Three things happened that affected women in field artillery directly: The co-location provision was eliminated from a 1994 DoD policy, thus opening up High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) units to women at all levels; because of the elimination of

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co-location, three Military Occupation Specialties (MOS) opened up to females in HIMARS and MLRS units that had always been closed to them; and finally, nine brigade combat teams were opened up to females at the battalion level.    Improving opportunities for females motivated these changes as the DoD and the military services were directed by the fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act to provide information on policies that restricted women in the military. The decision to change policy started in the fall of 2011 and specifics on what the changes would be were not worked out until early 2012.

Spc. Brittany Williams, 7th Signal Command (Theater), prepares to reassemble her rifle for the react to contact lane, during the Signal Command’s Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year competition in 2010. Photo: Spc. Canaan Radcliffe

Co-location was a policy in the 1994 DoD Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule that dictated where females in certain units could be placed on the battlefield. HIMARS and MLRS units participate in indirect firing roles, which means they are technically not placed on the “front line” or direct combat missions.    But on the battlefield they can be placed, or “co-located,” near units like an infantry company whose main purpose is to participate in direct combat roles and do not allow women. Even if the HIMARS and MLRS units were miles away, because they were situated next to units with roles that did not

allow women, they were also unable to have women assigned to them.    1st Lt. Amanda Hassett, B Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery executive and fire direction officer, has worked on HIMARS since she left the Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC). However, to be able to do her job she had to be assigned to a forward support company and then get attached to a HIMARS unit to get around the restrictions. But, her training was no different from any of her male classmates.    “When you go through the FA BOLC course, it’s the same exact thing. I learned how to be a cannon platoon leader, cannon fire direction officer, A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Second Lt. Stacey Sadowski, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, inspects Soldiers’ chemical protective gear before a chemical, biological and radiation training lane, at Fort Carson, Colo. Photo: Andrea Sutherland, Fort Carson

cannon fire support officer. That’s primarily what all my schooling was about. Then you go through a two-week training on MLRS and HIMARS, so all of my training was dedicated to working on a cannon unit … but because I’m a female they won’t let (me).”    This position changed when the country engaged in two wars, and the policy could not keep up with the needs of the military. After examining the service that females had contributed to their attached units in these roles and the restriction that had prevented them from doing so in the first place, the Army decided it was time to get rid of the policy altogether since its purpose had become a moot point.    Brig. Gen. Brian McKiernan, Field Artillery School commandant and chief of FA, said HIMARS and MLRS units are now completely open to female Soldiers.    “As of the 14th of May when the policy officially changed, those opportunities now exist 70

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to serve all the way down to the unit level, down to the platoon, down to the launcher level,” said McKiernan. As for officers this, “allows them to serve all the way down to platoon leader positions and XO positions inside of firing batteries.” This immediately affects women like Hassett who are already in the Army, said Maj. Trina Rice, chief of Women in the Army Assignment Policy, at the Pentagon.    With co-location gone, six combat support military occupational specialties opened up to women for the first time including three for HIMARS and MLRS units. The MOSs are: 13M, MLRS Crewmember; 13P, MLRS Operations Fire Detection Specialist; and 13R, Field Artillery Fire Finder Radar Operator Specialist. These enlisted positions will open more than 1,900 jobs to female Soldiers.    “Effectively, we’ve opened up about 2,000 field artillery positions for both enlisted and officers,” said McKiernan, “that will now provide

a viable career path for an enlisted Soldier, an officer or even a warrant officer to serve all the way from initial entry as a Soldier or officer all the way through a career that would provide them an opportunity to hold leadership positions at every echelon.”   Before this, enlisted female Soldiers were only able to be 13T, Field Artillery Surveyor/ Meteorological Crewmembers in field artillery. Females working in radar or mechanics have been attached to artillery units from support brigades. Instead of only working one out of the 10 jobs for enlisted Soldiers in field artillery, they now can work in four.    1st Lt. Kimberly Kopack, B Battery, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course, common corps officer in charge, was commissioned as an officer in air defense artillery in 2009. She is branch detailed to field artillery and took the opportunity to experience cannons like her father, a Marine artilleryman.    “To be part of something like that I thought would be a real privilege especially as a female. When I commissioned we didn’t have all these opportunities. Back when I commissioned, HIMARS wasn’t even an option for us. My favorite quote is ‘To break the glass ceilings, someone’s got to bash their heads’ and I thought, I may not get these opportunities but maybe I can take the headache and let future junior officers have that chance – which I’m seeing. So it’s pretty great.”    The MOSs are supposed to officially open up for recruits Oct. 1, according to Human Resources Command and the Pentagon. Slots for new recruits opened this summer. One female, Cicely Verstein, has made the news as the first recruit to apply to become a 91M, Bradley Fighting Vehicle System Maintainer.    Human Resources Command must also update its computer systems to show females in these MOSs. Units will start seeing female Soldiers by next year after they complete Basic Combat Training.    The last major change that came was opening 37 battalions in nine brigade combat teams (BCT) to women. This is an exemption to the current Direct Ground Combat exclusion policy that prohibits women from being assigned to units below the brigade level whose main objective is to engage in combat.    The nine brigades selected offer a variety of units from light to heavy to airborne from across the country for specifically selected MOSs based on rank. Six enlisted specialties from supply to intelligence for sergeant through sergeant first

1st Lt. Kimberly Kopack (third from left) talks to Basic Officer Leader Course students at Fort Sill about her combat patch and time as a cultural support team female attached to a special forces group during an Afghanistan deployment. Kopack is the B Battery, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery BOLC common corps officer in charge. Photo: Caitlin Kenney, Fort Sill

class and 10 officer specialties including field artillery for second lieutenant through captain, were selected to participate. These brigades will be the only ones in the Army to give females the opportunity to serve at the battalion level in a BCT for the foreseeable future.    As this exemption goes into effect, from May through September, the brigades will conduct an assessment of how they are integrating females, and look at such things as unit cohesion or assignments, to determine how this new opportunity affects the Army.    “We are assessing different areas of how this integration is going,” said Rice. “For instance you are looking at how well units are coming together, cohesion … not so much that we’re evaluating individuals, we’re just evaluating how this new opportunity is working because there may be things that we may find we could do better.”    Until now, women in FA were only able to work in staff roles at the brigade headquarters’ level. At battalion headquarters level, women will have the same opportunities like any colleague including promotion and assignments.

Some of the positions they could hold at the battalion level are fire support officer, S3 (plans, training and operations), assistant S3, executive officer and commander of a headquarters battery because it pertains to the battalion level.    They still would not be in units like Ranger battalions because a Soldier must be Ranger qualified and the course is currently closed to females. However, they can be battalion task force officers or battalion FSOs in infantry or armor because one does not have to be qualified in infantry or armor.    “[The exemption] will probably get to validating that females could serve at least at the battalion level for sure in some of those brigade combat team formations,” said McKiernan.   McKiernan said this exemption would help validate that females can serve at the battalion level and open more important career opportunities and experiences.   “This definition of direct ground combat kind of narrows the opportunity there for females … This potentially would give females the opportunity to serve as a task force fire support officer, and I think

that would be important in terms of providing a very important developmental opportunity for a female officer in field artillery.”   The assessment period is also looking at how to best open current restrictions on female positions in the Army in the future, said Rice. This assessment may give the Army and government officials the data they need to make the right choices at the right time.   “I think it’s with anything. You can’t just make hasty decisions. You have second, third order effects and some things can be [changed] faster because they require less to do. Other things require a lot more [time], again because of the way policy in and of itself is written,” said Rice.   She believes that any change to improve the career opportunities of females in the military is a big deal.    “Every new step that provides a new opportunity is always a big step because it means people are paying attention,” said Rice. “You’re in an organization that continues to evolve, that continues to do what it needs to do to accomplish the mission.” A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Newly Designed By Bob Reinert, USAG-Natick Public Affairs

Female Body Armor

n innovation that will leave female Soldiers safer and more comfortable on the battlefield was named one of Time Magazine’s “Best Inventions of the Year 2012.”   A collaborative effort between the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center and Program Executive Office Soldier resulted in an improved outer tactical vest, or IOTV, designed specifically for women. The 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade will be the first unit to test the new female body armor in Afghanistan.   The new armor was designed to offer better protection and to prevent bruised hip bones that women experienced when wearing IOTVs meant to fit smaller men.

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Maj. Joel Dillon, assistant product manager, Product Manager Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment, PEO Soldier, called the Time story a motivator for those involved in the body armor’s development.   “I think it’s great that it shows the American people that we’re continuing to make sure that our Soldiers have the best equipment in the world,” Dillon said. “And so any word that gets out in that respect is great. It’s a big boost for our team, because we work very hard to make sure that all of the equipment we develop and field is the finest that we can possibly obtain for the American Soldier.”   Dillon pointed out that in a head-to-head comparison with the

current IOTV, the female version was chosen by all of the 101st Soldiers who tested it.   “They provide a better, more secure fit for female Soldiers,” Dillon said. “I was down there visiting while the testing was ongoing at Fort Campbell (Ky.), talking to the Soldiers, and it was just really obvious to me that the form, fit and function are definitely what we were shooting for.”   In a recent interview with National Public Radio, Lynne Hennessey of NSRDEC, lead designer for the female body armor, related what she heard from Soldiers during testing at Fort Campbell.   “Most of them, when they put it on, they were like, ‘oh, my goodness, I need this right now. Can I have this? I could wear this all day. It fits so well,’” Hennessey said. “We actually Members of the 101st Airborne Division¹s 1st Brigade were the first to test the new female body armor in Afghanistan. took a picture of one Soldier hugging her vest, Photo: David Kamm, NSRDEC Photographer like she was immediately in love with it.”   Dillon said that more fine tuning is necessary, however.   the scenes to design, produce, issue and evaluate this vest,” Dillon said. “We are going to make some tweaks to the vest based on the “While not as important as the feedback we have received directly from feedback that we got from these female Soldiers at Fort Campbell,” Dillon the female Soldiers themselves, national-level recognition such as this said. “They had some comments about the location of the buckles on the helps validate our efforts, and provides additional motivation to this team shoulders and some other adjustability concerns, and we’re going to make of consummate professionals.” those modifications before we go out on our next contract. That is exactly the purpose of the ongoing testing – to make the vest even better.”   The evaluation process will continue.   “Our goal is to fit additional female Soldiers for testing, both stateside and in Afghanistan,” Dillon said. “We’re looking to get more of them down range.”   As Dillon noted, Time’s recognition shines a spotlight on the continuing, combined effort to improve Soldier equipment.   “There is a team of very dedicated professionals both at PEO Soldier and at the NSRDEC at Natick who have done yeoman’s work behind

2nd Lt. Chelsea Adams helps Pvt. 1st Class Cheryl Rogers into the new Generation III Female Improved Outer Tactical Vest. The Soldiers, who are part of the 1st ABCT Female Engagement Team, Third Infantry Div., will deploy to Afghanistan and be only the second group in the U.S. Army to test this new body armor. Photo: Cpl. Emily Knitter

“Our goal is to fit additional female Soldiers for testing, both stateside and in Afghanistan. … We’re looking to get more of them down range.”

Spc. Arielle Mailloux gets some help from Capt. Lindsey Pawlowski with her Generation III body armor. Both Soldiers are with the 1st Brigade Combat Team Female Engagement Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Photo: Megan Locke Simpson A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

CW2 Trina Moreno stands in front of a UH-60 Black Hawk before take-off. Photo: Kiana Allen, AMC 74

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CW2 Trina Moreno Corpus Christi Army Depot’s Female Test Pilot By Jaclyn Nix, AMC

First

or the first time in its 51-year history, Corpus Christi Army Depot welcomed a female maintenance test pilot.    CW2 Trina Moreno, a test pilot for the UH-60 Black Hawk, came to the depot in 2011 to help with crash battle damaged and recapitalized Black Hawks. She can be found in the hangar or on the flight line dressed in her ACUs performing inspections, test flights and the occasional aircraft delivery.    “I love that I get to fly every day and work on aircraft that I know will make a difference,” she said.   She hopes to influence others in Army aviation by bringing her knowledge and experience to the field for the war fighters.    “When an aircraft happens to break, I can go out, troubleshoot it and get it flying again,” she said. “I [can] take the experience I learned at CCAD and show the unit how to

troubleshoot the aircraft to repair.”   A 17-year Army aviation specialist, Moreno came to Corpus Christi Army Depot, or CCAD, from Fort Campbell, Ky., after serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan and after a devastating accident that left her husband as a quadriplegic. The U.S. Army and CCAD worked to secure a job for Moreno that would bring her and her family closer to their extended family in South Texas.    Moreno’s job is to ensure helicopters remanufactured at CCAD are combat ready.   She inspects every inch and rivet of the Black Hawk with safety flight crews before the aircraft ever lifts off the ground. She ensures that the hundreds of new or remanufactured components and engines in each aircraft work properly with ground runs. After each hover and flight test, Moreno and the crew continually service the helicopter to ensure a perfect bird until it returns to the

CW2 Trina Moreno conducts flight control checks on a UH-60 Black Hawk. Photo: Ervey Martinez, AMC

war fighters needing it the most.    “When I was a little girl my parents used to take me to air shows. I remember seeing the aviators, people in uniform and the helicopters and I knew then that [flying] is want I wanted to do,” said Moreno.    “I started out as a mechanic and now I’m a pilot, which is awesome,” she said. “We are starting to see a lot more females doing that, which is great.”   One of Moreno’s greatest achievements while working at the depot was assisting the CCAD team complete and deliver 50 recapitalized UH-60s to the war fighter, breaking the production record of CCAD Black Hawks in a given fiscal year. CCAD produces state-of-the-art UH-60 Black Hawks for the war fighter at the lowest possible cost to ensure the Army remains battle-ready and capable to maximize Army combat power.    The recap program involves the teardown of older model UH-60s to rebuild them with the best and latest technology and systems. Upon completion, each aircraft comes out equal to or better than a new UH-60L Black Hawk with a life extension of up to ten years.  “Working at CCAD is a great experience,” said Moreno. “[Soldiers] are getting a great product.” Moreno is grateful for the women who have served before her, and optimistic for the women who will serve after her.   “I think it is important for women to strive in the military because women before us have strived to get us to where we are today,” she said. “I’m thankful that I can pave the way for future female test pilots.”   CCAD welcomed its second female maintenance test pilot in September. CW4 Tammy Stewart will assist CCAD as they replenish the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior for the Army. A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Army Combat Uniform May Have

Female-Only Version in 2014 Courtesy of PEO Soldier

emale Soldiers may be wearing a more form-fitting version of the Army Combat Uniform featuring more room in the hips and legs by 2014, according to developers at Program Executive Office Soldier.   PEO Soldier, which develops and tests new equipment for the Army, has been interested in creating a version of the ACU more suited to a woman’s body since 2005. After listening to focus groups of female Soldiers in 2008, PEO Soldier learned some features of the ACU bother women: over-sized shoulder seams, baggy overall shape, and its non curve-friendly fit.   “Women have so many different shapes and sizes, we’re as not as ‘straight’ as men are,” said Maj. Sequana Robinson, assistant product manager for uniforms at PEO Soldier, who is currently testing one of the female-only ACUs.   Robinson admitted that when she first heard of the new test uniform, she doubted the need for a female fit.   “Once I put the uniform on, I immediately loved it,” she said. “The first thing I did when I tried on the uniform was to lift my knees up and squat because I don’t want something hugging or showing the contour of my body ... it has even more room than I thought.”   Changes being evaluated in PEO’s re-designed uniform include 13 sizes in both the jacket and trousers, an elastic waistband, a more spacious hip area, a shortened crotch length, a more tailored jacket, and re-positioned rank and name tapes.   About 500 women were measured to determine needed adjustments, and 600 female Soldiers are slotted to receive the uniform for a user evaluation starting in January 2011, explained Kelly Fratelli, the project engineer responsible for the women’s ACU.   Once the uniform has been evaluated, it will need to be approved by the Army Uniform Board before being issued to troops.   Martin Fadden, a uniforms assistant product manager at PEO Soldier said women in the Army are sometimes hesitant to complain because they don’t want to stand out or be seen as different.   “Female Soldiers just want to blend in,” Fadden said, but noted that he thinks the uniform will be a hit. “I think, based on what we’ve seen the new uniform will improve morale.”   Robinson agreed.  “I think the initial reaction to it would be ‘we don’t need it,’ but once you try it on you’ll see it makes a world of difference,” she said. “I think that all female Soldiers will be very pleased and proud to wear this uniform.”

The womens Army Combat Uniform, shown here, features more room in the hips and legs, re-positioned rank and nametapes, and a more tailored jacket to better accommodate a womans shape. Photo: Courtesy of PEO Soldier A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

FemaleEngagement Teams By Sgt. Christopher McCullough

hroughout Afghanistan, platoons of male soldiers from the Afghan and American forces conduct daily patrols. Over the course of the patrols there always exists the possibility of encountering women, given they make up nearly half the population of Afghanistan. The male soldiers are prohibited from looking at or talking to these women due to Afghan cultural norms, which disallow as much. So in order to engage the female populace the American Army has

established female engagement teams.    FET is a program that was started by the U.S. Marines Corps and has been around for nearly a decade. It is comprised of volunteer female members of appropriate rank, experience and maturity to develop trustbased and enduring relationships with the Afghan women they encounter on patrols. Having such a team at its disposal has given American forces an added tool in reaching out to the Afghan population in advance of the scheduled troop reduction in 2014.

Spc. Heather Ray and Pfc. Jacqueline Buschman, Battle Company, 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment, Task Force 1-14 Cavalry Regiment, and their female interpreter, return from a meeting with some Afghan women in the village of Akhvond Qalay, Afghanistan, May 8, 2012. Women account for nearly half the population of Afghanistan and have considerable influence on Afghan society so it is important for female engagement teams, such as the one Ray and Buschman make up, to develop trust-based and enduring relationships with the Afghan women they encounter on patrols. Photo: Sgt. Christopher McCullough 78

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Two such soldiers from Battle Company, 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment, Task Force 1-14 Cavalry Regiment located at Forward Operating Base Sweeney in southeast Afghanistan, explained what FET means to them and why they volunteer to work outside their normal military occupational specialties.   “I wanted to make a difference,” said Pfc. Jacqueline Buschman. “I wanted to get out and see what the Afghan people were living like [and] help out in any way I could.”   “I volunteered because I heard about the culture and I wanted to make a difference in the women’s lives,” Spc. Heather Ray, another FET team member, added.    Ray goes on to explain how the women in a village, though not often seen by outsiders, have considerable influence on their husbands, children and their community as a whole. It’s Ray and Buschman’s hope that by sitting down and talking with these women that they will be able to encourage the wives to influence their husbands to stay clear of insurgent affairs and focus instead on bettering their families and their villages.   “By just sitting down and talking with them [we’re] showing them … that we do care and that we’re here to help them,” said Buschman.   Their concern is not solely limited to the female populace. Battle Company’s FET will often reach out to the children in a village as well. It gives them and their mothers a break, however brief, explained Buschman.

Marines with female engagement team 10-2 are welcomed and briefed by leaders at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Photo: Cpl. Lindsay L. Sayres, USMC

“One day we sat down and did coloring books with them. Some of them knew what it was. Others had no idea,” Buschman added.   When asked if they felt they were making a difference, Bushman explained how influential they can be because they are able to engage the families in a way their male counterparts cannot. Their job as FET members is part soldier and part diplomat.   “Anytime we get a chance to interact with the locals, we’re going to make a difference,” said Buschman.    Buschman and Ray go on to add that while they have accomplished much up to now, they still have several months left before their deployment is through and hope to use that time to further influence Afghans, both female and male, throughout the district they operate out of. They realize the demands, as well as the difficulties, of their job but they fully embrace it because their job as FET members enables them to engage the Afghans and show them that they are here to help in a way the soldiers they go on patrols with cannot.   “The infantry doesn’t see what we see,” said Buschman. “They don’t get to go inside the houses; they don’t get to see how a

family interacts with us. It’s something you could take for granted … but then you go and visit with the family and you’re like ‘this is why I’m doing this, to learn and to help them in any way we can. FET Background and Mission United States Marine Female Engagement Teams have their origins in Iraq and Afghanistan during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During these conflicts, units recognized the importance of communication with the female Muslim populations in these regions. The first concept of a FET was largely based on the Marine “Lioness” teams of Iraq, which had been successfully utilized to search female Iraqis for concealed weapons and contraband items during a wide variety of missions. Since then the teams have evolved into an important resource that can reach the local Afghan communities in ways that have not been done before. What They Do: • The Female Engagement Team conducts outreach primarily through interaction with women and children

to learn about and report information on the local population. • This information is then used to implement community development programs that will serve the needs of that specific local area. • Another advantage of this team is their ability to gather and communicate information to women without violating cultural standards of the local population. Who They Are: • The Marines selected for the team were screened for strong leadership skills, physical fitness, and the ability to confidently interact with diverse groups of people. • Training consists of classes on culture and language, instruction on how to conduct engagements, and combat skills (including weapons handling, personnel searching, and patrolling). FETs need to truly understand the culture, practice and ways of Afghan life, since making a sound connection within Afghan communities is key to their success. A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

teach women the skills necessary to create economic opportunities. • The FET leadership has facilitated several visits of the women on the Helmand Provincial Council to the districts, including Now Zad and Garm Ser. These visits help connect the women to their government representatives, and increase the Provincial Council’s awareness of the concerns and needs of the communities they support and represent.

Staff Sgt. Peter Adames, left, and Spc. Heather Ray on patrol together during a command visit to Hokumat-e Shinkai Bazaar, Jan. 17, 2012. Photo: Sgt. Christopher McCullough

• In the spring of 2010, I Marine Expeditionary Force deployed the first dedicated FETs that solely conducted female engagements. The teams are in theater for seven-month cycles. The second iteration arrived in Afghanistan in September 2010. • FETs are in support of battalions across the area of operations and consist of two Marines, sometimes enhanced by a female Pashtu interpreter and/or a female medic. • The Female Engagement Teams currently serve as enablers within 10 districts and 85 villages throughout Helmand province, operating from 30 different posts, bases and camps. Female Engagement Team examples: • In Musa Qal’eh, the FET identified a family with the skills and interest in establishing a tailoring business. The FET arranged a micro-grant for the women to purchase the supplies required to start the business, which resulted in the development of economic opportunities for other women in the community. • In Sangin, the FET conducted several health initiatives to educate women and children on basic medical and hygiene practices. More than 350 local Afghans arrived for the health training, 80

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demonstrating the FET’s success at reaching out to the community. • In Garm Ser, the FET assisted a local female Afghan National Police officer in coordinating weekly meetings with women in the community to discuss issues important to them. This meeting has helped establish and develop the beginning of women’s governance in the Garm Ser district. • In Now Zad, the FET worked with the district governor and other local leaders to establish a center for women where they can receive vocational and literacy training. The FET has been instrumental in helping to identify instructors, develop local female leadership, and

Additional Background Information: Cultural norms in Muslim nations often restrict direct interaction of adult men and women, reducing the ability of coalition forces to directly communicate with women and thus, focusing military interaction almost exclusively on the male population. The first known effort similar to the current Female Engagement Teams was a group of female Marines in Iraq with the 3rd Civil Affairs Group known as the Iraqi Women’s Engagement program. Operations of this program began in the early spring of 2006 in multiple key cities of Al Anbar province. This team helped build the trust and confidence of women in the area, and opened up additional lines of communication. Early in 2009, elements of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment in Farah province, Afghanistan, created a team comprised of female Marines and a female local national interpreter to help communicate between local Afghans and service members.

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First Female Marine General Trail for Others

Blazed

rig. Gen. Margaret A. Brewer, the first woman to be promoted to brigadier general in the Marine Corps, passed away Jan. 2, 2013. Brewer cleared the way for future female Marines throughout her career, said Gen. James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps. “Throughout her three decades of service to our Corps and country, she truly led from the front and helped the Marine Corps integrate women more fully into the force,” Amos said. In a June 7, 1980, article in the Owosso, Michigan, newspaper The Argus-Press, Brewer said she “never considered any other service … my mother insists I was singing the Marine’s Hymn when I was only five years old.” Brewer’s desire to be a Marine was reaffirmed by a stirring speech heard while still in high school. Her mother, Anne Brewer, took her to hear a speech from the Marines who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. After responding to an advertisement in the college newspaper and successfully completing two six-week officer candidate82

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By Sgt. Priscilla Sneden

training sessions, the University of Michigan graduate accepted an appointment as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in March 1952. Like thousands of Marines today, she joined amidst a war – the Korean War. Early in her career, the Durand, Mich., native made strides to integrate female Marines into the male-dominated Corps. Brewer was one of the first women subsequent to World War II trained in communications. She received on-the-job training as a watch officer at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif. At the time, women weren’t authorized to attend technical schools. Shortly thereafter, she transferred to Brooklyn, N. Y., to establish the first women’s communications platoon within the reserve program. From 1956 to 1958, then Capt. Brewer served as commanding officer of the woman Marine companies at Norfolk, Va., and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. She went on to serve as a platoon commander for woman officer candidates at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and a woman officer selection officer in Lexington, Ky.

Brewer spent three years at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., where she oversaw the operation of the mess clubs and was promoted to major in 1961. In 1963, Brewer returned to Quantico to serve as the executive officer and later commanding officer of the Woman Officer School. She oversaw female officer candidates training as well as enlisted women’s training at the noncommissioned officer leadership school. In 1966, Brewer transferred to 6th Marine Corps District in Atlanta to be the public affairs officer and was subsequently promoted to lieutenant colonel, the most senior rank women could hold at the time. She assumed the public affairs officer billet with no formal training besides a twoweek course at the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. Capt. Jack Paxton, now retired, remembers checking into 6th MCD as a newly commissioned second lieutenant, formerly a master sergeant, who had just returned from service in Vietnam. “She did not know what to make of me at first,” he recalled with a chuckle during a phone interview.

Capt. Margaret A. Brewer is pictured here Nov. 25, 1958. A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Brewer played a crucial role as the Corps began to develop regulations for pregnancy and parenthood. The principles adopted then, are still in place for female Marines today.

Top left: 1st Lt. Margaret A. Brewer inspects members of the Women Marine Company, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, in Norfolk, Va., Dec. 7, 1955. Top right: Col. Margaret A. Brewer, left, succeeds Col. Jeanette T. Sustad as director of Women Marines Jan. 31, 1973. Brewer was the seventh and final director. At the right is Gen. Robert E. Cushman Jr., 25th commandant of the Marine Corps. Bottom left: Brig. Gen. Margaret A. Brewer. Bottom right: Gen. Louis H. Wilson, commandant of the Marine Corps, and Anne Brewer pin a star to each should during the promotion ceremony for Brig. Gen. Margaret A. Brewer May 11, 1978. Photo credits: Marine Corps History Division. 84

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He remembered Brewer as a softspoken woman who had her own style. “She was tremendous,” he said. “If she had to admonish you for anything, she would take you aside to tell you, you did this right or you did this wrong. “I learned a lot from her,” he said. Brewer served during a time filled with changes for women in the armed services. President Lyndon B. Johnson repealed Public Law 90-130 Nov. 8, 1967, removing the limit on the number of women in service and granted women promotion to colonel. In 1968, Brewer assumed responsibility as the deputy director of Women Marines at Headquarters Marine Corps, during which she was promoted to colonel. Her responsibilities included the inspection of all female Marines from clothing, personnel and training to facilities and health, welfare and morale. Soon after her arrival, the Inspector General team assumed responsibility of inspecting women just as they did men, as the Corps further pushed integration of the sexes. Brewer returned to Quantico in 1971 to serve as assistant to the director, and chief of the support department for the Marine Corps Education Center. In 1972, then Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Everton Cushman, Jr., changed existing policy to allow women to be assigned to the Fleet Marine Force units. The next year, Brewer became the seventh and final director of Women Marines, advising the commandant and his staff on matters pertaining to women in the Marine Corps. “Many people felt that the women were somehow a separate Corps which was never the case,” Brewer said in a 1983 interview with the Marine Corps History Division. “But that was the perception that there sometimes was, because of the separate women’s administrative units, as well as the fact that there was a director of women Marines.” During her time as director, Brewer actively fought to preserve women’s presence in the Corps and better integrate them with their male counterparts. Separate women Marine companies were disbanded, and women became eligible for career-type formal and technical training and to obtain the rank of sergeant major.

Brewer played a crucial role as the Corps began to develop regulations for pregnancy and parenthood. The principles adopted then, are still in place for female Marines today. “We required that the woman inform the commander that she was pregnant,” Brewer said. “She would be counseled in the fact that if she remained in the Marine Corps, that she would have to fulfill all of her responsibilities to the Marine Corps, and that she would not receive preferential treatment as far as assignments were concerned.” As her tenure progressed, women were allowed in all military occupational specialties, except small arms technicians, pilots, aircrew and infantry and artillery fields. Women slowly began integrating into training at Officer Candidate School and The Basic School. Working alongside the deputy chief of staff for manpower, Brewer summarized recommendations and submitted a report to Cushman, suggesting how to more effectively use women within the Corps. One recommendation was to review all existing regulations and policies, eliminating or revising those that differentiated between the treatment of men and women without valid, rational justification. Cushman further directed immediate action to assign women more challenging billets, to include direct assignments to command and prestigious careerenhancing staff jobs. The most controversial of the recommendations pertained to the establishment of a pilot program to assign women to the Fleet Marine Forces. “This was really a significant change in policy because of course the FMF are the combat forces of the Marine Corps,” Brewer said in the 1983 interview. “And here we were establishing this program that indicated women would be assigned to these combat forces, although not in a combat role as such.” The pilot program, which consisted of sending 10 to 20 female Marines to the 1st Marine Division and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing respectively, was deemed successful, and female Marines have served alongside their male counterparts ever since. “It was a great transition during this period of time,” said Brewer. “Not only were new occupational fields being opened to

women, training programs changed, there were also planned increases in numerical strength goals.” In 1978, as the Corps made strides to further integrate women and expand their roles, the Office of Women Marines disbanded, and Brewer returned to the public affairs field. While serving as the deputy director of the Division of Information at Headquarters Marine Corps, then President Jimmy Carter nominated her for appointment to brigadier general. The Corps was the last of the services to appoint a female flag officer. Brewer made history May 11, 1978, as she became the first female general officer in the Corps. “I knew that there were many people that were surprised that the Marine Corps did promote a woman to general officer rank,” said Brewer. “When I was selected, I knew that there would be interest because it was a first. But I was not expecting quite the great amount of interest that was expressed because there had been women general officers and admirals in the other services for a number of years.” Brewer had one more first in her career. The Division of Information was re-designated as the Division of Public Affairs Dec. 1, 1979. Brewer then became the first director of Public Affairs. She served in that capacity until retirement in July 1980. “It’s never easy being the first, but she was both the first female general officer and the first director of Public Affairs and met the challenges and responsibilities of each with professionalism and grace,” Amos said. Following her retirement from the Corps, Brewer served in several roles with the Arlington diocesan Catholic Charities. She passed away at the age of 82. “I was deeply saddened to learn of the loss,” Amos said. “She served during an era when many thought that women had no place in the Corps, but she proved critics wrong time and again,” he said. “Brigadier General Brewer was an amazing and courageous woman who has left an indelible mark on the rich legacy of our Corps, and she will be missed.” A funeral Mass was held on Jan. 14 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Va., where Ms. Brewer was a parishioner. A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

Cpl. Elizabeth R. Morrill From Oil Painter to

Rocket Primer

By Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

Cpl. Elizabeth R. Morrill stands by GAU-12 .50 caliber machine guns used on multiple aviation platforms in the aviation ordnance shop aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, Photo: Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright, USMC

pl. Elizabeth R. Morrill began as an artist in Maine painting celestial representations of people while helping her family coordinate the local lobster festival. Fast forward a few years and she’s a steel mill worker in Baltimore. Move ahead a few more years and she’s loading rockets onto an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter in Okinawa. The roadmap of Cpl. Elizabeth R. Morrill’s life is a long and winding one, even before she started preceding her name with Marine Corps rank. And while many Marines’ stories begin shortly after high school graduation, Morrill’s begins at the age of 26, following a rich tapestry of experiences. “I always knew I was going to be a Marine, ever since I was 13,” said Morrill, an aviation ordnance technician with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. “It just took a little longer to get there than usual.” Morrill originally wanted to be a crew chief for a helicopter, but the female quota for Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island was full for that month, and becoming a crew chief meant waiting months before entering boot camp. This wasn’t an option for Morrill, who had already quit her job at the steel mill, left her apartment and sent her belongings back to family in Maine. “To be able to leave at the start of the following month, I switched to an open-contract designation, but retained the aviation stipulation,” she said. “So 26-year-old ‘me’ was off to boot camp.” When Morrill arrived at Parris Island, she experienced a serious change 86

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in lifestyle, but not the usual shock and awe for most new arrivals. Because of her life experience and age, she recognized the “training-isms” of boot camp life and the purpose of her drill instructors; three of which were younger than her. The other recruits saw her as a motherly figure, mostly due to her maturity and physical prowess from a life involving hard labor. Morrill graduated as the “iron woman” of the three platoons in her series and an honor graduate, which earned her the first of two meritorious promotions. After a month of Marine combat training, four months of schooling for aviation ordnance in Pensacola, Fla., and four more months at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Morrill became an aviation ordnance technician. Her job is to manage and handle the weapon systems for various aircraft, involving everything from heavy machine guns to rockets. She also helps inspect and maintain permanent systems mounted on the aircraft, including the aircraft’s countermeasures system. Following her Pendleton training, she found herself working with the last CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter squadron in the Pacific theatre: HMM-262 in Okinawa, Japan. Within the next year, Morrill’s pre-Marine experiences propelled her above others of her rank. Her excellence was demonstrated by winning the Marine of the Quarter for her Squadron, Marine Air Group and Marine Air Wing, which brought the second meritorious promotion of her young career. Now serving as a non-commissioned officer for her shop, Morrill uses life experience to better herself while leading her Marines.

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RobynFrom G.Military Westbrook to Student to AU Staff Member

hen I left my position after six years as an Information Manager in the United States Air Force, I knew that my life would be different. I learned rather quickly that transitioning to a civilian life was something I had not really been prepared for and that the decisions ahead of me, however trivial at times, were in them selves, going to be life changing for me, and my family.

Today, I am a Veterans Affairs (VA) School Certifying Official in the AU Veterans Resource Center at Auburn University and I am proud to be in a position in which I can assist other Veterans in their quests for starting new lives outside the military. I know from experience that the journey we begin as Veterans is often filled with anticipation, coupled with anxiety and many unknowns. My new path started when I enrolled at Auburn University in August

Left to right: Daniel Cordell, David Shamp, Phillip Williams, Robyn Westbrook, Brandon Petersen, Jonathan Jones, Andrew Puent, Dan McClain and the Eagle “Spirit”

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2009. As a Student-Veteran, I remember feeling nervous and doubtful of my ability to succeed at a big university. But, interestingly enough, I did not think that I would ever face challenges specific to transitioning from military life to student life. Some may think that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI) are the only challenges a student veteran might face. This is certainly not the case. While these veterans do need the assistance, there are other challenges student veterans face that are sometimes more difficult to address. For example: In addition to being in an academic environment, I also had to ‘learn’ how to be in a civilian environment again; become schooled in areas of life considered normal to civilians, like medical insurance. I was accustomed to the military taking care of mine and my family’s healthcare. I didn’t have to purchase insurance, know what a deductible was, or worry about what was covered, let alone how I would pay for something that wasn’t covered. While this may seem trivial, something “small” like this can be a huge stress in a student veteran’s life in transition. There is also the challenge of creative freedom and independent thinking. Some student veterans find it difficult to switch gears out of training/military mode when they are in the classroom since they are

Robyn with husband, Joseph Westbrook, at graduation in front of the iconic Samford Hall).

A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

used to following and completing a task

It was also hard for me to make friends

with specific instructions that are provided

with other women. I was older than most of

to them. I remember at first, if I was not

my female classmates and I was married. It

given specific instructions, my anxiety level

seemed like I couldn’t find anything I had in

would go up wondering if I was doing the

common with the eighteen to twenty year

work correctly. I would have to explain to

olds in my classes.

some of my professors why I was feeling that way to help them understand me.

Ultimately, I felt like I had lost my identity. I was once a part of the greatest

Auburn University Veterans Resource Center The mission of the Auburn University Veterans Resource Center is to assist veterans, disabled veterans, guardsmen, reservists, active duty and military dependents receiving VA educational benefits in making a successful transition into the AU community. The Auburn University Veterans Resource Center devotes timely and comprehensive support and a range of services for current and former military service members, including eligible military dependents, by collaborating with VA representatives, the AU community, civilian-advocate organizations, and other public and private schools and colleges. Located in 217 Foy Hall, the AU Veterans Resource Center helps students make the transition from military life to civilian life at Auburn University. Whether you are a new student who has just completed your service, a student who interrupted your education to serve and are now returning to college, or a student who began your studies elsewhere and are transferring here, we will help guide you to the resources you need to make the most of your Auburn University experience. Email: veterans@auburn.edu Website: www.auburn.edu/veterans Facebook page: AU Veterans Resource Center Weekly Services Provided: •

•

AU Tiger Advising: A Tiger Advisor visits the center weekly to assist students in locating the proper resources necessary to answer general advising questions and questions related to their academic progress. They also provide guidance in negotiating the Tiger Registration system, and the DegreeWorks online degree audit system. Tiger Advisor in the Veterans Center does not replace a student’s Academic Advisor, but rather helps students learn how to find the information they need through existing online resources or direct students to the proper campus office that can address their concern or need. AU Career Center: A Career Counselor visits the center weekly to assist students in everything from looking for part-time, internships, and summer jobs to writing a resume, and giving assistance in making future career goals. Montgomery Veterans Center: A trained counselor from the Montgomery Veterans Center travels to Auburn University weekly to meet with student veterans, dependents, and other family members regarding Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other issues that may be affecting performance in the classroom or their personal lives.

Currently, our center is focused on researching the needs of female student veterans. Females are still the minority in the military and therefore a minority in the student veteran population, and this center is aware that there may be unaddressed specific needs of a female student veteran. 90

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military in the world and then it was all gone. As an individual, it felt as if I was no longer important and just another face in the crowd. My uniform had indicated my service, name, rank, and awards. Therefore, it was me and anyone who saw me in uniform knew a lot about me. When I became a student in 2009, the Post 9/11 GI Bill had just been implemented, so Auburn University didn’t have a space dedicated to student veterans, only an office for processing our GI Bill benefits. Mr. Steven Barnard (a retired Army Officer) was the only School Certifying Official at the time. My initial plan was to be a student only and not to work. But, Mr. Barnard offered me a work-study position in his office that allowed me to work around my school schedule. When I began to see and hear of the other challenges student veterans were facing, Mr. Barnard urged me to join the Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA) to have a relationship with other student veterans. At that time, the ASVA consisted of three men. An active-duty Marine, an active-duty Soldier, and a former enlisted Marine. Needless to say, they were probably not expecting to see me at their monthly meeting that day. The ASVA became a great outlet for stress relief and a great way to make friends that shared a military connection. I became the ASVA’s first female to hold a student officer position, the first female to win the ASVA Student Leadership Award, and the first female to hold the student office of Vice-President. I believe my involvement with the ASVA greatly contributed to my overall well-being personally and academically. The ASVA soon became involved in the creation of a veteran-task-force made up of university faculty and staff that began listening to and determining the needs of the student veteran at AU. The increasing number of veterans coming to earn their college degrees could not be ignored and it was clear that the university needed a center for student veterans to receive transition assistance. The efforts of the taskforce and the ASVA paid off. Finally, on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2012, the Auburn University Veterans Resource Center opened its doors. It is a central place for student veterans to begin

From Left to right: Constance Relihan (Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies), Dan King (Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management), Julie Huff (Director, Strategic Initiatives and Communications), Dan McClain (President, AU Student Veterans Association), Robyn Westbrook (VA School Certifying Official), Steven Barnard (Assistant Director, AU Veterans Resource Center), Jay Gogue (President, Auburn University), and Johnny Green (Director, AU Veterans Resource Center).

their GI Bill benefits, receive academic assistance, career guidance, and a place to study and network with other student veterans. Helping student veterans was never my plan, but it has become my purpose. I feel very fortunate to have this current position and Director Dr. Johnny Green, Assistant Director Mr. Steven Barnard and I are always looking for more ways to help student veteransâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; transition successfully to

From left to right: (back row) Daniel Fry, Matthew Tubbs, Michael Mitchell, Dan McClain, Brian Smith and Erik Nadeau. (middle row: left to right) Robyn Westbrook, Heather Worley, Daniel Robinson, David Shamp, and Tyler Ledford. (front row: left to right) Nathan Garrison and Ryan Laube.

ASVA Auburn University has a student veteran chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA) called the Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA). The ASVA is a community for veterans and current active duty or reserve military personnel that attend Auburn University. They have a simple mission-to promote the general welfare of veterans attending Auburn University and to continue serving our country by contributing to the betterment of the Auburn Community. Annual events include a luncheon (proceeds are donated to different veteran/military organizations), fundraising for local police and firefighters in remembrance of 9/11, and an Armed Services Blood Drive that provides quality blood products world-wide for Service members and their families in both peace and war. Contact Information: Search Facebook for: AU Student Veterans or visit www.auburn.edu/veterans

Auburn University and into their new roles in civilian life. Incidentally, I graduated with honors from AU in December 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. My husband also graduated in the same ceremony with a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Mechanical Engineering which made the day even more special for our families. I have to say that my experience as a Veteran-Student was pivotal in my transition back to civilian life. Auburn University provided me with the tools to begin a new phase in my life, as well as enabling me to ultimately help other student veterans. WAR EAGLE! A M E R I CA N M I L I TA RY WOM E N

Auburn University Executive MBA Programs In 21 months, Auburn University’s Executive MBA Program will enhance your leadership skills. Accredited, highly ranked and recognized worldwide as a leader in executive education, the Auburn EMBA combines innovative distance learning technologies with short on-campus residencies and an international study trip. It’s a challenging, but flexible program that can adapt to your schedule. “Auburn’s EMBA program has strengthened my ability to think quantitatively, analyze objectively, and lead effectively in an Army that needs flexible thinkers, adaptive staff officers, and strong leaders.” COL Meg Foreman Auburn EMBA Graduate

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About the Ten Facts Post 9/11 GI Bill Students that are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill are required to remain in school year-round in order to gain year-round benefits; fortunately, most schools offer summer and winter intersession courses.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill and “Break Pay” The original Montgomery GI Bill included “break pay,” the ability to receive pay during “no class” increments 55 days or less. This was designed to give students continual financial support during lapses in their semesters, such as winter intersession/break. Students that are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill are required to remain in school year-round in order to gain year-round benefits; fortunately, most schools offer summer and winter intersession courses. The number of units you have to enroll for to be considered a full-time student during these inter-sessions is lower than regular semester.

College Fund or Reserve Kicker Qualification and the Post 9/11 GI Bill Students that were promised the College Fund (also “kicker,” or “Reserve Kicker”) will continue to qualify for this under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. If eligible, the student will be paid the kicker monthly as an addition to their housing stipend. Students will still receive their monthly kicker even when not receiving a housing stipend due to: • Being an active duty service member; • Being a veteran training at half time or less • Being a distance learner 94

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The “Buy Up” Program and the Post 9/11 GI Bill Students that elected to participate in the “Buy Up” program during the Post 9/11 GI Bill will not receive an increased amount ($600 buy-up) paid under chapters 30 or 1607. Furthermore, they will not be refunded this amount under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Refund of the Montgomery GI Bill Enrollment Fee with the Post 9/11 GI Bill Students that were previously enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill and have elected to switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill will be refunded the $1200 Montgomery GI Bill enrollment fee. The specific way this works: • All Montgomery GI Bill (chapter 30) contributions, excluding $600 “Buy Up,” will be refunded at a proportional amount [based on the number of months remaining under MGIB at time of Post 9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) election] of the basic $1200 contribution. This refund will be included in the last monthly payment when chapter 33 entitlement has exhausted. Individuals who do not exhaust entitle ment under chapter 33 will not receive a refund.

Post 9/11 GI Bill and Tutorial Assistance Like the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post 9/11 GI Bill offers up to $1200 ($100/month) for tutorial services.

Eligibility for Post 9/11 GI Bill in Lieu of Montgomery GI BillSelected Reservist If you are eligible for MGIB and/or MGIB-SR on 8/1/2009, and you meet the eligibility requirements for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you must trade in either MGIB or MGIB-SR to receive the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. You may trade in the MGIB-SR even if you were not called for active duty from the Selected Reserve after 9/10/2001, and have no qualifying active duty associated with your Selected Reserve Service. If you trade in MGIB-SR to become eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you will retain eligibility to MGIB under the rules established in that program. You cannot, however, receive benefits for more than one program at any given time, and you cannot receive more than a maximum of 48 months of benefits under any combination of VA benefit programs.

ROTC Grads and the Post 9/11 GI Bill Graduates from a ROTC academy qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. However, the time spent in the ROTC program does not count towards the time served requirements, so prospective students will have to sign obligation of service for benefits.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill and Taxes Similar to undergraduate student loans, the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits are not taxable. Any veterans’ benefits paid under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should not be reported as income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The National Call to Service Program as a Supplement to the Post 9/11 GI Bill For prospective college students looking for additional benefits beyond the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the National Call to Service program

allows students to qualify for one of the following incentives: • Cash bonus of $5,000 • Repayment of a qualifying student loan not to exceed $18, 000 • Entitlement to allowance equal to the 3-year monthly chapter 30 rate for 12 months ($1,034 effective Oct 1, 2005) • Entitlement to allowance equal to fifty percent of the less than 3-year monthly chapter 30 rate for 36 months (Fifty percent of $840 effective Oct. 1, 2005) In order to be eligible for this supplemental financial aid, the prospective college student must fulfill the following criteria:

Students previously enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill that elect to switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill will be refunded the $1200 Montgomery GI Bill enrollment fee.

• First, after completion of initial entry training, individuals must serve on active duty in a military occupational specialty designated by the Secretary of Defense for a period of 15 months. • After this, and without a break in service, these individuals must serve either an additional period of active duty as determined by the Secretary of Defense, or a period of 24 months in an active status in the Selected Reserve. After completion of this period of service, and also, without a break in service, the remaining period of obligated service specified in the agreement will be served as follows: • • • •

on active duty in the armed forces in the Selected Reserve in the Individual Ready Reserve in Americorps, or another domestic national service program jointly designated by the Secretary of Defense and the head of such a program

California and the Post 9/11 GI Bill California does not have costs for tuition. Because of this, they do not offer any kind of tuition support for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. A m e r i ca n M i l i ta ry Wom e n

2013 Yellow Ribbon Program

Tuition Table

State

Maximum Charge per Credit Hour

Maximum Total Fees per Term

Alabama

$329.17

$20,787.00

Alaska

$170.00

Arizona Arkansas

State

Maximum Charge per Credit Hour

Maximum Total Fees per Term

Nebraska

$251.00

$1,589.55

$19,455.00

Nevada

$156.75

$4,072.46

$725.00

$15,000.00

New Hampshire

$1,003.75

$5,197.00

$210.15

$1,774.78

New Jersey

$468.66

$7,962.00

California

$391.75

$2,264.75

New Mexico

$229.40

$6,104.00

Colorado

$529.50

$45,774.25

New York

$1,010.00

$12,293.00

Connecticut

$543.00

$2,660.50

North Carolina

$606.63

$2,293.40

Delaware

$425.33

$584.00

North Dakota

$464.46

$25,686.00

District of Columbia

$265.83

$310.00

Ohio

$508.25

$15,134.00

Florida

$295.00

$43,660.00

Oklahoma

$188.60

$15,058.05

Guam

$190.00

$249.00

Oregon

$407.00

$25,669.00

Georgia

$505.00

$15,440.00

Pennsylvania

$934.00

$6,110.00

Hawaii

$316.00

$1,325.70

Puerto Rico

$90.00

$525.00

Idaho

$273.00

$2,428.24

Rhode Island

$376.00

$5,187.00

Illinois

$629.75

$16,367.00

South Carolina

$829.00

$2,798.00

Indiana

$338.50

$13,063.00

South Dakota

$99.80

$25,685.00

Iowa

$343.66

$17,222.00

Tennessee

$270.00

$13,426.00

Kansas

$420.05

$50,752.96

Texas

$1,549.00

$12,130.00

Kentucky

$456.30

$11,235.00

Utah

$238.70

$85,255.00

Louisiana

$473.00

$2,884.70

Vermont

$512.00

$5,106.00

Maine

$345.00

$5,500.00

Virgin Islands

$125.00

$706.00

Maryland

$471.86

$16,308.00

Virginia

$353.50

$3,969.50

Massachusetts

$340.00

$20,793.50

Washington

$430.00

$9,648.00

Michigan

$1,001.00

$19,374.50

West Virginia

$268.67

$4,276.67

Minnesota

$450.00

$37,808.00

Wisconsin

$673.00

$30,963.00

Mississippi

$584.75

$805.00

Wyoming

$99.00

$4,335.00

Missouri

$373.00

$11,898.00

Overseas

$439.69

$13,713.88

Montana

$205.40

$13,646.00

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“My mission is education; my alliance is Simpson.” –Senior Airman Cameron Gamble, USAF ASPIRE Degree-Completion Student

Take your next steps at simpson university’s beautiful northern California campus or online: • Undergraduate • Degree-Completion • Graduate Studies • Seminary Wherever you are on your educational journey, we have a program to help you accomplish your goals.

scaN tO REad camERON’s stORY

Redding, CalifoRnia simpsonu.edu/YelloWRiBBon 1.888.9.simpson

proud pArTICIpANT of The YELLOW RIBBON pROgRam

Qualifying for the

Grandfathered’ Tuition Rate

Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011 n August 3, 2011, President Obama signed the Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011 into law, amending the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The provisions of the bill are retroactive and are applicable to training pursued under the Post-9/11 GI Bill that began on or after August 1, 2011. How does the new law change the Post-9/11 GI Bill? The new legislation authorizes VA to pay more than $17,500 (or the appropriately reduced amount based on your eligibility percentage) in tuition and fees under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for certain students attending private colleges and universities in seven states – Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas. To qualify for the increased payment (also referred to as the “grandfathered” tuition and fee amount), students must have been enrolled in the same college or university since January 4, 2011, and have been enrolled in a program for which the combined amount of tuition and fees for full-time attendance during the 20102011 academic year exceeded $17,500. How much of my tuition and fees will be covered? If you meet the requirements and your tuition and fee charges for the academic year exceed $17,500, VA will pay you a percentage (based on your eligibility tier) of the greater amount of $17,500, or the amount you would have been paid for your training during the 2010-2011 academic year (based on the tuition and fee in- State Maximums). The in-State maximum tuition table can be found on page 96. I’m at a private school in one of the covered states, but my school has already submitted my enrollment for the Fall term. How do I get the additional amount for tuition and fees covered? Your school certifying official will need to submit an amended enrollment certification to VA with remarks stating “Student eligible for restored rates” to verify that you were enrolled in that school on or before January 4, 2011 and that the tuition and fees for full-time attendance in that program exceeded $17,500 during the 2010-2011 academic year. Upon receipt, VA will review your claim and process any additional payment due. How long will I remain eligible for the “grandfathered” rate for tuition and fees? You will receive the “grandfathered” rate for tuition and fees for all terms that begin before August 1, 2014, as long as you are continuously enrolled at the same institution. If you transfer to a different institution, even if it’s located in the same state, you

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will no longer qualify for the “grandfathered” rate. How much will the “grandfathered” rate for tuition and fees increase each year? The amounts payable to individuals eligible for the “grandfathered” rate are set through July 31, 2014. The new law does not authorize VA to make annual adjustments to the “grandfathered” rates for tuition and fees. If the Post-9/11 GI Bill Tuition and Fees rate is higher than the “grandfathered” rates for tuition and fees after the 2011-2012 academic year, what rate will I receive? If you are eligible for the “grandfathered” rates for tuition and fees and your tuition and fee charges for the academic year exceed $17,500, you will receive payments authorized for “grandfathered” participants. VA will pay you a percentage (based on your eligibility tier) of the greater amount of $17,500, or the amount you would have been paid for your training during the 2010-2011 academic year. The “grandfathered” provisions described above will expire on August 1, 2014. I transferred schools during the 2010-2011 academic year, am I eligible for the increased payment? You may be eligible for the increased payment if you were enrolled in your current school on or before January 4, 2011 and the tuition and fee charges for full-time attendance in your program of education during the 2010-2011 academic year exceeded $17,500. If you have not been continuously enrolled in your current school since January 4, 2011, or the tuition and fee charges for full-time attendance in your program of education did not exceed $17,500 for the 2010-2011 academic year, the tuition and fees payable to you during the 2011-2012 academic year will be capped at $17,500 (or the appropriately reduced amount based on your eligibility percentage). I moved to a different State during the 2010-2011 academic year and transferred to a different branch of the same school. Will I get the “grandfathered” rate? No. You must have continuously attended the same school in the same State since January 4, 2011, to receive the “grandfathered” rate. I’m enrolled at a private school that is not located in one of the seven states mentioned in the new bill. How much will I get towards tuition and fees? The tuition and fees payable to you under the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be capped at $17,500 (or the appropriately reduced amount based on your eligibility percentage) for the academic year. An academic year begins on August 1st and ends July 31st.

HPU Honors America’s Military Women Celebrating Over 200 Years of Service, Thank You For All You Do!

Our commitment to servicemen and women and their families runs deep at Hawai‘i Pacific University. It’s why we’re known as one of America’s leading “military friendly” universities, recognized by the Council of College and Military Educators, Military Advanced Education magazine and GI Jobs, among others. But it’s more than that. It’s part of our DNA; it’s who we are. It’s why thousands of military students each year pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. It’s why thousands more alumni put their degrees to use in the military and fields ranging from psychology to diplomacy to business administration. See for yourself why when it comes to higher education, HPU is unlike anyplace else.

Hawai‘i Pacific University Veteran’s Benefits va@hpu.edu 808-356-5222

Graduate Advising mcpgrad@hpu.edu 808-687-7070

Off Island Advising mcponline@hpu.edu 808-687-7072

www.hpu.edu/military Hawai‘i Pacific University admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status and disability.

VA Reimbursement Plan National Testing

Program

hile the GI Bill offers many advantages to new students, you should be aware of what the VA does and does not cover when it comes to testing and administrative fees when you’re looking to continue your education.

WHAT TESTS ARE APPROVED? • SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) • LSAT (Law School Admission Test) • GRE (Graduate Record Exam) • GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) • AP (Advanced Placement Exam) • CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) • ACT (American College Testing Program) • DAT (Dental Admissions Test) • MAT (Miller Analogies Test) • MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) • OAT (Optometry Admissions Testing) • PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) • DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) • ECE (Excelsior College Examinations)

WHAT TEST FEES DOES VA REIMBURSE? While VA will reimburse a person for required test fees, VA has no authority to reimburse a person for any optional costs related to the testing process. Test fees that VA will reimburse include: • Registration fees • Fees for specialized tests • Administrative fees Fees VA will NOT Reimburse include: • Fees to take pre-tests (such as Kaplan tests) • Fees to receive scores quickly • Other costs or fees for optional items that are not required to take an approved test. Does every applicant for a national test need to have filed an original claim for benefits? Yes. Every applicant for reimbursement for a national test must have filed an original application for chapter 30, 32 (or sec. 903), or 35 at some point and have been found eligible. Is there a particular form that must be submitted to receive reimbursement? No. The best way to claim the benefit is to submit the following: • Copy of your test results • Signed note or a signed VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, stating that you are requesting reimbursement for the cost of a national test. The following information is required: • • • • •

Name of the Test Name of the organization offering the test Date the person took the test Cost of taking the test Signed statement authorizing release of your test information to the VA

General Rule Regarding Receipts: You do not normally have to submit a receipt or proof of payment for the cost. However, in certain instances, it is necessary to submit this evidence. These situations are the following: • DSST Tests (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) • Certain situations regarding the CLEP, MAT, and PCAT tests NOTE: if you cannot provide a copy of the test results, request duplicate test results from the testing organization Take advantage of all the educational benefits the GI Bill has to offer. 100

M AY 2 01 3

For more information go to www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/testing.htm

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Veterans Education Assistance

VEAP SEES YOUR INVESTMENT... AND DOUBLES IT. o, you’re not seeing double; the VA has a program that increases your educational savings 2 to 1. It’s called Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). VEAP is available if you made contributions from your military pay to participate. Your contributions are matched $2 for $1 by the Government. It’s that simple, and that generous. You can use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available. Even certain work-study programs and tutorial assistance can be eligible for benefits.

Program VEAP simply adds double-the-dollars based on what is already in your educational savings plans. You just can’t get those kinds of odds anywhere else.

USE IT OR... Now that you’ve got a healthy benefit saved up for your education, it’s up to you to use it. Benefit entitlement is 1 to 36 months depending on your number of monthly contributions. You have 10 years from your release from active duty to use your VEAP benefits. If there is entitlement not used after the 10-year period, the portion remaining in the fund will be automatically refunded. To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: • Entered service for the first time between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985; • Opened a contribution account before April 1, 1987; • Voluntarily contributed from $25 to $2700; • Completed your first period of service; and • Were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable. Make sure your selected program is approved for VA training. If you are not sure, the VA will inform you and the school or company about the requirements. LEVERAGE YOUR FUTURE WITH VEAP If you are currently on active duty and wish to receive VEAP benefits, you must have at least 3 months of contributions available. You can change your mind and formally request a refund of your contributions. VEAP can leverage your education savings to catapult you into your future. RATES Tuition rates under the new GI Bill are determined differently than under the old GI Bill. For example, if you live in Florida and plan to go to school there, you will need to know what the most expensive school in Florida is. The rate paid by the new GI Bill is equal to Florida’s resident tuition plus any mandatory fees. In Florida, the maximum tuition rate payable by the new GI Bill is $43,660. Don’t forget that if you’re attending full-time, you may qualify for a housing allowance, too. You can attend any school in Florida, either public or private, and you can also attend school through an online degree program. To find the rate for your state go to www.gibill.com/benefits/ veterans-veap/ then click on your state from the provided map.

102

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At SUNY Empire State College, you may earn credit for military training and experience; request pre-application advising and unofficial review of military transcripts; and benefit from affordable state tuition.

VETERAN AND MILITARY EDUCATION

For information call 888-372-3495. Visit us at www.esc.edu/military

Nurse Practitioner to Navy Captain: How family, education, and perseverance empowered Dianne DeVoll Aldrich’s career.

erve your country is a cornerstone of Dianne DeVoll Aldrich’s heritage. So when it came time for the naval aviator’s daughter to chart her own profession over three decades ago – joining the military was a natural choice. “The Navy was a path I too wanted to pursue based on what I observed of my Father’s career,” explained Dianne. “When I turned 23, I didn’t like the idea of turning over my military ID card and no longer being allowed in the clubhouse.” During a time when certain women’s military professions were still gaining foot, nursing was a well-established tract. “It was an enviable profession for women,” she said. “If you put those two opportunities

together, military and nursing, you get the Navy Nurse Corps. It sparked a rewarding career that offered me tremendous opportunity.” Upon graduating from the University of Rhode Island with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Dianne embarked on a globetrotting journey serving a variety of staff rotations that spanned inpatient gynecology, orthopedics, urology, and general medicine. From Camp Pendleton to Puerto Rico, Cameroon, Guinea, American Samoa, Saipan, and the Philippines, Dianne embraced her duties with an enthusiasm for learning while providing the best care to the lives she aided. “I was often stationed in community hospitals and it familiarized

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Dianne DeVoll Aldrich is a military nursing and executive mentorship consultant who recently collaborated with American Military University to provide advance placement guidance for enlisted medical personnel into associate degree programs.

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me with just about every kind of in-patient nursing specialty.” Following a decade of rotations Dianne was selected for fulltime duty under instruction into the Family Practitioner program at the University of Florida where she earned her Master of Science in Nursing. She later augmented her extraordinary portfolio of military and professional training with a Post Masters Certificate in Nurse Midwifery. Dianne credits her evolution on a military culture that promotes continuous education both on-the-job and in the classroom. “The medical field necessitates specific educational requirements, but I also discovered early on that the more education you achieve, the more opportunities you can explore as a condition for progressive leadership roles. “Once I completed my initial graduate work I went to Italy as an advanced practice nurse where I was truly able to combine and implement what I learned in those two specialties. It was the most rewarding period of my advanced practice experience because I was able to provide full-scope family healthcare to my patients. As I gained seniority there were more opportunities to pursue advanced leadership positions and eventually I was selected for command.” Dianne fulfilled her military aspirations by retiring at the rank of Captain in 2011. Although, her proudest achievement was having raised her daughter Chelsea and son Korey in partnership with her husband, John Aldrich, who also advanced his own military and educational leadership career. “A military career is demanding and it’s not for everybody. But in the right situation the military and education can be a wonderful part of your life. It’s a lifestyle that’s all about finding the right balance within your family. My challenges were like anyone else’s, but the military provides career and educational opportunity for everybody. It’s up to you, though, to create your own path.”

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*As reported by Military Times/Edge Magazine

American Military University

We want you to make an informed decision about the university that’s right for you. For more about the graduation rate and median debt of students who completed each program, as well as other important information—visit www.APUS.edu/disclosure. Image Courtesy of the DoD.

You’ve served Your countrY, now we’re here to serve You. We’re dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of our people and our communities. • Leader in preparing educators • Offer over 100 award-winning, innovative programs of study • Full-time Veterans services dedicated to assist with transitional needs • Personalized Veterans tours and orientation • Free counseling and tutoring services offered

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Readmission Requirements for

Servicemembers

1. What do the readmission requirements do? They require institutions of higher education to promptly readmit with the same academic status a servicemember who was previously admitted to the institution but who did not attend, or did not continue to attend, because of service in the uniformed services. 2. What is the purpose of the readmission requirements? The purpose of the readmission requirements is to minimize the disruption to the lives of servicemembers, allowing them to return to an institution of higher education without penalty for having left because of their service. 3. Where did the readmission requirements come from? Congress added the requirements to the law in 2008 (section 484C of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, or 20 U.S.C. 1091c). The U.S. Department of Education published regulations that further implemented the law on October 29, 2009. Many parts of the law and regulations are based on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) (38 U.S.C. 43014334) which establishes the process for servicemembers to return to employment after serving on active duty. 4. When did the readmission requirements become effective? The law went into effect August 14, 2008 (the day the law was enacted). The regulations went into effect July 1, 2010. The requirements are effective for readmissions of servicemembers on or after those dates. 5. Which institutions of higher education must comply with the readmission requirements? These requirements apply to any institution of higher education that participates in a Title 108

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IV Federal student financial aid program, such as the Pell Grant Program, Stafford Loan Program, or Federal Work-Study Program.

9. What are the requirements for the

6. To who do the protections of the readmission requirements apply? The readmission requirements apply to servicemembers who perform service in the uniformed services, whether voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including service as a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under Federal authority (but not State authority), for a period of more than 30 consecutive days under a call or order to active duty of more than 30 consecutive days.

by the servicemember or an appropriate

7. Do the protections apply if absence from class is for a short period of time to attend training? No. The readmission requirements apply to servicemembers who have completely withdrawn from an institution for a period of service of more than 30 consecutive days. They do not apply to how an institution handles a servicemember’s absence from class to attend training.

An institution may not establish a rule for

8. Are there any conditions a servicemember must meet to qualify? Yes. An otherwise eligible servicemember qualifies if:

precluded by military necessity (for example,

a The institution is given notice of the servicemember’s absence for service. b The cumulative length of absences from the institution by reason of service does not exceed five years. c The servicemember gives notice of his or her intent to return by the applicable time limit.

notice of absence for service? Notice of absence for service must be provided officer of the Armed Forces, or official of the DoD – that is, a commissioned, warrant, or noncommissioned officer authorized to give such notice. The notice of absence for service may be oral or written. It must be provided to an office designated by the institution and must be provided as far in advance as is reasonable under the circumstances. An institution must designate one or more offices that a servicemember may contact to provide such notification. An institution may not require that the notice follow any particular format. timeliness (for example, a “brightline” deadline for submission); timeliness must be determined by the facts in a particular case. The notice does not need to indicate whether the servicemember intends to return to the institution. 10. Are there any circumstances under which advance notice of service is not required? Yes. Advance notice is not required if it is a mission, operation, exercise, or requirement that is classified; or a pending or ongoing mission, operation, exercise, or requirement that may be compromised or otherwise adversely affected by public knowledge). If advance notice was not given and was not precluded by military necessity, the servicemember or appropriate officer of the Armed Forces or official of the DoD may submit an attestation when seeking readmission that the servicemember performed service that necessitated the servicemember’s absence.

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Transferring College

requent moves and the subsequent loss of college credits are often one of the many challenges that face military personnel and their spouses when working to complete their education. Aside from the time investment lost when their college credits don’t transfer, they can lose thousands of dollars as well. Losing credits greatly increases the time and money spent on completing an education. In some cases credits will transfer to equivalent courses, but some might transfer only as electives. Tips for Transferring Understanding the process of transferring college credits is important to creating a smooth transition to a new college or university. Each institution often has a unique policy for transferring credits. Credit acceptance can depend on the level of the course, the student’s academic standing and how many credits are intended for transfer. The following tips are provided to help navigate the process of transferring credits: 1 Contact your previous schools to send an official transcript to your gaining school. 2 Keep a copy of your official transcript for your own files. 3 Create a file that includes each course syllabus and a copy of the school catalog. Shopping around can also help you find a program and a school that are most compatible with your needs. Some institutions may have a strong transfer relationship with the college or university you attend now. Several states also have articulation agreements for associate degrees; meaning if you earn an AA 110

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Credits

degree, a four-year college or university will automatically grant you junior standing. If you plan properly, keep accurate records, and ask the right questions, the transfer process will be smoother and you’ll be one step closer to your ultimate goal – graduation.

What is SOC? A visit with your Education Office counselor is a good time to talk about Servicemember Opportunity Colleges. Servicemember and spouse education is more accessible than ever due to the SOC Consortium of more than 1,900 educational institutions that meet the unique needs of military families by agreeing to support military students and their family members at the postsecondary level. SOC Consortium member institutions agree to: • Reasonable transfer policies for accepting credit from other institutions • Academic residency requirements (limited to no more than 25% of degree requirements with no final year or semester in residence; may require 30% for undergraduate degrees offered 100% online) • Recognize and use ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services in evaluating and awarding academic credit for military training and experience • Award credit for at least one nationallyrecognized testing program such as College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST Examinations, Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)

SOC Degree Network System Participants  About 10 percent of SOC Consortium member institutions are also SOC Degree Network System participants. These institutions take SOC one step further by issuing SOC student agreements and guaranteeing credit transfers with other SOC Degree Network System members. Active duty service members and their adult family members are eligible to participate in the SOC Degree Network System. SOC Degree Network System Programs  There are four different SOC Degree Network System operating programs. • • • •

U.S. Army – SOCAD U.S. Navy – SOCNAV U.S. Marine Corps – SOCMAR U.S. Coast Guard – SOCCOAST

Although the Air Force does not officially participate in the SOC Degree Network System, active duty Air Force service members and their adult family members are eligible to participate in the SOC Degree Network System programs of the other services. SOC Guard provides educational support to members of the Army National Guard by providing information about their educational options and benefits. SOCGuard is not part of the SOC Degree Network System. Guard soldiers and their military spouses generally pursue degrees through SOCAD, the Army’s component of the SOC Degree Network System. For more information, visit www.soc.aascu.org or call 800-368-5622 or email socmail@aascu.org.

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Servicemembers Receive BAH

Increase

About one million service members receive BAH, which is paid to service members in the U.S. who live off base or in privatized base housing.

s of January 1, 2013, service members should have began receiving an increase of about $60 in their 2013 basic allowance for housing. According to Cheryl Anne Woehr, the BAH program manager for DOD, overall, the rates went up an average of 3.8 percent and the increases were spread throughout the country.   Service members in New York City will receive the largest increase this year, 14.7 percent on average, followed closely by Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, which will see a 14.1 percent average increase. Rates for basic allowance for housing, or BAH, are set through annual reviews of market rents, utility costs and renter’s insurance rates. The BAH program office surveys property managers to determine current rental rates in each duty location. Housing types considered include apartments, town homes and duplexes, as well as single-family rental units of various bedroom sizes. Utility information is derived from the American Community Survey, conducted annually by the Census Bureau, and renter’s insurance information comes from area insurance companies.   The annual assessment is conducted in an effort to ensure that service members are able to afford adequate and appropriate housing within a reasonable distance of their duty stations.    About one million service members receive BAH, which is paid to service members in the U.S. who live off base or in privatized base housing. The allowance is designed to cover the total housing cost for the median

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rental housing type for the service member’s pay grade. Service members who reside outside the U.S. receive an overseas housing allowance, which is not affected by changes to BAH. BAH varies between pay grades because, by law it is also determined in part by assessing the housing of civilians in similar pay brackets. As a rate guide, civilian statistics are taken into consideration with regard to income range versus housing accommodations. This allows for housing allowances to be priced according to equivalently paid military personnel.   About 21 percent of BAH localities saw a net decrease, but service members already receiving a higher allowance at those locations will not see the decrease. Only those service members who are newly reporting will receive the lower rates. Department of Defense officials also announced the new basic allowance for subsistence, or BAS, rates for military members. Enlisted service members will receive $352.27 a month, up from $348.44 per month this year. Officers will receive $242.60 a month, up from $239.96 in 2012.   Annual adjustments to BAS, a monthly, nontaxable cash payment intended for use to buy food, are linked to changes in food prices as measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The index rose by 1.1 percent between the beginning of October 2011 and the end of September 2012, forming the basis for the increased BAS rates.

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