Honoring 21st Century American Military Women - 2015 by GDW Designs inK

Soldier 2020 Janet C. Wolfenbarger USAF 4-Star General Retires USMC Capt. Katie Higgins Joins Blue Angels

Female Soldiers Conquer Army Ranger Course Navy CRF Admits Women to Combat Billets

Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group compete in a head-to-head combat fitness challenge at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Male and female teams of three completed tire flips, stretcher carries, and ammo-resupply runs as a way to test their combat fitness and forge a stronger bond between service members. Photo: Lance Cpl. Kirstin Merrimarahajara, USMC

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE We at Heinz are proud to be supporters of the United States Military.

© H.J. Heinz Company, L.P. 2015. All rights reserved. WEIGHT WATCHERS on food and beverages is the registered trademark of WW Foods, LLC. WEIGHT WATCHERS for services and PointsPlus are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. Trademarks are used under license by H.J. Heinz Company, L.P. © H.J. Heinz Company, L.P. 2015. TGI Fridays is a trademark of TGI Friday’s of Minnesota, Inc. Distributed under license by H.J. Heinz Company, L.P. The trademark JACK DANIEL’S is used under license to H. J. Heinz Co., L.P. © Jack Daniel’s 2015. All rights reserved. © Lea & Perrins, Inc. 2015

From the Editor

Women in Service Review 2016 By Amaani Lyle

Operation Gratitude

Heather Higginbottom Deputy Secretary of State Management and Resources

Simpson University Developing Students in Mind, Faith and Character

Mother, Daughter Serve in Germany By Jackie Pennoyer, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs

Brigadier General Jennifer Walter Retires

Soldier 2020

Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho Army Surgeon General

Julie W. Schumacher Army Space and Missile Defense Command

Pilot Tristan Archambault, Task Force Wolfpack By Vanessa Villarreal 4

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You Work Hard. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Work Hard to Save You Money. GEICO has been proudly saving Military customers money on their car insurance since 1936, and we want to do the same for you. We understand the special needs and sacrifices made by Military members and their families which is why we offer numerous discounts, flexible payment options, overseas coverage and more. We stand ready to serve you. Get a free quote today.

geico.com | 1-800-MILITARY | local office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. ÂŠ 2015 GEICO

Lieutenant General Flora Darpino 39th Judge Advocate General, United States Army

Major General Nadja West Joint Staff Surgeon, The Pentagon

Spc. Tinita Taylor Tabbed Jungle Expert By Sgt. Brian C. Erickson

Female Soldiers Conquer Army Ranger Course By Fort Benning Public Affairs

Capt Tara Robertson – Bradley Commander Certified By Chief Warrant Officer Nicholas Atwood

Navy PASS Program

ADM. Michelle Howard Delivers Commencement Speech

SAIC — A Good Fit for Veterans

Rear Admiral Christina M. “Tina” Alvarado Deputy Commander, Navy Medicine East

Navy CRF Admits Women to Combat Billets

Women to Serve Aboard Fast-Attack Subs

Enlisted Women Added to Sub Crews in 2016 6

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Use of U.S. DoD visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

L-3 is proud to support the brave women of the United States Armed Forces and salutes them for serving and defending our nation. L-3com.com

Air Force Major General Reflects On BGSU

72 General Lori Robinson PACAF New Commander

74 General Ellen Pawlikowski Earns Fourth Star and New Command By Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie

76 Stand Out at Richmond University In London

78 Janet C. Wolfenbarger USAF’s First Female 4-Star General Retires

Deborah Lee James Secretary of the Air Force

82 Female Marines Graduate Infantry Training

84 Capt. Katie Higgins Blue Angels First Female Pilot

86 Female Aviator’s and the Marine Corps By Cpl. Jessica Quezada

90 Corps Opens New Positions to Women

94 Ann Wood-Kelly Female Aviation Pioneer 8

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CAREERS AT RAYTHEON

MISSION: TURN CAPABILITIES INTO A CAREER

In the service, your instincts, determination and leadership were critical to mission success. Raytheon invites you to apply those same skills in a civilian environment. As a member of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to work at the forefront of leading technology, expand your knowledge and encounter countless opportunities to build a successful, rewarding career.

WHAT’S YOUR MISSION? Electronic Warfare is one of the many areas at Raytheon where veterans can advance their careers. Find yours today.

H O N O R I N G

M I L I T A R Y

W O M E N

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.salutetofreedom.net

John D. Kerin PRESIDENT

Gabrielle D. Wood EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Karry Thomas ART DIRECTOR

Lori Dawson WEB MASTER

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Chris McCormick | Catherine Richmond Mike Zinn 10

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All-woman Color Guard Detail: Staff Sgts. Angie Hernandez-Torres and Rhonda Jeter, Tech. Sgt. Matilda Mahone and Senior Airman Tamika Masters, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Photo: Master Sgt. Scott Wagers, USAF

ON THE COVER: Sergeant Christina Scott, a Female Engagement Team member in direct support of 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, comforts an Afghan baby while visiting the small town of Kightewahn in the Kajaki District. Photo: Staff Sgt. Brian Buckwalter, USMC

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY: USA – Staff Sgt. Scott Brooks; Sgt. Eric J Glassey; Spec. Nikayla Shodeen; Pfc. Ebony Banks; Pfc. Yvette Zabala-Garriga; Jackie Pennoyer, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs; J.D. Leipold; Carrie E. David (SMDCARSTRAT); Rob McIlvaine; Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler (USFORA); Staff Sgt. John Couffer; David Vergun; Sgt. Brian C. Erickson; 1st Lt. Grace Lu; Cmdr. Scott D. McIlnay. USN – Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Andrew Schneider; Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ahron Arendes; Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Heather M. Paape; Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre N. McIntyre. USAF – Scott M. Ash; Wesley Farnsworth; Airman 1st Class Delano Scott; Master Sgt. Scott Wagers. USMC – Specialist 2nd Class Kathryn E. Macdonald; PH2 Jeff Viano; Staff Sgt. Brian Buckwalter; Sgt. Tyler Main. Copyright © 2015 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 or 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.

Argosy University is proud to support our nation’s military and veteran students. We participate in the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill© Yellow Ribbon Program in all approved degree programs from associate to doctoral level. As a military-inclusive college, we are committed to providing support for your education and career goals. Our degree programs are designed to prepare you for a variety of careers in psychology, counseling, education, business, criminal justice, and liberal arts. You can earn a certificate, undergraduate, or graduate degree. At Argosy University, we value skills you have learned in the military, such as leadership, discipline and self-motivation. For more information, call 1-877-800-8412 to speak with an Argosy University admissions representative.

argosy.edu/salute Argosy University is accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Argosy University is accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (985 Atlantic Ave., Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, www.wascsenior.org). Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options are subject to change. Not all online programs are available to residents of all U.S. States. Administrative Office: Argosy University, 333 City Boulevard West, Suite 1810, Orange, CA 92868. ©2015 Argosy University. All rights reserved. Our email address is materialsreview@argosy.edu. AU-1599 - 10/15 See auprograms.Info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, salary data, alumni success, and other important information.

From the

oining the Armed Forces is about courage, honor, integrity, loyalty and love of country. Throughout our history American women from all branches of the military have shown they have what it takes to get the job done. I believe the difference in the 21st Century is that they are finally being recognized more as equals and less as fill-ins. During the World Wars, women stepped up for the war effort. They donned traditional men’s work attire, rolled up their sleeves and put in long hours in factories, allowing production to continue, even in the absence of men, who had enlisted to fight abroad. Women who were in the military performed mostly office jobs, again, making it possible for their male counterparts to do the actual fighting. There were a few women though, who stepped out of the traditional female roles; they were the women of the WASPs, WAVs and WACs. These women were some of the first to prove that gender was not the yardstick by which to measure ability. Unfortunately, these brave, patriotic, capable women were still treated as less than equals; some lost their lives serving their country, and yet were considered civil service employees and went without official military status or rank. It took decades for the government to properly acknowledge these women and their vital contributions, and sacrifices in the fight for American freedoms. Slowly, the tide has shifted and more women are being promoted to ranks and positions that were once inconceivable; Female officers wearing four stars and earning respect for their achievements 12

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Editor

Pfc. Christina Fuentes Montenegro is one of the first three females ever to graduate from Infantry Training Battalion, Camp Geiger, N.C. Photo: Sgt. Tyler Main, USMC. See story page 82

and abilities. These strong women are in charge of warships, world regions, and commands of great strategic importance. And with this shift, comes another tide of change, that of allowing women to officially be in combat. While it would be ridiculous to believe our military women have never been in combat zones – what is changing is the recognition to that fact. It took some new laws, military studies and the swaying of some gruff old men, but women who wish to do so, are now allowed to prove they have what it takes to stand with men and fight. Whether it’s in a Bradley tank, a fighter jet or on the ground, the doors have been opened and the field is being leveled.

Within the pages of the issue are stories of women who have stepped up, followed their hearts, and not allowed anyone to stand in the way of their dreams, or their destinies. We are proud of all the men and women who serve to protect our nation and our freedoms, this publication, however is of special dedication to the 21st Century American Military Women. Smart. Strong. Competent…And continuing to blaze new trails for future generations.

G.D. Wood Editor-in-Chief

o t t h s ’ o e s r e e h

e s r v o e h w

Without the men and women who serve, we wouldn’t be here. Our rum

was inspired by Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins, father of the old-school tattoo and a navy vet who built his legacy tattooing soldiers and sailors in WWII-era Honolulu. We honor those who fight for freedom.

Women in Service Review Rollout Due January 2016 By Amaani Lyle, DoD News, Defense Media Activity

ollowing the 2013 repeal of the Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, the secretary of defense is scheduled to announce final decisions to integrate remaining closed occupations and any approved exceptions to policy on or about Jan. 1, 2016. Juliet Beyler, the Defense Department’s director of Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management, reported “good progress” in the Women in Service 14

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Review, which validates all occupational standards to ensure they are operational, relevant and gender-neutral. “Throughout the course of the review of the regulations governing women in the military, we determined that the time had come to do away with the direct ground combat rule and open all positions to women instead,” Beyler said. The goal, she explained, is to expand opportunities to ensure that all service members are eligible to serve in any capacity based on their abilities and

qualifications, and to “remove those old gender-based barriers to service that no longer made sense.”

DELIBERATE, MEASURED APPROACH When Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and former Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta removed the direct combat ground rule in 2013, they realized the need for a deliberate and measured approach to ensure the smoothest transition, Beyler said.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Audrey Griffith points out an area of interest during a force protection drill to Spc. Heidi Gerke along the perimeter of Forward Operating Base Hadrian in Deh Rawud, Afghanistan. Both women are members of the 92nd Engineer Battalion from Fort Stewart, Ga. Photo: Australian Army WO2 Andrew Hetherington

The services, she said, have been conducting various studies in order to review, validate and complete their occupational standards by the fall of 2015. “We’re on track and moving toward that goal,” Beyler said. Since rescission of the definition and rule, Beyler said, the DoD has notified Congress of the integration of about 71,000 positions previously closed to women. This development, she said, can positively affect the force by allowing people to serve based upon their ability.

“Expanding opportunities to women, to include the 71,000 we’ve already opened since 2013,” Beyler said, “[gives] a wider pool of qualified people so that commanders have greater flexibility … and it’ll strengthen the all-volunteer force.” More than 280,000 women have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, including Beyler, who’s a two-time combat veteran. “I like to say that women have been serving in combat since the Revolutionary War, but the 280,000 that we’ve recently seen deployed have contributed in immeasurable ways,” Beyler said. She said there were various ways in which women were restricted from occupations under the direct ground combat rule, primarily preclusion from assignments to combat units below the brigade level. “But there were other restrictions, such as for physical requirements or positions associated with special operations or long-range reconnaissance,” she added. “We are reviewing all of the occupational standards.” The services, she said, “are expending a good amount of their time on those 100-percent closed occupations.”

EXCEPTION TO POLICY Historically, the department had opened positions by exception, but it now has acknowledged it would make more sense to “flip the presumption,” Beyler said, so that all positions will be open to women unless there’s a reason that they should be closed. Guidance to the services and to U.S. Special Operations Command includes a

provision in which a military department secretary or service chief can request an exception to policy to keep a position closed, Beyler said. “But any exception is going to have to be rigorously justified and will have to be based on the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the duties of the position,” she said.

TAILORING TRAINING, ACCESSION NEEDS Regarding assignments, training, and accessions, Beyler said those elements have been and will continue to be service responsibilities. As defense secretary, Panetta directed each of the services and SOCOM to develop individual implementation plans tailored to their unique requirements, she said. “As we have with the positions we’ve already opened and the ones that we’ll continue to open throughout the next year and beyond,” Beyler said, “each service will use the regular accession and training assignment pipelines and timelines that they’ve always used.” The process of opening more military occupations to women is about maintaining the all-volunteer force and readiness, Beyler said. “More than 90 percent of our occupations are already open to women and 15 percent of our forces are women,” she said. “By removing these antiquated gender-based barriers to service, it can only strengthen the all-volunteer force and allow people to serve based on their ability and their qualifications.”

21 S T C E N T U R Y A M E R I C A N M I L I T A R Y W O M E N

Information Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technician 2nd Class Ashley Urias, from Pearland, Texas, says farewell to her family before embarking on the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) for deployment. PHOTO: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bounome Chanphouang, USN

veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day 2015 The total Veteran population in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Territories as of Sept. 30, 2015 was 21,680,534. The population of women Veterans numbered 2,035,213. www.va.gov 16

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“To the Volunteers and Supporters of Operation Gratitude, I want to offer a personal thank you for your support. It has been a while since we received mail and then when we did every Sailor got a package. I know for fact this is the first package some received since deploying and mail means everything. It has been the topic of conversation for days. “What movie did you get? Did you get a bear too?” So, thank you so much for caring. I am still blown away by the kindness and generosity of strangers who would care enough to do that for our service members, it helps us to know that what we do matters. Thank you very much!”

This photo and message was received on April 26, 2015

If you would like to send your loved one a care package or would like to learn more about our efforts, you can visit us at www.operationgratitude.com

LIKE YOU, WE WEAR OUR NAME WITH PRIDE

The Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies proudly supports all the brave men and women of the United States Military who protect our freedom across the globe. Our portfolio of trusted brands provides the depth you demand to address the needs of your patrons, improve customer well-being and build stronger sales. As a partner in your success, we’ll continue to deliver the key customer insights, category drivers and the overall support you need to run even the most challenging business.

For further information, please contact your Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies Representative. Use all products only as directed. © Johnson & Johnson Sales & Logistics Company, LLC 2013 AVEENO,® BAND-AID,® NEOSPORIN,® CLEAN & CLEAR,® BENGAY,® and JOHNSON'S® are brands marketed by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. ® ® VISINE and LISTERINE are brands marketed by Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. NEUTROGENA® brand is marketed by Neutrogena Corporation.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do ordinary. At VMI, leadership is mastered, knowledge fostered, and honor instilled. VMI develops leaders of

and the boardroom. VMI graduates excel because they thrive under pressure. Science Technology Engineering Math Liberal Arts Small Class Sizes Civilian and Military Career Paths VMI.EDU

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE N O O R D I N A RY C O L L E G E . N O O R D I N A RY L I F E .

For quality of education, affordability, and post-graduation outcome, VMI ranks 18th out of the 665 schools in Money magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2014 Best Colleges. 800-767-4207

HEATHER HIGGINBOTTOM Deputy Secretary of State Management and Resources

eather Higginbottom was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2013. In her current role, she shares in the global responsibilities for U.S. foreign policy and has broad management and programmatic oversight responsibilities for both the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Ms. Higginbottom, the first female to become Deputy Secretary, most recently served as Counselor to the Secretary of State, advising him on policy, personnel, and management issues. Prior to joining the State Department, Ms. Higginbottom served as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where she was the Chief Operating Officer of OMB and a principal architect of the federal budget. From January 2009 to January 2011, Ms. Higginbottom served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. In that role, she advised the President on a range

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of education, immigration, and economic development issues – including helping to design the Race to the Top and Promise Neighborhood programs. Ms. Higginbottom began working for then-Senator Obama in 2007, when she served as Policy Director for the President’s campaign and supervised all aspects of foreign and domestic policy development. During the 2004 campaign, she served as the Deputy National Policy Director for the Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign. After the election, she founded and served as Executive Director of the American Security Project, a national security think tank. Ms. Higginbottom began her government service in 1999, when she joined the office of then Senator John Kerry as Legislative Assistant. During her years in Senator Kerry’s staff, she handled a wide array of domestic and foreign policy issues, and eventually served as his Legislative Director, overseeing all policy matters. Prior to her government service, Ms. Higginbottom served at Communities In Schools, a national non-profit organization dedicated to keeping young people from dropping out of school. Ms. Higginbottom holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester and a Masters degree in Public Policy from the George Washington University.

Sec Kerry Swears in Higginbottom as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. Photo Courtesy: U.S. State Dept.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY The University of Rochester encourages and supports past and present military service members and their families as they work toward their higher education goals. Veterans and dependents who choose Rochester pursue their academics at one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most rigorous, top-tier research universities. Rochester has been named a Top Military-Friendly College two years in a row for its efforts to ensure veterans face minimal barriers in attaining higher education. Rochester also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, offers the Rochester Pledge scholarship, and has a Veterans Alliance group. Veterans and their dependents have many resources available to navigate any hurdles they may face. To learn more, visit enrollment.rochester.edu and contact our Veterans and Military Family Services Office at (585) 275-8592.

Photo: Courtesy US Army

2015 saw the first women in history take part in the grueling Army Ranger Course. 24

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CenturyLink CenturyLink is committed to meeting the communications missions of the government. As one of the three largest telecommunications providers in the U.S., CenturyLink offers agencies Carrier-Class Connectivity with unparalleled reliability across our Tier 1 global network, providing immediate access to Colocation services worldwide. Our energy efficient data centers support agile, hybrid Cloud solutions that are scalable to meet customer data needs. All of our services are protected by our industry-leading Cybersecurity measures and come with our Commitment to collaboration in delivering best-in-class solutions.

Carrier-Class Connectivity

Colocation

Cloud

Cybersecurity

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As government agencies find ways to manage costs, maintain business continuity and navigate fluctuating demands, more agencies are turning to CenturyLink for our technical expertise, responsive account management and world-class solutions. As a company, we believe in good government, and are well positioned to support your mission objectives. You serve the nation, we serve you. CenturyLink facts:  Possess a robust 230,000-mile national fiber network and a 400,000-mile global network.  Have a comprehensive portfolio of IP-based data, colocation, hosting, cloud, security and managed integrated solutions available on GSA IT Schedule 70, Networx Universal, Networx Enterprise, DISA/DATS, etc.  Own 55 global data centers with more than 2 million square feet of raised floor space.  Recognized as an industry leader for both managed hosting and Infrastructure-as-a-Service.  Included among the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations and is an S&P 500 company.  Ranked as one of Washington Technology’s Top 100 Federal IT contractors.

centurylink.com/gov

Carrier-Class Connnectivity  Colocation  Cloud Cybersecurity  Commitment

Services not available everywhere. CenturyLink may change or cancel services or substitute similar services at its sole discretion without notice.

SIMPSON UNIVERSITY

Developing Students in Mind, Faith and Character

impson University, California’s only Christian university north of Sacramento, has been educating and shaping world-influencers for nearly 100 years. Fully accredited, Simpson offers 25 liberal arts and professional studies degrees, an adult degree-completion program, graduate studies, and credential programs, serving more than 1,300 students a year. Many of our programs offer online options. Nearly two-thirds of Simpson’s full-time faculty members hold the highest degree in their field of study and come from major universities around the U.S. They are award-winning scholars, writers and composers who choose to be in an academic environment

School of Traditional Undergraduate Studies: Simpson offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in 25 majors, with the opportunity to experience campus residence life, student leadership, worldwide service trips, and more. School of Adult Studies: This 16-month program is tailored for working adults who want to complete their bachelor’s degree. Classes meet one night a week, in a cohort setting that provides accountability and camaraderie. School of Education: If teaching is your passion, we offer credentialing programs and master’s degrees.

Simpson University, located in Northern California, honors its faculty and staff members who served in the military at a Veterans’ Day reception in November 2013 (right).

where they can integrate faith and learning. With a ratio of one professor for every 12 students, Simpson offers an intensely personal classroom experience. Students are encouraged to engage in original research projects with professors, resulting in publications and national presentations that boost their graduate school and career prospects. Simpson University is deeply committed to helping veterans and their families pursue their educational and career goals. Our career path programs include accounting, business, organizational leadership, biology, nursing and ministry degrees for those interested in military chaplaincy. We offer undergraduate and graduate courses in several formats, allowing you to select the educational experience that best fits your lifestyle – or that of your spouse or dependents – while pursuing your career goals. 26

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School of Graduate Professional Studies: Pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology or organizational leadership under the guidance of highly qualified faculty. A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary: Also designed with working adults in mind, our seminary offers intensive, personalized education for those wanting to serve in church or chaplaincy ministries. Redding, Calif., is home to a new Veterans Home of California and the beautiful Northern California Veterans Cemetery. The community honors and appreciates the sacrifices of those in the military and their families. The focus of Simpson University has been and continues to be the education and development of service-minded graduates in a faith-based environment who have a positive impact on their communities. Visit us at simpsonu.edu to learn more.

Education with a Global Perspective Online & On-Campus Simpson University applauds your dedicated service to our country. We live out our enduring motto of ‘Gateway to World Service’ by providing an exceptional service-focused education. If you or your dependents are seeking a supportive Christcentered learning community we encourage you to learn more about our programs: • UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES • ADULT STUDIES

• GRADUATE STUDIES • SEMINARY STUDIES

–Senior Airman Cameron Gamble, USAF

ASPIRE Degree-Completion Student

Scan the code below, or visit the link to hear Cameron’s Simpson story.

REDDING, CALIFORNIA 1.888.9.SIMPSON SIMPSONU.EDU/YELLOWRIBBON scan to learn Chad’s story

HONORABLY SERVICING YELLOW RIBBON, POST 9/11 AND OTHER VETERAN TUITION PROGRAMS.

Serve Together Mother, in Germany Daughter By Jackie Pennoyer, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs

t’s not every day you find two young women in vastly different life situations embark on an adventure together in a predominantly male organization. Rarer still, is when a mother with a prolific professional background in international security and her daughter, a recent high school graduate, both decide to capitalize on major life changes and pursue careers in the U.S. Army. Currently, Janet Godwin and her daughter Tatiana Zolman are both sergeants stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany. They are originally from Colombia and only lived one year in the United States before deciding to join the U.S. military in early 2009. They enlisted only one week apart. Godwin is serving with the 15th Engineer Battalion’s Forward Support Company, and her daughter is assigned to 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment. Godwin, 41 at the time of her enlistment, was restless after a year of transition and yearned for travel and action. Her current husband had previously served as a captain in the U.S. Army, but her main inspiration for joining was the admiration she developed for the military while working for the U.S. embassy in Bogota, Colombia, she said. “I saw the professionalism of the Army, the Air Force, the Navy,” said Godwin, adding “I wanted to join because they told me stories about going here and there, doing this, traveling around the world … and I thought that is pretty interesting.” Zolman studied at a military school in Colombia before completing her high school degree in the United States. Like many 18-year-olds, Zolman struggled with the prospect of financing college and wanted a more promising career trajectory. She also cited her father’s work as a former lieutenant in the Colombian army as a major influence on her decision to enlist. Neither Zolman nor Godwin has experienced any impediments toward growth and development as females in the Army. Driven by her stepfather’s airborne service and determined to be successful, Zolman is an airborne Soldier and considers officer school a possible future pursuit. “My stepdad was in the American military. He was airborne. And I thought, I can be airborne, too,” Zolman said. On her experiences as an older female Soldier, Godwin explains that she has received nothing but respect. With a PT score of 366 from basic training, Godwin rivals many of her male counterparts. “I am very professional at work. I’ve received respect, because I give respect to everyone,” Godwin said. 28

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Although they shared duty stations for basic training and the Army’s advanced individual training, their military paths have not crossed until now. Godwin was previously stationed on Fort Carson, Colorado, the launch pad for her one-year deployment to Afghanistan. Her daughter, who arrived here in January after five years on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, coincidentally received orders to Grafenwoehr. “I was originally going to Italy, but when they cut my orders, they said Graf [Grafenwoehr],” Zolman said. “I knew my mom was here, so it was much better. And now we just live a block away from each other.” “Same neighborhood,” Godwin beams. “I get to see my grandson.”

Janet Godwin, right, and her daughter, Tatiana Zolman, are both U.S. Army sergeants stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany. They are originally from Colombia and only lived one year in the United States before deciding to join the military in early 2009. They enlisted one week apart. Photo Credit: Jackie Pennoyer, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs

A great retirement? Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve earned it. The nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first military retirement community has provided more than 50 years of service to those who experienced the unique life of the military family. Knollwood was built on the cornerstones of personal attention, superior care and camaraderie, values that have withstood the test of time. Our affordable Continuing Care Retirement Community features modern independent living and independent living plus apartments that range in size from 500 to 2,700 sq. ft., assisted living apartments, skilled nursing and memory care. Outings to events and cultural venues, such as the Kennedy Center and National Mall, frequent daily trips to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and a committed activity staff enrich the lives of residents. Knollwood, situated on a 16-acre campus in Rock Creek Park, is convenient to all Washington, D.C., has to offer. Our active and friendly community is the perfect place to learn a new skill, exercise your body and mind, pursue a favorite hobby or just relax with friends and visit with family.

Now is the time to enjoy it at Knollwood. To schedule your private tour, or to join us for lunch of dinner, contact the Marketing & Admissions Office at (202) 541-0149 or email marketing@armydistaff.org

Ask about our new Independent Living Plus option! 6200 Oregon Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20015

ArmyDistaff.org

Knollwood, a Continuing Care Retirement Community, is owned and operated by the Army Distaff Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization committed to providing a safe, permanent home for uniformed officers and family members.

BRIGADIER GENERAL JENNIFER WALTER RETIRES Leaves Legacy of Firsts in Iowa Air National Guard

hile working in the mid1970s as a part-time receptionist at a Sioux City, Iowa, processing plant, Jennifer Walter would often stare up at the sky and watch F-100 fighter jets fly overhead as they approached a nearby airport. After having a number of conversations with a co-worker, whose husband was a National Air Guard member, Walter soon found herself seated at home with her parents and Air Guard recruiters. Come December 2015, Brig. Gen. Jennifer Walter will retire after 40 years of service to the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard. In addition to being the first female to serve as Iowa Air National Guard brigadier general, she was also the first female Iowa Air National Guard group commander, squadron commander and non-medical colonel. Walter has served her country during deployments to Kuwait, Panama, England, Japan and Afghanistan. Among the numerous awards and

decorations she has earned are the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, State of Iowa Commendation Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. “There weren’t too many career opportunities for young women in the mid-‘70s. Nursing, office work, or marriage were basically the main choices. So it was exciting for me to see that there were so many options available with the Air National Guard,” Walter noted, while looking back on her career. “I encountered no problems in the military as a woman and the opportunities proved limitless. It’s been a fantastic experience.” A graduate of Sioux City North High School, Walter first joined the Kansas Air National Guard in 1975. A few months later, she transferred to the Iowa Air National Guard in Des Moines. For 11 years, Walter served as an enlisted airman. After attending Officer Training

BG Walter accepted a general officer flag from Maj Gen Tim Orr, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, during her promotion ceremony. Walter became the first female general officer in the history of the Iowa Air National Guard during the October 2012 event.

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BG Walter earned many awards and decorations including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, State of Iowa Commendation Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

School at the Academy of Military Science she was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant in 1986. “I was blessed to have great bosses and mentors throughout my military career,” said the 58-year-old. “As an E-6, I was encouraged to take officer training and complete my college education. When I enlisted 10-11 years earlier, I never thought about one day achieving the rank of brigadier general.” In 1989, she graduated from Upper Iowa University’s Des Moines Center with a bachelor’s degree in management. In addition, Walter completed Squadron Officer School in 1994, Air Command and Staff College in 2000 and Air War College in 2004. “I probably most enjoyed serving as mission support group commander of the 132nd Fighter Wing. In my opinion, it was one of the best positions a person could ever have,” she reminisced. “I was in seventh heaven. I had several duties when I was colonel at the Wing and the boundless amount of energy was shared by all 1,000 airmen and –women. “Leaving the Wing and the constant interaction with its personnel is what I missed most after joining the Joint Forces Headquarters. At the same time, this position has provided me so many opportunities that I know I would not have otherwise experienced,” closed Walter.

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY Changing Lives One Student at a Time!

Army Col. (Ret.) Jeanne Joachim Blaes, PhD, UIU ‘78 Way back in 1974, I chose to attend Upper Iowa University because a dynamic recruiter came to my relatively large, urban, Long Island, New York, hometown and told me all about this tiny University in rural Iowa that had a great big reputation as an outstanding learning institution. Little could I have known what a profound influence that choice would have on my life! At the UIU Fayette campus, I was inspired and challenged by top-notch instructors and professors to reach my fullest potential. Being the first woman cadet to graduate and be commissioned from the UIU Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program was one of my proudest moments. UIU is where I began my 30-year career as a U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) officer, and where I learned that I could achieve anything that I set my mind to. As an online UIU Adjunct Professor, I would recommend that potential students take that leap and prepare for a mind-expanding relationship with Upper Iowa University. HOOAH! No regrets.

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Army Col. (Ret.) Angie Joseph, UIU ‘82 UIU had a wonderful and caring faculty, who were always available and approachable. Class sizes were smaller than a big university and I think it fostered an environment, which encouraged students to interact and think. In addition, I was a student-athlete (playing softball and tennis), was involved in the Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity, as well as served as a writer/editor for “The Collegian,” the University newspaper. I think it was through those extracurricular activities, I learned to be a leader, manage my time, and develop interpersonal relationship skills. Each of these experiences provided me with a strong foundation that I continued to refine and use throughout my military career and life. Jennifer Walter, UIU ’89 I would not have been able to become a senior leader in the military without my college education from Upper Iowa University. Its accelerated programming allowed me to maintain my employment and raise my family. My UIU education definitely opened a lot of doors for me and provided me skills, which have proven extremely useful throughout my military career. All military members have a number of educational resources available to them at colleges and universities such as Upper Iowa. While serving their country, I encourage each of them to look at the benefits provided to them as they move forward in pursuit of a degree and a career. Education benefits, extensive training, job satisfaction, and the opportunity to serve your country, I wish not only women, but all young people would consider the wide variety of options available in the military.

y l p p A ! y a d to 800-553-4150 www.uiu.edu

Soldier 2020 T

he Army announced its “Soldier 2020” plan, which describes how it will open up all the remaining combat arms career fields to qualified female Soldiers. Part of the plan includes development of genderneutral standards for every military occupational specialty. These new standards will aid leadership in selecting the most qualified Soldiers for any job, regardless of gender. The new gender-neutral standards should be implemented by 2016, according to the Soldier 2020 plan. A precursor to the development of these standards is the Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, review of current standards for each Military Occupational Specialty, or MOS, which has not been done since the 1970s for some career fields. Many of the Army’s standards are outdated. The overhaul of standards will begin with assessing the physical requirements for any person, male or female, to serve in an MOS, and once the revised standard is implemented, that will be the standard for anyone to serve in that MOS.” This will allow the Army to better match the right Soldiers, regardless of whether they are men or women, to jobs that best correspond to their abilities. While the Army moves toward a smaller force, it must still meet the demand to deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars. Managing the available talent pool means maximizing an individual’s ability to A Soldier assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, serve in the Army in an effective and efficient way. carries ammunition cans during a task in the Army’s Physical Demand There’s a misconception that female Soldiers won’t have to meet Study. The task was one of five engineer-specific tasks performed by Soldiers. the same standards as male Soldiers or that standards will be lowered Photo: Staff Sgt. John Couffer, USA for females. The effort of Soldier 2020 is to create one standard to be applied equally across the force. The implementation of new standards will be carried out methodically after conducting needed surveys and developing new policies and procedures. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, the Army’s highest-ranking enlisted Soldier, met with senior noncommissioned officers about the direction the Army is taking as it transitions into the future. “Female Soldiers have bled and died and sacrificed the same as men have for the past 12 years in this long war,” Chandler said. “If they can meet the requirements to be an infantryman or an armored crewman or an engineer or a field artilleryman, then so be it. We’ll be a better Army for it.” “I am extremely excited about this and I look forward to seeing more of our female Soldiers as they take advantage of opportunities in the combat arms,” Chandler said. The Army of the future will require mental agility, teamwork and resilience from all Soldiers, regardless of gender, and the goal is to identify, select and train the best-qualified Soldiers for each job, which ultimately strengthens the Army’s future force.

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LIEUTENANT GENERAL PATRICIA D. HOROHO Army Surgeon General By Rob McIlvaine

Lt. Gen. Horoho speaks to the crowd after getting being named 43rd Army surgeon general. Photo Credit: Rob McIlvaine

t. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho was the first nurse and first woman appointed and approved to become the Army’s 43rd surgeon general. She was nominated to the position by President Barack Obama and was later approved by

the Senate.   “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.”    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

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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 directs the third-largest healthcare system in the United States, behind the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Hospital Corporation of America.    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.    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.

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 Horoho. Photo Credit: Rob McIlvaine

JULIE W. SCHUMACHER

Army Space and Missile Defense Command

Lt. Gen. Mann pins a Senior Executive Service pin onto Julie W. Schumacher, the new director of the SMDC Technical Center. Photo: Carrie E. David (SMDCARSTRAT)

and objectives. While this is her second assignment with the command, the new position comes with a more responsibility and challenges, including providing materials and solutions that are affordable, relevant and sustainable. Additionally, Schumacher will carry a greater leadership role in managing the Center’s workforce. In her role as director of the Technical Center, Schumacher is responsible for managing research, development, and test programs for space, missile defense, cyber, directed energy and related technologies, and also for the management of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in the Marshall Islands. Schumacher previously served as the deputy director for Test for the Missile Defense Agency, where she was responsible for supporting strategic planning, management and execution of the Ballistic Missile Defense System test program including flight and ground testing, and war games and exercises. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a Master of Science in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She has completed the Senior Executive Fellows Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, APEX Senior Executive Service course, the Program Manager’s Course at the Defense Acquisition University, and is Level III-certified in program management, test and evaluation, and systems engineering.

he U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command officially welcomed the Technical Center’s new director with a Senior Executive Service ceremony Nov. 12, 2014. A civilian, Schumacher has been involved in the space and missile business since 1998. Due to her impressive credentials, her exceptional leadership attributes and her leadership, she was an easy selection as the fifth director of the Technical Center. Speaking at her induction, Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, commanding general, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, lauded Schumacher for her great understanding of “very complex issues” as well as her ability to gain consensus and successfully mentor young engineers. In her role as Director of the Technical Center, Schumacher is tasked with taking space and Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, commanding general, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command presents the Senior Executive Service flag to Julie W. Schumacher at the Von Braun III auditorium. Staff Sgt. John Schaefer missile defense technology to is holding the flag. Photo: Carrie E. David (SMDCARSTRAT) the next level and making sure it meets the Warfighters’ needs

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Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tristan Archambault and her AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Archambault is the only female pilot in Task Force Wolfpack of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. Photo: Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler (USFORA)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tristan Archambault Task Force Wolfpack By Vanessa Villarreal, USFOR-A, Public Affairs Office 38

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t 5 feet 4 inches tall, Pilot Tristan Archambault has no problem maneuvering a giant machine that boasts a length of over 50 feet and a cruise speed of 175 mph. It’s what she’s trained to do. And she’s the only female in her unit that does it. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Archambault is the only female pilot in Task Force Wolfpack of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. And her machine is an AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter. All 5.17 tons of it. “I don’t think I feel differently,” she said, of being the only woman pilot. “I think everybody just brought me in ‘close hold’ and it feels we’re more of a team than any one individual.” Archambault, a native of Whitehall, Mich., joined the Army after graduating from Michigan State University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She said she had the flying bug as soon as she got in, but there was a process that she had to follow. First, she attended basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., then Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. Next she served as a signal officer for four years, and completed one tour in Iraq/Kuwait before submitting her packet to revert to an aviation warrant officer. Once selected, in October 2012, she went to Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Ala., then helicopter-over-water survival training a month later. In January 2013, she attended ‘Survival Evasion Resistance Escape’ training, also known as SERE, then started the Apache course eight months later. Ft. Rucker is the same Army Aviation School that the Army’s first female

helicopter pilot, retired Col. Sally Murphy, attended in 1974. “I think that having women in this field is extremely important,” Archambault said. “I think that nobody’s telling us ‘no’ anymore. And so it’s really important for us not to restrict ourselves from things that we want to do in the Army.” As of Fiscal Year 14, women represent about 14 percent of the active Army. And Archambault thinks that yes, since the days of Murphy, women in the military have come a long way. “Absolutely,” she said. “The Army is one of the only organizations that pay women the equal amount as men for the same job. So when you think about it that way, the military is hands above any other organization that’s out there as far as equality. And I think they’re making strides in the right direction as far as getting us in the roles where we were previously restricted because of our gender.” Archambault said she chose Fort Bragg, her home now, so she could go to a line unit and deploy to Afghanistan. So far, she’s been here for six months and has over 450 hours of flight time. Her short term goal is to make pilot in command. “You earn flight time as you get out here,” she said. “Typically, you’d like to make pilot in command between 500 and 700 hours. In total, I have about 460 hours here and a majority of that is combat time because I came straight from flight school to Ft. Bragg and then deployed.” Archambault said there are four tracts for apaches – safety, tactical ops, maintenance test pilot, and instructor pilot. Her long-term goal is to be a maintenance test pilot. And that differs from the type of pilot that she is now.

“When you first get into a unit as a pilot, you basically just fly,” she said. “And for Apaches, you basically fly in the front seat and you do the gunning for the aircraft. Once you make pilot in command of the overall aircraft, you fly in the back seat generally – for the most part. And then you make all of the decisions for the aircraft.” She works the night shift. So a typical evening begins with a preflight then a briefing for the mission. “Then we conduct the mission and come back,” Archambault said. “Typically, the mission doesn’t take up the whole evening so I have additional duties that I take care of during that time. Then the other shift comes on and we close [out the] flight and pull our gear.” Archambault also shared the first time she flew an Apache. “The first day you go out there, all you do is run the engines,” Archambault said. “And because you’re just getting out from this single engine, tiny little news helicopter into this giant war machine, it’s pretty intimidating. I remember I just had this stuck smile on my face. I couldn’t stop smiling. And I was like ‘I finally got here.’ It was one of the best days of my life.” She never forgets that the machine is very powerful. And it’s about making the right decisions and “not letting that go to your head.” “Because it’s a giant ball of mechanical things that work together,” Archambault said. “And at any moment physics is trying to tear it apart. So maintaining it and flying it takes a lot of work – both on the ground and in the air. And also maintaining your knowledge on it. Because there are people who’ve been flying that thing for over 20 years and just because of the advancements

21 S T C E N T U R Y A M E R I C A N M I L I T A R Y W O M E N

Spc. Edie Belk of the 82nd Airborne Division performs checks on a AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Belk is the only female Apache crew chief in the unit. Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler (USFORA)

that they’ve made for that air frame, you’ll never know everything about it. So it’s important to keep studying. Keep in the books. Remember that stuff all of the time. Because, ultimately, it will probably save your life one day.” As for the mechanical side of things, that’s the responsibility of the crew chief. “That’s more her realm,” Archambault said, pointing to Specialist Edie Belk of the 82nd Airborne Division, the only female Apache crew chief in the unit. Belk, a native of Salisbury, N.C., has been in the Army for almost three years. And she joined the Army right out of high school. “This is what I wanted,” she said. “I made a really good score on my ASVAB. Even before I looked at the list I said, ‘I want to work on Apaches.’ Mainly because I really want to fly them.” Belk, who is currently working on her flight packet, knew that having experience on the aircraft first would help her become a pilot in the future, just like 40

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Archambault. Which, she said, makes her feel “pretty awesome.” “Because she’s (Archambault) the only one,” Belk said. “I want to strive to be like her and stand out from the crowd. “ Belk’s job includes daily inspections, plus scheduled and preventative maintenance. In a nutshell, make sure that the aircraft is flyable – plus find and fix anything that will ground it. “There are different inspections that we have to do just to upkeep that aircraft,” Belk said. “And unscheduled maintenance when pilots take it out and break it. We check all of the fluid levels. Make sure there are no parts or screws that come up because whenever the gun shoots it vibrates underneath. If there’s anything leaking, we’ll see that and then find out where it’s coming from and fix it from there.” Belk said she feels at home. And she’s treated “like the little sister of the company.” “It’s like having a pack of big brothers watching over you,” Archambault added.

“Plus it brings out the competitiveness in you, I think. To be stacked against your male peers.” When asked what tips she has for Belk, Archambault said, “It’s attitude more than anything that’s going to get you anywhere – especially in this profession. If you want to do it, do it. And don’t put it off. I don’t think the Apache is ever going away. It’s the one that everybody calls when they need help. That and MedEvac.” And, as women, they’re not put under a microscope – to fail or succeed. “I don’t think [there is],” Belk said. “I feel it’s just the same. [Men] have the same expectations for me. I should be able to do everything – and they should be able to do everything I can. We’re expected to do the same quality of work on that aircraft.” “The same microscope basically,” Archambault said. “They’re looking at you the same as they’re looking at everybody else. And the standards are the same. If you can’t meet them, no matter who you are, then you’re out.”

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LIEUTENANT GENERAL FLORA DARPINO 39th Judge Advocate General United States Army By J.D. Leipold

or the first time in the 236-year-old history of the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, or JAG, a woman has been selected as the service’s top lawyer. She will lead the nearly 2,000 full-time judge advocates and civilian attorneys who provide legal services to the Army. In a ceremony Sept. 4, 2013, at the Pentagon, in Arlington, Va., Brig. Gen. Flora D. Darpino’s shoulder boards where switched out from those of a one-star general to those of a three-star lieutenant general. Her husband, mother and two daughters did the honors. Moments later, she raised her right hand and was sworn in as the 39th Army Judge Advocate General by Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno. Odierno opened the ceremony by telling the standing-roomonly audience that he’s known Darpino for 12 years and that she had served as his staff judge advocate at the 4th Infantry Division. “It was during that time I got to understand who Flora Darpino is,” Odierno said. “She is a brilliant, dedicated, tough judge advocate general who understands the law, understands how to support commanders, understands how to use her responsibility in interpreting the law to ensure we can do our job in the right way ... that’s all you can ever ask of your judge advocate general. She has incredible judgment, she gives incredible advice and she will do it at the right time, so I’m very pleased.” Following her promotion and swearing in, Darpino thanked the senior leadership, peers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers who guided her through the Army and made her a better Soldier. 42

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“When I came into the Army and throughout all that time, there’s been demonstrated commitment that if I worked hard, and I gave it my very, very best, no opportunity would be withheld from me,” the 26-year veteran said. “That’s been a commitment of my Army ... an incredible institution. We are brothers and sisters. And, instead of your peers wanting to tear you down in a competitive meritocracy, they have continued to make me better and help me on my path; so thank you my buddies.” The Army JAG Corps was founded by George Washington, July 29, 1775. The corps was initially composed of Army officers who were lawyers and could provide legal services to the Army at all levels of command. Today, the corps consists of judge advocates, legal administrators, paralegal non commissioned officers, along with junior enlisted personnel and civilian employees. Lieutenant General Darpino graduated with a B.A. from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, and received her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law–Camden in Camden, New Jersey, in 1986. She later received an LL.M. in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General’s School. She is a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bars. Lieutenant General Darpino received a direct commission into the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps in January 1987. Her first assignment was to VII Corps in Stuttgart, Germany, where she was a Trial Defense Counsel and Chief of the Civil Law Division. She was later the Training Officer and Assistant Operations Officer for the U.S. Army Trial Defense Service; Litigation Attorney, Litigation Division, U.S. Army Legal Services Agency; Chief, Administrative Law, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Assistant Executive Officer, Office of The Judge Advocate General; Chief, Judge Advocate Recruiting Office; Staff Judge Advocate, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas and Tikrit, Iraq; Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, III Corps at Fort Hood; Chief, Criminal Law Division, OTJAG; Staff Judge Advocate, V Corps, in Heidelberg, Germany; and Staff Judge Advocate, United States Forces – Iraq, in Baghdad, Iraq. She served as the Commander of the United States Army Legal Services Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and as the Commander of the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School. Lieutenant General Darpino’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Iraqi Campaign Medal. Lieutenant General Darpino has also earned the Air Assault Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

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MAJOR GENERAL NADJA WEST Joint Staff Surgeon The Pentagon

ajor General Nadja West holds the distinction of being the first AfricanAmerican female major general of the Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s active component, as well as being the Army Medicineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first African-American female two-star general. Presently, Major General West is the Joint Staff Surgeon, at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. She serves as the chief medical advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, providing advice to the Chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Combatant Commanders. She coordinates all issues related to Health Services to include operational medicine, force health protection, and readiness among the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Services. Major General West is a graduate from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. She attended the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D. C., where she earned a Doctorate of Medicine Degree. She completed her internship and residency in Family Medicine at Martin Army Hospital, Fort Benning, Ga. During this assignment she deployed with the 197th Infantry Brigade, 24th Infantry Division during Operation Desert Shield and was attached to the 2/69th Armored Battalion during Desert Storm. She then served at Blanchfield Army Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY as a staff family physician and then the Officer in Charge of

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the Aviation Medicine Clinic. While there she also participated in a medical mission with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Major General West completed a second residency in dermatology at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center and the University of Colorado Medical Center in Denver, Colo. She was then assigned as the Chief, Dermatology Service at Heidelberg Army Hospital in Germany. In her following assignment, she served as the Division Surgeon of the 1st Armored Division, Bad Kreuznach, Germany; deploying to the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo as the Deputy Task Force Surgeon. She was then assigned as Chief, Department of Medicine and the Dermatology Service at 121st General Hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Maj. Gen. West then commanded McDonald Army Community Hospital, Fort Eustis, Va. Other assignments include Deputy Commander for Integration at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), Bethesda, Md. where she became the first Army Officer to join the leadership team at NNMC. She then served as the J-3, Director of Operations for Joint Task Force, National Capital Regional, Medical. Following this assignment MG West commanded Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, N.C. and went on to be the Commanding General, Europe Regional Medical Command. Prior to her current assignment, Maj. Gen. West served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G1/4/6, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, Va. Major General West completed the AMEDD Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Flight Surgeon Course and the Command and General Staff College. She graduated from the National War College, in Washington, D.C., earning a Master of Science in National Security Strategy. Her awards and decorations include the Combat Medical Badge, the Flight Surgeon Crewmember Badge, the United States Army Parachutist Badge, the United States Army Air Assault Badge, the German Armed Forces Bronze Eagle, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the NATO Medal, and various campaign medals. She is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Family Practice.

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Spc. Tinita Taylor Tabbed Jungle Expert By Sgt. Brian C. Erickson

Spc. Tinita Taylor, receives her Jungle Expert tab from Capt. Robert J. Conway, commander, C. Co., 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, 25th ID during a Jungle Operations Training Course graduation ceremony, on June 2, 2014. Photo: Sgt. Brian C. Erickson, USA

female Soldier from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, became the first female to complete the Jungle Operations Training Course as an infantryman when she graduated from the course. The Jungle Operations Training Course in Hawaii is an old Army school that has only recently been resurrected. The US Pacific Command has set their sights on reclaiming their specialty of jungle warfare. Unlike recent theaters of combat in which vision, communications, and aerial ISR assets go mostly unrestricted over great expanses, dense jungle canopy is a completely different environment, calling for equally 46

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different tactics. The Army is wasting no time in becoming a well-rounded fighting force with the ability to deploy anywhere and be ready for anything. “I wanted to prove to the men that I can do what they can do,” said Spc. Tinita Taylor, a signal support systems specialist, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd BCT.   Completing the course was not an easy task for her. According to Taylor, the mental tasks were the hardest to overcome.   “I had to keep reminding myself ‘mind over matter’; my head and body had to work together to finish this,” said Taylor.   “My body held up, but telling

myself I can do it is what I needed to do,” she continued.  The Caruthersville, Mo., native said she got her drive from wanting to be one of her childhood role models.   “By completing this course, I feel I am halfway to being that warrior princess I want to be,” said Taylor.  Enduring the course opened Taylor’s eyes to what infantrymen do, and she found a new respect for them. Training included rope-assisted movement techniques; field-expedient communication methods; jungle-specific medical training and patrolling tactics; and a multiple-day, live-fire training exercise. In the Army for just three years, this accomplishment really makes those around her see what she is able to accomplish in such a short time, none other than her first line supervisor. “She is an outstanding go-getter, rising to the occasion every time she is needed to step up,” said Sgt. Wayne Murray, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd BCT.   Graduating from jungle school is just the beginning of what Taylor has in mind to add to her list of accomplishments. Next up is Air Assault, which she plans on attending later this year, and then it is on to Pre-Ranger and Ranger School. “My next goal is to be the first female Soldier to complete Ranger School,” said Taylor.

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1st Lt. Shaye Haver, left, traverses an obstacle during the Ranger Assessment held at Fort Carson. Photo: Sgt. Eric J Glassey (4th ID), USA

Female Soldiers Conquer Army Ranger Course By Fort Benning Public Affairs

he U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence announced the names of 96 graduates of the Ranger Course in August 2015. Ninety-four men and two women met the standards of the Swamp Phase to earn the coveted Ranger Tab. First Lieutenant Kristen Griest and Captain Shaye Haver have earned their place in history. Not only are they the first women to complete the Ranger Course, they have also created a new path on which other female soldiers now have the opportunity to follow. During its 65-year history, Ranger School has been an experience open only to male soldiers. With the policy changes of 2012 in which many combat roles once closed to women are opening, attending the Ranger School is now among those new gender-neutral opportunities. Ranger School is the Army’s premier combat leadership course, teaching Ranger students how to overcome fatigue, hunger and stress to lead Soldiers during small unit combat operations. The Ranger Course is a 62-day course on leadership and small unit tactics, which pushes Ranger students to their mental and physical limits by forcing them to operate on minimal food and sleep. Approximately 34 percent of students who enter Ranger School recycle at least one phase of the course, adding to the student’s physical and mental fatigue. Male and female Ranger students completed the phases of Ranger School and have proven 48

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their determination, physical stamina, and mental toughness to succeed. All have earned the right to wear the Ranger Tab. Army Secretary John M. McHugh was among the first to officially address the graduates on their success; “Congratulations to all of the new Rangers. Each Ranger School graduate has shown the physical and mental toughness to successfully lead organizations at any level. This course has proven that every Soldier, regardless of gender, can achieve his or her full potential. We owe Soldiers the opportunity to serve successfully in any position where they are qualified and capable, and we continue to look for ways to select, train, and retain the best Soldiers to meet our nation’s needs.” During the course, students learn how to operate in three different environments: woodlands in Fort Benning, mountainous terrain in Dahlonega, Georgia, and coastal swamp in Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Highlights of the course include a physical fitness test consisting of 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, a five-mile run in 40 minutes, and six chin-ups; a swim test; a land navigation test; a 12-mile foot march in three hours; several obstacle courses; four days of military mountaineering; three parachute jumps; four air assaults on helicopters; multiple rubber boat movements; and 27 days of mock combat patrols. Approximately 165 men and two women began the challenging training in the coastal swamps of Eglin Air Force Base, Aug. 1, 2015.

Nineteen women and 381 men started Ranger Class 06-15 on April 20, 2015. Eight women successfully completed RAP week; however, all were recycled into Ranger Class 07-15 as Darby inserts for a second attempt at patrolling. After the second Darby Phase attempt, five were dropped from the course and three were given a day one recycle into Ranger Class 08-15, starting the course again June 21. These three women successfully met the standards of the Benning Phase and

Soldiers participate in rappel training during the Ranger Course on Camp Merrill in Dahlonega, Ga., July 12, 2015. Photo: Pfc. Yvette Zabala-Garriga, USA

Soldiers conduct Airborne and Air Assault Operations during the Ranger Course at Camp Rudder on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 6, 2015. Photo: Staff Sgt. Scott Brooks, USA

Capt. Kristen Griest (left) and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver (right) became the first female soldiers ever to graduate from Ranger School. Photos: Spec. Nikayla Shodeen and Pfc. Ebony Banks, USA

Army Ranger students, including Capt. Kristen Griest, climb Mount Yonah during phase two of the course in northern Georgia. Photo: Staff Sgt. Scott Brooks, USA

moved on to the Mountain Phase, July 10. All three women passed the knot test, military mountaineering skills assessment, the foot movement up Mount Yonah, and were given opportunities to lead patrols. One woman recycled into Ranger Class 09-15 to start the Mountain Phase again, Aug. 9. Griest and Haver each received a passing grade in the mountains during platoon level combat patrols and moved on to the Swamp Phase, Aug. 1. The two women also met the standards of the Swamp Phase, proficiently leading waterborne platoon level combat patrols and will earn the Ranger Tab, Aug. 21, 2015. 21 S T C E N T U R Y A M E R I C A N M I L I T A R Y W O M E N

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Captain Tara Robertson Completes Bradley Commanders Certification Course By Chief Warrant Officer Nicholas Atwood While on Patrol at her last deployment to Afghanistan, Robertson put her skills and knowledge as a soldier up to the test. She was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for her service.

apt. Tara Robertson may be accustomed to the idea of being a pioneer, but it is not how she chooses to describe her service in the Army National Guard. When asked, she is obviously uncomfortable with the idea – “I’m a Soldier just like everyone else.” That may be a true statement, but it’s more than noteworthy that she became the distinguished honor graduate of the Bradley Commanders Certification Course (BC3), a combat arms centric course historically attended only by men. Taught by the instructors of the 117th Regional Training Institute (RTI), Tennessee Army National Guard, BC3 is a two-week resident course that is technically intensive and designed to reinforce Bradley Gunnery Training. The 52

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course provides our fighting force with confident Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) crew members who display developed and sustained tactical skills which allow them increased survivability, efficient and effective maneuver and engagement of threats on the battlefield. Soldiers who attend BC3 can be a member of any of the Army’s three components (i.e. AA, ARNG, or USAR). Members must be assigned to positions of BFV gunner or BFV commander as a matter of priority. That is the specific focus of the training. A second priority, as in Robertson’s case, is afforded to commanders with BFVs as part of their unit’s equipment inventory. She commands a combat engineer company with newly assigned BFVs. The course awards an additional skill identifier (ASI) of 3X for officers and B9 for all enlisted Soldiers.

“There’s a lot of heavy lifting involved in this course and you have to be really physically fit in order to complete a lot of the tasks that are associated with operating this vehicle,” said Robertson. One of the tasks she is referring to is operating the 25 mm gun, or 25 “MikeMike” as it is affectionately known by all the students. While BC3 is a short course, a great amount of tasks and lessons are jammed into the two-week duration. Week one is marked by classroom instruction on topics such as range operations, fratricide avoidance, ammo ID, send/receive a digital SPOTREP, bore sight weapons on the BFV, and training on the 25 mm gun. By week’s end, all students have had an opportunity to practice the tasks taught to this point which will prepare them for the Gunnery Skills Test Live Fire, the culminating event of week two.

Capt. Tara Robertson recently took command of the Minnesota National Guard’s 849th Mobility Augmentation Company, the first female to command the formerly all-male unit.

No course in today’s Army would be complete without the use of virtual simulation. Week two begins with time in the Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT). A system of computer-driven combat vehicle multi-scale simulators, CCTT provides the students with training from the viewpoint of one mounted crew on the BFV. With nearly endless scenarios and mission sets in the virtual realm, the students begin to get a feel for the capability of the machine and how it is employed on the battlefield, all the while under careful observation of certified master gunner instructors. Wrapping up week two, everyone heads to Range 28 at Fort Campbell to conduct BFV Live Fire, and that is what everyone has looked forward to since the beginning. Many Americans are familiar with the challenges young women face in the Army as more opportunities become available for them to serve in war-fighting positions historically occupied by men. It is a multifaceted challenge where doors must 54

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first be opened and then one must walk through them. The dictionary defines a pioneer as “one who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle.”

Robertson is the First Female to Complete Bradley Commanders Certification Course.

Most will consider themselves familiar with that definition, but according to Robertson, “that’s an interesting word.” She goes on to say, “I think it’s an incredible opportunity to be the first to do something ... I know that there are many females that, had they been given an opportunity to do the same things that I’ve been able to do, they would’ve done it.” For those who aspire to follow in her footsteps, Robertson has a few words of advice. “If you know you can do the job ... then you have to be willing to put in the extra effort to prove that you can. Absolutely go for it!” One final word of encouragement from Robertson speaks to the essence of leadership, “I’ve had a lot of great mentors throughout my career and, I’m looking forward to being able to provide that now and in return for my subordinates in the future in young female officers and female Soldiers that are just now entering into positions that they were never afforded entry in the past.” A fitting culmination for an officer, a Soldier, and a leader who has demonstrated, most convincingly, that action’s speak louder than words.

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Sailor Creates

PASS Program

By Terrina Weatherspoon, Defense Media Activity

hief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Gloriana Jensen, Naval Information Operations Command, Hawaii had a dilemma. As one of the only senior females on the watch floor, and as the mother of two, she seemed to be bombarded with Sailors seeking pregnancy and parenting advice. Jensen knew she had to organize a more formal way for Sailors to get their information. That’s when she developed the Parent and Sailor Support (PASS) program. When there are questions about body composition assessment (BCA) waivers, they are referred to the Command Fitness Leader; when questions arise about Time in Rate, there is an Educational Services Office, said Jensen. But when a Sailor has questions about starting a family, taking care of a sick child, where to find quality day care or finding a sitter, who do they have to talk to? That’s where the PASS program comes in. “I began PASS because I could no longer be the single point of contact,” said Jensen. “I could help a Sailor out with the information he or she needed, but if I was busy, that Sailor would be left to tread water until I found time to throw another life raft. I also became very disillusioned by how many females felt like starting a family meant saying goodbye to their naval career. I wanted them to know they can balance it all. If a Sailor still chooses to separate, let it be because she wants to, not because she lacked the support and the knowledge to have both a career and a child.” “Before PASS was created I would, and still, constantly go to Chief Jensen regarding maternity issues within the Navy and just everyday questions,” said Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 3rd Class Casey Thigpen. “She noticed a lot of people were confused about guidance issues and that the Nursing Mother’s program at our building wasn’t getting a lot of support so she came to me with the idea of starting PASS.” During the planning phase, Jensen came across a Command Advisor on Pregnancy and Parenthood (CAPP) position on the Navy Personnel Command website. The primary responsibility of the CAPP is to ensure pregnant servicewomen, and servicemen who are expectant fathers, receive proper counseling and guidance in order for the service member to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the opportunities afforded to them as parents in the Navy in order to successfully balance the demands of a naval career with their family plans and responsibilities. “I read the description and thought, ‘Why don’t we have one of those?’ I knew my PASS program would work as a tool for the CAPP. I spoke to our CMC and dreams turned into reality,” said Jensen. “I’ll have my own time slot in our command indoctrination to brief CAPP and my PASS meetings.

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Peer mentoring is Jensen’s real goal with PASS. Suicidal Ideations, DUIs, domestic disputes, depression and other challenges facing leadership were areas where Jensen felt more could be done. “My answer was peer mentorship,” said Jensen. “Offer a place, twice a month, for people with similar interests to get together and ask the questions they need to ask. It’s not therapy nor is it ‘let’s complain to Chief and see what she’ll do about it.’ Instead it is simply a way to introduce Sailors to others who are going through the same thing. Forge friendships, build trust, improve morale, and most of all have members figure out their own answer to their questions based on peer interaction and mentorship.” Jensen said so far the groups have been a success. “I feel like we are making a real difference in the lives of Sailors,” said Jensen. “It’s unfortunate having to walk someone through a divorce or single parenthood but I’m happy to be an avenue of support. I tell them all that I’m not there to provide therapy, legal advice, or take the place of their chain of command. PASS is there so that they know they are not alone.” “For me, this group has been really helpful,” said Thigpen. “When you have your first child it somewhat seems like you’re the only one going through it all. It’s nice to have a group of women and men who are going through the same situation as you. Being in the Navy is especially hard because we don’t have the luxury of just quitting. Chief Jensen has been super helpful because at our command a lot is unknown regarding regulations and she’s been super helpful with filling that knowledge gap.” “One Sailor told me that her maternity uniform allowance request was kicked back because her Leading Petty Officer (LPO) told her there was no such thing,” said Jensen. “Another Sailor had her convalescent leave chit kicked back by her LPO because she didn’t have enough leave on the books. This training isn’t just for the Sailors; it’s for the leadership too.” During one command indoctrination, Jensen gave the CAPP presentation from the NPC website to a group of all males, said Jensen. “They were wondering how the information applied to them,” said Jensen. “However, they are my target audience too. Because one day they will have kids or be in charge of a pregnant Sailor and they need to know the regulations too instead of sending their Sailors to someone else for an answer. I went over the instruction and what women are allowed to do and so on and most of them were taking notes. This program is for everyone.” “That’s about it,” said Jensen. “Some of the guys rolled their eyes at me and called me a ‘hugger’ when I first started PASS. But now those same guys call me up when they have Sailors who need help. Funny how that worked out.”

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Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Michelle Howard gives the keynote address during a commencement ceremony at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. Photo: Cmdr. Scott D. McIlnay, USN

Adm. Michelle Howard Commencement Speech

ice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Michelle Howard encouraged more than 1,600 graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to embrace their inner “Engineer” at the school’s 209th commencement ceremony. “Whether or not you ever work as an engineer, remember this from your time at RPI,” she said. “Embracing your inner engineer means that you will always learn, you will never lose your love of discovery, and you will always be ready to roll-up your sleeves for hard work”. RPI is the nation’s oldest technological research university. The school was founded in 1824 by a member of the House of Representatives for New York’s 10th District Stephen Van Rensselaer III and educator and scientist Amos Eaton. The school’s mascot is “the Engineer.” Howard lauded RPI for giving the graduates “structure, discipline, and focus” and charged the graduates to “give back to RPI and the country. Give back to your communities in modernization, transformation and innovation,” she said. She concluded with a challenge to the assembled graduates to use what they have learned and the relationships they have built to tackle the world’s greatest problems. “Embrace your inner engineer to find what makes you feel alive and makes you wake up happy to start the day,” said Howard. “Use this passion and turn it into goodness for all of humankind. We need RPI graduates for our most challenging problems. Wherever you go, there will be others who have embraced their 58

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inner engineer. Connect with your fellow professionals because their backgrounds and experiences amplify success.” When ADM Howard began her military career in 1982, as a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, no one could have predicted just how successful this dynamic young woman would become. Howard currently serves as the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Prior to this position, she served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5). Howard has achieved many historical firsts throughout her naval career. She was the first African-American woman to achieve three star rank and four star rank in the U.S. Armed Forces as well as being the first woman and African-American woman to achieve the rank of Admiral in the Navy. She was the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Rushmore. In 2006, she was selected for the rank of rear admiral (lower half ), making her the first admiral selected from the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1982 and the first female graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy selected for flag rank. On July 1, 2014, Howard became the first woman and the first African-American woman to become a four-star admiral. As Vice Chief of Naval Operations, which she began that same day, she is the first African-American and the first woman to hold that post. Howard graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1982 and from the Army’s Command and General Staff College in 1998, with a Masters in Military Arts and Sciences.

Ingenuity Always Advances. We applaud the advances military women have made to protect our country over the years. At SAIC, we also honor our women veteran employees who have helped us deliver the right integration solutions to move our customers forward.

A GOOD FIT FOR VETERANS by Kathryn J. Bold, Senior Director, Communications, SAIC

cience Applications International Corp. (SAIC), a technology integrator that supports the federal government, demonstrates

its commitment to veterans in many ways: by providing good jobs to veterans

Barbara McNeal, who retired from the Army in 2012 as a sergeant first class, supports SAIC’s contract to upgrade the Marine Corps’ Assault Amphibious Vehicle as well as the company’s integration of a new prototype vehicle known as the TERREX 2.

who want to continue their service in new ways; by offering an employee resource group specifically for service members; and by supporting military communities through its philanthropic and corporate citizenship initiatives. Kimberly Admire, SAIC’s chief human resources officer, is proud of what the company does for veterans. “Veterans make up more than 25 percent of our

service members, veterans, and their

honored women veterans during a

them an engaging and rewarding career

families. In addition, SAIC employees

game and donated $25,000 to the

experience at SAIC,” Admire said.

have donated thousands of volunteer

Women in Military Service for America

“Our Military Alliance Group provides

hours to these organizations and others

Memorial Foundation, which funds a

networking opportunities for veterans and

that benefit military.

memorial to women veterans at Arlington

workforce, and we strive to provide

helps acclimate recently separated service members to life in the civilian world.”

“We are proud to support so many organizations and their remarkable

National Cemetery.

programs that are making a difference

A GOOD FIT FOR VETERANS

initiatives directly and indirectly benefit

in the lives of our service members,”

SAIC prides itself in its highly ethical

active duty service members and

said Heather Earhart, SAIC citizenship

culture and core values of integrity,

veterans inside and outside of SAIC. Over

manager. “SAIC and its employees are

mission understanding, empowerment,

the past two years, since SAIC launched

honored to serve those who have given

and creativity. This makes the company

as a new company separate from its

and sacrificed so much for our country.”

a good fit for men and women who are

SAIC’s philanthropic and citizenship

former parent, SAIC has made sizeable

SAIC also sponsors the Patriotic

leaving military service but want to continue to support national security.

donations to The Mission Continues,

Series with the Washington Nationals,

Operation Homefront, the Tragedy

the Major League Baseball team in

Assistance Program for Survivors, and

Washington, D.C. The series includes

in Charleston, South Carolina, and

the USO of Metropolitan Washington-

four games that honor the military. On

Lacey Ainsworth, a project manager

Baltimore. These organizations support

Memorial Day weekend 2015, SAIC

based out of Austin, Texas, SAIC has

N O V E M B E R 2 01 5

For Barbara McNeal, a task lead

provided meaningful opportunities to stay connected to military missions. McNeal, who retired as a sergeant first class in 2012 after 25 years of service in the Army, joined SAIC as a material coordinator lead in the spring of 2015 to support a survivability upgrade to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV). “I feel like I am still giving something back,” said McNeal, who deployed twice to Iraq to provide transportation and logistics support. “I supported the first Stryker Brigade out of Fort Lewis, Washington [now Joint Base LewisMcChord]. I love being part of another project from the ground up.” McNeal’s primary missions are to manage the shipping and receiving of parts and to plan where the AAVs need to be to accomplish the many aspects of the upgrade, which include improved

Lacey Ainsworth, center, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and SAIC project manager, leads a video and photography shoot in support of marketing and advertising campaign for the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

armor, new transmissions, improved suspension, new water jets, blastresistant seats, and upgraded vehicle control and instrumentation. “I am proud to be a part of this project because I know we’re doing great and wonderful things for the Marine Corps,” McNeal said. McNeal joined the military in 1987 to help our country. During her service, she earned a bachelor’s degree through

more than going to class,” Ainsworth

communications and training projects

said. “I wanted an opportunity to serve.”

on topics such as suicide prevention,

“They took a very impressionable,

sexual assault prevention and response,

starry-eyed kid and taught me what it

and resilience. SAIC supported her

means to be a leader,” said Ainsworth,

reassignment and career growth. As part

who is using her leadership skills at SAIC

of the communications program, she now

in support of strategic communications

manages a marketing and advertising

and training projects for the U.S. Navy

contract in support of U.S. Marine Corps

and Marine Corps.

Forces Special Operations Command.

Upon leaving service, Ainsworth

online Grantham University. In retirement,

immediately joined SAIC after learning of

she earned her project management

a position through the company’s network

certification and is working on a masters

of Marines. When she initially joined

in human performance technology,

SAIC, she helped manage a logistics

both of which benefit McNeal, SAIC’s

and support contract. “This was a great

customers, and the company.

entry into the civilian world,” Ainsworth

FROM MARINE OFFICER TO PROJECT MANAGER

“It is exciting to work with Marines who are passionate about bringing Marine Corps tradition into the special operations community,” Ainsworth said. Ainsworth has been able to achieve a great work-life balance at SAIC because of the generous telework policy. She lives

said. “I was working with a lot of other

in Texas and supports her customer in

veteran Marines.” Ainsworth said SAIC’s strong ethical

North Carolina. “This allows me, after

Lacey Ainsworth took a different path

culture appealed to her. “This was

years in the military, to choose where

to SAIC but has found her career at the

important to me as a military person,

I live and be close to my family,” said

company equally rewarding.

particularly coming out of the Marine

Ainsworth, who is actively involved with

Corps, which has a very high standard of

the Joyful Horse Project, based near

U.S. Naval Academy in 2005, achieved

ethics,” she said. “SAIC doesn’t just talk

Austin, which provides equine therapy to

the rank of captain in the Marine Corps

the talk. The company really maintains a

veterans and their families.

before leaving active duty in 2009. “I

commitment to ethics.”

Ainsworth, who graduated from the

chose the Naval Academy because I wanted an experience that was about

“I get to combine my two passions:

After a few years at SAIC, Ainsworth learned of a program that supports

caring about veterans and horses.” Ainsworth said.

21 S T C E N T U R Y A M E R I C A N M I L I T A R Y W O M E N

Rear Admiral Alvarado with her husband Kieran J. Shanahan.

REAR ADMIRAL CHRISTINA M. “TINA” ALVARADO Deputy Commander, Navy Medicine East

ear Admiral Christina M. “Tina” Alvarado began her Navy Reserve career as a direct commissioned officer and attended school at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. She was called to active duty from 1990 to 1991 in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and served 62

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in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. In January 2002, she was again called to active duty in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. RADM Alavardo has held a variety of leadership positions including officer in charge, executive officer, administrative

officer and training officer. She served as the executive officer, Operational Health Support Unit Jacksonville, Florida, from 2008 to 2010, and commanding officer of EMF Dallas 1 from 2010 to 2012. RADM Alvarado is a registered nurse and graduate of the Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing, Alexandria, Virginia, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York, and holds a Master of Health Care Administration from the University of North Carolina, School of Public Health. Alvarado has worked in the clinical areas of orthopedics, neurosurgery and intensive care. She became certified in critical care nursing in 1983, and held civilian professional nurse positions at United Hospital, Portchester, New York, Alexandria Hospital and ColumbiaPresbyterian Medical Center. She was the first nurse to command Naval Reserve (NR) Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Dallas 1, a commissioned unit whose mission is expeditionary medicine. She led the transformation of the unit and stood up the first Reserve EMF in 2011. Alvarado’s husband, Kieran J. Shanahan surprised her during a May 2015 ceremony in which it was announced that he had established a scholarship in his wife’s honor. The Rear Admiral Christina M. Alvarado Scholarship will aid students in the College of Allied Health Sciencesą Department of Health Services and Information Management. The scholarship is available to students in the Health Services Management program within the Health Services and Information Management.

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Illustration by Davide Bonazzi

Navy CRF Admits Women to Combat Billets

Sailors assigned to Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2 participate in pre-deployment exercises in a riverine command boat. RIVRON-2 is stationed at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Photo: Mass Comm Spc 1st Class Andre N. McIntyre, USN

he Navy’s Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) operates in harbors, rivers, and bays, across the littorals and ashore. The primary mission of CRF is to conduct maritime security operations across all phases of military operations by defending high value assets, critical maritime infrastructure, ports and harbors both inland and on coastal waterways against enemies, and when commanded conduct offensive combat operations. Until 2014, to qualify for positions in CRF, the first requirement was that you

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needed to be a man. As all the military branches move toward making more ‘maleonly’ opportunities available to women, The Department of the Navy now allows for females to apply as candidates to the training program for CRF. Initially, the Navy opened 267 positions in the Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) for the assignment of women, which included both female officers and enlisted personnel. “Our continuing effort to maximize all professional opportunities for women in the Navy and Marine Corps takes another step with the opening the Coastal

Riverine Force to female officers and Sailors,” said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. “We consistently strive to ensure all Sailors and Marines, regardless of gender, have a path toward a successful military career. This not only makes us better warfighters, but it ensures our Navy and Marine Corps remains the finest expeditionary fighting force in the world.” With the opening of these billets to females, the only remaining community that is still closed to women is Special Warfare – an issue Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the Navy continues to work on together.

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Brittney Hellwig, far right, a student in the Riverine Combat Skills course (RCS) observes as her classmates approximate the distance from their targets during the range estimations portion of a field training exercise in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Photo: Mass Comm Spc Seaman Heather M. Paape USN

Chief Engineman Patricia Cooper, a student in the Riverine Combat Skills course (RCS), patrols the training grounds during a field training exercise in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Photo: Mass Comm Spc Seaman Heather M. Paape USN

Thirteen women have been identified as the first candidates for the newly opened positions. Since last fall, nine enlisted women have been administratively assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 2, Delta Company, 1st Platoon, located in Portsmouth, Va. The administrative assignment was done to assist with management of the training cycle, in anticipation of Secretary of Defense and Congressional approval to open previously excluded billets to women. CRS-2 will be the first unit in the CRF to assign women to boats capable of the Riverine mission.

The nine women in CRS-2 have completed the required training, have been screened for the billets, and all nine have been awarded their Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC). The end of the congressional notification period clears the way for these women to deploy with their squadron and potentially be assigned as crewmembers on boats. There are two other active component squadrons with the same mission: Coastal Riverine Squadron Four in Virginia Beach, Va., and Coastal Riverine Squadron Three, in San Diego. This class is the first RCS training

group composed of Coastal Riverine Force (CORIVFOR) Sailors and the first to incorporate women into the course. RCS is a five-week class that teaches CORIVFOR Sailors combat skills, weapons fundamentals and equipment, land navigation, urban operations, offensive and defensive patrolling, and communications. With the complex and intense training required of Coastal Riverine Sailors, and in preparation for the lifting of the women in combat exclusion, both Squadrons are implementing plans to incorporate women into squadrons capable of the Riverine mission as soon as feasible.

21 S T C E N T U R Y A M E R I C A N M I L I T A R Y W O M E N

Minnesota (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries/Released)

First Women to Serve Aboard Navy Fast-Attack Submarines Courtesy Navy.mil

he first three female officers assigned to the USS Minnesota reported to the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine in January 2015. Of the three, one is a supply corps officer, which means she handles supply and logistic services for the Navy and therefore is not exclusive to the submarine community. The other two are submariner officers. They are among the first women to serve aboard a Navy fastattack submarine, with three more female officers expected to join the crews during 2015. Additionally, three more female officers joined the USS Virginia in the spring of 2015, in an effort to fulfill the first goals of integrating women into more roles that were once only meant for men. Integration of Virginia-class submarines comes three years into the Navy’s effort to gradually bring female officers and enlisted into its undersea service. Female officers first came aboard Ohio-class submarines in late 2011. As of the summer of 2014, more than 60 women were serving in 14 submarines. Submarines were one of the few remaining areas of military service off-limits to women when the Navy lifted its prohibition in 2010. Three years later, the Pentagon removed the militarywide ban on women in combat units and required gender integration plans from each of the services.

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The Navy’s 10 Virginia-class fast-attack submarines are armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and designed to conduct surveillance, seek out and destroy other submarines and carry special operations forces. They are smaller and have tighter quarters than Ohio-class submarines, the designation for ballistic missile and guided-missile boats. Fifteen officers typically make up the wardroom in both classes. The plan to bring the six female officers aboard Virginiaclass submarines was announced in 2013 by Vice Adm. Michael Connor, commander of Navy submarine forces. Two of the women were to be supply officers, with the other four nuclear trained. Submarine officers must first go through an intensive 18-month training. The Navy says it will open positions for enlisted women on some Ohio-class submarines in 2016 and for several Virginiaclass subs in 2020, with all future submarines will be designed for integrated crews. The Navy’s integration plans call for women to make up 20 percent of the enlisted crews on already-integrated Ohio-class submarines by 2020. Connor, the submarine force commander, has said two more fast-attack subs will be integrated next fiscal year, this time in the Pacific.

Proud to serve veterans, their survivors and dependents

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Cmdr. (Ret) Beth Coye, right, pins the dolphins from her father late Rear Adm. John “Jack” S. Coye, a prominent submarine commander in World War II, on Lt. j. g. Laura Martindale, assigned to the ballisticmissile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741). Photo: Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ahron Arendes, USN

Enlisted Women to be added to Submarine Crews in 2016

he Department of the Navy plans to add enlisted women crewmembers to seven Ohioclass submarines starting in 2016 as well as to four Virginia-class attack submarines beginning in 2020. In just the next step of the process of integration that began a number of years ago, the Navy is moving forward in bringing aboard qualified enlisted women to help run their fleets of sophisticated vessels. The Navy’s most recent integration plan was given to Congress on July 18, 2014. In a letter to Vice President Joe Biden, the Department of Defense explained its intention to modify seven Ohio-class submarines and build Virginiaclass submarines to meet “habitability requirements” for crews comprising men and women. The costs of providing separate sleeping quarters for women and adding lavatory signs are minimal compared to shipbuilding costs in general. Due to costs and logistics, the plan will not affect the existing Los Angeles-class submarines, which were neither built nor are easily modified for gender class separation. But the Ohio-class subs are of such a size class that modification to set up separate sleeping quarters for women only and making sure lavatories have proper signage was not difficult, or cost prohibitive.

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force in 2011 after the Navy lifted its ban on women serving aboard submarines in 2010. Female officers began arriving at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton in January 2015 to join the crews of the attack submarines USS Virginia (SSN 774) and the USS Minnesota (SSN 783). The USS Michigan (SSGN 727) is the first submarine that enlisted women would report to in 2016, according to integration plan. Women would be able to serve in all job positions on submarines formerly closed to enlisted women. Opportunities for enlisted women are changing because in 2013 the DOD retracted the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, which excluded women from being assigned “to units below the brigade level whose primary mission was to engage in direct combat on the ground.” The integration plan released to Congress is the result of a 60-person task force led by Rear Adm. Kenneth M. Perry. The panel met for a little more than a year and reviewed questions such as how many enlisted women are interested in serving aboard submarines and what modification would be required.

Building the new Virginia-class attack submarines to accommodate women’s quarters shouldn’t require large design or construction changes either. The integration plan calls for women to make up 20 percent of the enlisted crew of submarines on which female officers are already serving. More than 60 women officers are serving on 14 ballistic missile and guided missile submarine crews. Submarine Group 9 Command Master Chief Rusty Staub Female officers began congratulates Lt. j.g. Amber Cowan, assigned to the Blue crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741), for integrating into the submarine

earning her submarine warfare officer device. Cowan and Lt. j.g. Jennifer Noonan, center, are two of three Sailors to become the first female unrestricted line officers to qualify in submarines. Photo: Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ahron Arendes, USN

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE. BUT FOR OUR VETERANS, TUITION CAN BE. 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 Veteran Success Center centrally located on campus for hands-on assistance, and guidance during your time at UNH

Credit for military experience (evaluated through ACE) and easy transfer of previous college credits A community rich in veteran support agencies, including a regional VA Hospital adjacent to our campus

Located in West Haven, Connecticut, the University of New Haven is a leader in experiential education. We offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business, the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, and the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. You can be assured that we are a veteran friendly university, and that we are excited to welcome you into our student community!

For more information on our veterans’ services please visit us at www.newhaven.edu/AMW, or call: 1-800-342-5864 ext. 2920.

AIR FORCE MAJOR GENERAL REFLECTS ON BGSU, CAREER y

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Maj. Gen. Anita Gallentine visits Air Force ROTC uoy evres ot tnaw ew won ;yrtnuoc ruo devres uoY .noitacude ssalc-dlrow a htiw

r e t a e r g g n i h t e m o s f o t r a p campus a e B were not in ROTC, so I was kidded a lot. It was in the ‘70s, you put the uniform margorp gnirotnem naretev reeP-ot-reeP • on and it was like ‘here comes the geek.’ I noitazinagro tneduts nareteV • guess it made me a little tougher, to try not uoy pleh nac ohw ffats evitroppus dna elbaegdelwonK • to wear my emotions on my sleeve. It made stfieneb AV etagivan me believe in myself a bit more. It made me stneduts naretev fo sesuops eht rof noitazinagro tnestand dutS •a little straighter, dress a little sharper, retneC troppuS snabut reteVnot• be unapproachable, more outgoing. “ Life for female commissioned officers ruoy gnitrop u s1970s was challenging, especially for inpthe n o i s s i m l a n o i ta c u d e entering the munitions field, which women a evah ot yrtnuoc eht ni seitisrevinu owt ylno fohad enOjust • opened to them. supmac-no bal noitagitsevnI lanimirC fo uaeruB“I struggled a bit at first with where ygoloib dna yrtsimehc cisnerof ni seergedIwfiteNin.•I would be with the officers, but margorp noitaivA dednsometimes apxE • I’d want to be with the spouses itpo eergeD eat nilntheir O • social events. I couldn’t, though, hen she was:sanoyoung because I wasn’t a military spouse.” girl insLima, eidutSMaj. larebGen. iL fo rolehcaB • While talking to the cadets, Gallentine ,noitartsinimdA eriF Anita ,ssenisGallentine uB ni ecnewould icS fo rolehcaB • stressed the importance of mentors in the NR( gnisruN ,)CBA-UAwatch ( ygolothe nhcplanes eT & ngfly iseD gninramilitary, eL asked them to keep an open mind )CBA-Uoverhead A( smetsyand S ytdream ilauQ dna )NSBabout ot opportunities they’re presented of seeing the world as a flight attendant. smargorp etaudarg dezingocer yllanoitan ,suand lP •implored them to “seek additional Joining the Air Force ROTC never entered her mind until orientation day at BGSU in 1973. d e m i a l c c a yl l a n o i ta n “The ROTC was giving a briefing and my enizagaM sboJ .I.G yb loohcS yldneirF yratiliM poT • dad, who served in World War II and Korea, y ratime liM to yb go looand hcS listen ssenisto uBwhat etaudthey arG steV rof tseB • convinced had to say,“ Gallentine explained. “The Air egdE semiT lanruodetachment J noitacudE had decnaarelationship vdA yratiliM with yb yldan neirF yratiliM • Force airfield in Michigan that would fly cadets to Colorado and Florida occasionally. I decided that didn’t sound so bad. One year went into two, and then a lifetime.” Gallentine, who lives in Florida, was back on campus for the first time since she graduated in 1977 with a degree in public relations. She u met Mary Ellen d with e . uPresident s g b .w ww Mazey and other administrators, and spoke to BGSU’s Air Force ROTC cadets. Not only did her time in BGSU’s ROTC shape her career, it also molded her character. “The friends I hung out with on

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rof ereh

responsibilities and do more than you’re assigned; every job teaches you something. “I joined ROTC it for two reasons – to please my parents and because it was something different. Same with munitions, nuclear weapons – I know nothing about that; I’m a PR person. But it was my first block of success. I was thrust into a career that didn’t have women in it and it was interesting. Success builds on different things you’ve done in life and it started out at ROTC. Everything has been built on that.” Gallentine’s career has taken her from Alaska to the Pentagon. And as she prepares to retire Nov. 1 after 36 years in the Air Force, she says she will always be proud she wore a uniform. “I got the brass ring – two of them. Hopefully I’ve been able to embody and show the public that you can serve the military, the community and your family and do all three well.”

here for

t a t

You served our country; now we want to serve you with a world-class education. B e a pa r t o f s o m e t h i n g g r e at e r • Peer-to-Peer veteran mentoring program • Veteran student organization • Knowledgeable and supportive staff who can help you navigate VA benefits • Student organization for the spouses of veteran students • Veterans Support Center supporting your e d u c at i o n a l m i s s i o n • One of only two universities in the country to have a Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab on-campus • New degrees in forensic chemistry and biology • Expanded Aviation program • Online Degree options: • Bachelor of Liberal Studies • Bachelor of Science in Business, Fire Administration, Learning Design & Technology (AU-ABC), Nursing (RN to BSN) and Quality Systems (AU-ABC) • Plus, nationally recognized graduate programs n at i o n a l ly a c c l a i m e d • Top Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs Magazine • Best for Vets Graduate Business School by Military Times Edge • Military Friendly by Military Advanced Education Journal

w w w. b g s u . e d u

GENERAL LORI ROBINSON PACAF New Commander

Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

en. Lori Robinson took command of Pacific Air Forces from Gen. Hawk Carlisle Oct. 16, 2014 during a change of command ceremony. Presiding over the ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III expressed confidence in Robinson as the new commander of PACAF. “Gen. Lori Robinson is a phenomenal leader and a proven operator,” Welsh said. “She fully understands what it takes to be successful in this business and has all the tools to take this command to even higher levels of performance.” Robinson is now the first woman to lead a U.S. Air Force component major command. She joins PACAF from her prior position as the vice commander of ACC at Joint Base LangleyEustis, Virginia. During her time there, Robinson oversaw approximately 83,000 active-duty and civilian personnel operating, maintaining and supporting approximately 1,300 aircraft at more than 50 locations worldwide. Upon receiving the PACAF flag from Welsh, Robinson received her first salute as the new PACAF commander and expressed her thanks to the assembled crowd. “Thank you for your trust and confidence in selecting me to lead this critical command at a time when regional and global events pose increasingly serious challenges to the international community and to our own national security,” Robinson said. 72

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Robinson now leads Airmen throughout an area of responsibility that covers more than 100 million square miles that extends from the west coast of the United States to the east coast of Africa and from the Arctic to the Antarctic. During the ceremony, Robinson addressed U.S. Pacific Command commander, Adm. Samuel Locklear, expressing her dedication to bring airpower to command’s joint mission. “As you well know, airpower brings a unique, asymmetric advantage, with speed, range and flexibility to this immense area of responsibility,” she said. “I pledge to be a full-up partner and component commander, providing my best military advice on how airpower and other PACAF capabilities can best serve your priorities.” Lastly, Robinson affirmed her commitment to support PACAF Airmen as they continue to execute the command’s mission. “You are our front-line warriors and diplomats. You and your families are the heart and soul of the command. And you are the reason why the Air Force is indisputably the best Air Force in the world,” Robinson stated. “I pledge to listen to you, and to faithfully represent you.” In October 2014, Robinson became the second woman in Air Force history to rise to the ranks as a four-star General.

Gen. Lori J. Robinson passes the U.S. Forces Japan guidon to Lt. Gen. John L. Dolan, during a change of command ceremony June 5, 2015, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Photo: Airman 1st Class Delano Scott, USAF

GO EMBRY-RIDDLE GO ANYWHERE Six Embry-Riddle grads have become NASA astronauts. Seven more are members of the USAF Thunderbirds. Over 20,000 others fly for the airlines. In all, nearly 120,000 of our alumni have gone on to exceptional careers in aerospace. What does that tell you about how far a degree from Embry-Riddle can take you? Find out where else you can go at ERAU.edu/go See more ERAU alum selfies and share your own at #ERAUgo.

NICOLE STOTT / NASA ASTRONAUT CLASS OF 1987 / BS, AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING #ERAUgo

FLORIDA | ARIZONA | WORLDWIDE

General Ellen Pawlikowski Earns Fourth Star & New Command By Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie

ir Force history has once again been written as Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, military deputy, was promoted to the rank of general, effective June 8, 2015. She is now the third female four-star general in Air Force history. “This is a great day for Ellen and (her) family (and) from my perspective it is a great day for the United States Air Force,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. “(Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James) and I expect an awful lot out of our four-star generals in the Air Force. We expect that they be able to defend the nation. We expect them to protect the institution and we expect them to lead, inspire and nurture the Airmen and families who give our institution life. We are extremely confident that Pawlikowski will do all those things.” Pawlikowski entered the Air Force in 1978 through the ROTC program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and became the first female officer to receive a commission from that program. She went on to attend the University of California at Berkeley, and received a doctorate in chemical engineering in December 1981, and entered the active-duty Air Force in April 1982. Through the guidance and honorable love of her mother, late husband, family, friends and Airmen she has led, Pawlikowski said there are three statements that define her. “In the words of my mother, ‘Just do the best no matter how hard it is, no matter how menial you think it is, just do the best that you can; and never quit,’” Pawlikowski said. “And from my late husband, the message of ‘Do the right thing even when it’s hard’ resonates within me. The career of Pawlikowski has ranged from a variety of technical management, leadership and staff positions including 74

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command at the wing and center levels. Continuing her career as a leader, Pawlikowski assumed command this summer as the head of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command employs some 80,000 people and manages $60 billion annually, executing the critical mission of warfighter support through leading-edge science and technology, cradleto-grave life cycle weapon systems management, world-class developmental test and evaluation, and world-class depot maintenance and supply chain management. General Pawlikowski is nationally recognized for her leadership in the US science and technology community. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the National Academy of Engineers.

Sec of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, right, with newly promoted Pawlikowski and her daughter, Laura. Photo: Scott M. Ash, USAF

ENGINEERING BIOMEDICAL AFROTC DESIGNSCIENCE MANAGEMENT

The NJIT Community Proudly Salutes

General Ellen M. Pawlikowski, ‘78, ’13 HON for her achievements in the United States military, her dedication to our country and her commitment to research, serving as a role model for all young women interested in careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

njit.edu University Heights Newark, NJ 07102

MATHEMATICSCOMPUTINGSTEM ALWAYS ON TOP OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

ARCHITECTURE TECHNOLOGY HONORS

Stand Out at Richmond

ou’ve seen the world and served your country and stood out from the crowd. When it’s time to further your education, what choice will you make? With so many universities to choose from it’s important to choose a school that will serve you as an individual. Which is why Richmond, The American International University in London has been a destination for US military families for the past 40 + years. At Richmond, we live up to our motto, “Unity in Diversity” and no student is a number. Each of our 20 + undergraduate majors is taught from an international perspective and over 100 countries are represented in our student body. To honor the work of our veterans, Richmond continues to offer a GI Bill Scholarship. This scholarship was

Philip Martin, US veteran and Richmond Political Science alum: “The research and writing skills that were cultivated by the excellent faculty and rigorous academic standards of Richmond have made the transition from an academic life to a professional career almost seamless.” developed to help our veterans and their families defray the cost of attending university overseas. Our campuses are located in two of London’s most appealing communities: Richmond-upon-Thames (for our Freshmen and Sophomores) and Kensington (for our Juniors, Seniors and Postgraduate students). We are pleased to accept Transfer students who have already completed some study at the undergraduate level and who wish to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree from Richmond.

Richmond degrees are accredited in the US and validated in the UK – two of the world’s most highly regarded higher education systems – and are thereby acknowledged worldwide. Our graduates are highly sought after and have gone on to study at top US and UK universities including: Harvard, MIT, Yale, Cornell, NYU, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and the London School of Economics. Many of Richmond’s faculty have studied or taught internationally. With a Richmond education, you will have the benefit of learning from their international perspective while simultaneously creating your own. Although your education will be comprehensive and global, the average class size is 18 students, which provides more individualized attention to each student. Richmond adheres to the familiar US education model for coursework while offering students a unique educational experience in the international city of London. Richmond also offers an excellent internship program that helps to prepare students for jobs in today’s international workplace.

Sound like the place for you? Visit us today at Richmond.ac.uk and see if Richmond is the right place for you to make your mark. 76

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GI Bill Scholarships Available for Veterans! For more information visit www.richmond.ac.uk

Und e rg ra d uate Ma jo r s Accounting and Finance American Studies Art History and Visual Culture Business Management : Entrepreneurship Business Management : Finance Business Management : International Business Communications: Marketing Communications & Public Relations Communications: Media Production Communications: Media Studies Contemporary Literature and Creative Writing Development Studies Economics Fashion Management and Marketing Film Studies Financial Economics History International and Development Economics International Journalism and Media International Relations Marketing Performance and Theatre Arts

A Truly International Experience GI Bill Schol arship – Available towards the cost of undergraduate tuition. Students who are eligible for education or training benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs can apply. Please consult our current Prospectus for further details.

Political Science Psychology The Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy (RIASA)

Small Cl ass Size – Average class size is 15–20 students

Postgra d uate De g rees

Choice of Majors – The Richmond curriculum is modeled after the American Liberal Arts system for a well-rounded education. Richmond offers more than 20 undergraduate degrees and 7 postgraduate degrees

MBA

Dual Accreditation – Richmond degrees are accredited in the U.S. and validated in the UK

MA Advertising and Public Relations

International Student Body – The Richmond student body is made up of students from over 100 countries, making it a diverse and culturally rich environment

MA Art History and Visual Culture

Internships – From British Parliament to CNBC to the UN – there’s something for everyone

MA Visual Arts Management and Curating MA International Development MA International Relations MA Public Relations & Journalism

Gen. Wolfenbarger is joined by Chief Master Sgt. Michael Warner as she enters her Order of the Sword induction ceremony through a formation of sabers raised by an Honor Guard. Feb. 5, 2015, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Ohio. Photo: Wesley Farnsworth, USAF

JANET C. WOLFENBARGER USAF’s First Female 4-Star General Retires Courtesy USAF.mil

fter 35 years in the military, General Wolfenbarger has retired her uniform, and her position at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio where she commanded the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) from 2012 until her retirement on July 1, 2015. AFMC employs roughly 80,000 people and manages $60 billion annually in its efforts globally to maintain Air Force preparedness and is among the Air Force’s largest commands. Wolfenbarger was also the vice commander and director of the AFMC Intelligence and Requirements Directorate at WrightPatterson AFB. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III presided over the change of command ceremony at the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Kenney Auditorium in which General Ellen Pawlikowski took the reins of command from Wolfenbarger. Welsh highlighted Wolfenbarger’s career and acquisition expertise, and he thanked her for her service. “Under Janet’s sterling leadership, you have taken AFMC to new heights,” Welsh said. “She always wants the focus to be clearly on the men and women who give this great command life. It’s never, never been about her. But just once, before she retires, I believe it would be appropriate for the rest of us to acknowledge her truly monumental achievements.” 78

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Wolfenbarger said that it has been the honor and privilege of her career to have served as commander of AFMC, what she called the “command she grew up in.” “I have spent the majority of my career in Air Force Materiel Command, and I couldn’t be prouder of the missions we execute and the people in this command who execute them,” she said. “I want to thank the entire AFMC team for their outstanding professionalism, hard work and dedication, and I am humbled by all you were able to accomplish on my watch. My final salute goes to you, with best wishes always from the Wolfenbarger family.” During a separate ceremony held at the National Museum of the Air Force, Wolfenbarger was further honored for her exemplary service when she was inducted into the AFMC Order of the Sword. The ceremony was steeped in medieval symbolism and military tradition, and paid tribute to the general’s servant leadership. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor Air Force NCOs can bestow upon an individual who has made significant contributions to the enlisted force. With her military career behind her, Wolfenbarger began a new civilian career on August 1, 2015 when she joined the Board of Directors of AECOM (ACM). The company is a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm, located in Los Angeles, CA.

Pratt & Whitney salutes the women of the U. S. military.

Pratt & Whitney is proud of the women who serve in our military â&#x20AC;&#x201C; defending freedom all over the world. pw.utc.com It's in our power.â&#x201E;˘

DEBORAH LEE JAMES Secretary of the Air Force

eborah Lee James is the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. She is the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force and is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its nearly 664,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian Airmen and their families. She also oversees the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $139 billion. Ms. James has 30 years of senior homeland and national security experience in the federal government and the private sector. Prior to her current position, Ms. James served as President of Science Applications International Corporation’s Technical and Engineering Sector, where she was responsible for 8,700 employees and more than $2 billion in revenue. Ms. James earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in comparative area studies from Duke University and a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. As Secretary of the Air Force, Ms. James must weigh-in on a myriad of issues, lending her straight forward approach to topics such as women in combat and the rise of sexual assault in the military. During a Women In International Security-sponsored event to celebrate Women’s History Month in 2015, she directly

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addressed the topic of women serving in combat roles, stating that the Air Force is “already leading the pack in terms of integration of women. The ones that are closed are in the areas of some special operations forces and some positions that serve with Army and Marine ground combat forces.” She also spoke about some of the challenges she has seen with ensuring women are at every echelon in every career field, the toughest being retention at the mid-career point. “(You’re) trying to balance your professional life with your personal life and in the military when you add in those deployments, which we don’t see as much in the civilian world, before you know it, it becomes a very difficult thing to balance,” she said. Another of James’ focus areas of taking care of Airmen is the issue of sexual assault prevention. During the 2015 SAPR five-day summit discussions concentrated upon ways to better combat sexual assault, and take care of victims. The summit, at which she spoke also included a diverse cross-section of the Total Force, since the stand-up of the SAPR program was initiated in 2005. The event included a visual presentation of a chalk walk on which messages written by Air Staff. The message that was sent was clear, that while the official SAAPM had concluded, sexual assault prevention is all year long.

Deborah Lee James reads messages created by Air Staff members who lined the Arnold Corridor in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention, in the Pentagon. Photo: Scott M. Ash, USAF

Transitioning From Active Duty?

The Air Force Reserve offers great part-time opportunities for people transitioning from active duty giving you the time and financial support to further your education or begin a civilian career while continuing your military service toward retirement. As a Reservist, you can continue to do the extraordinary and maintain the camaraderie experienced while serving in the military.

800-237-8279 â&#x20AC;˘ AFReserve.com/Prior

Pfcs. Katie Gorz, Julia Carroll, Christina Fuentes Montenegro were the first entry-level enlisted women to complete infantry training as part of the Marine Corps’ research effort toward female integration into ground-combat assignments. Photo: Sgt. Tyler L. Main and CWO2 Paul S. Mancuso, USMC

FEMALE MARINES GRADUATE INFANTRY TRAINING

uring a crisp autumn dawn among the North Carolina pines, 200 panting, sweaty infantry students forged ahead on their route. Daybreak signaled the end of a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) march out of darkness as it had for countless men before. On that morning, however, four women stood sharing the accomplishment. Now three of those Marines – Pfcs. Julia Carroll, Christina Fuentes Montenegro and Katie Gorz – have become the first entry-level enlisted women to complete infantry training as part of the Marine Corps’ research effort toward integrating women into previously closed ground-combat assignments. Their success allowed the Corps to move forward since the Secretary of Defense’s decision to rescind the 1994 direct-combat exclusion rule for women in January 2013. The Marine Corps gathered data on the women’s performance as

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they executed existing infantry tasks and training events. The Fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act required the services to provide a review of laws, policies and regulations restricting the service of women in the Armed Forces. The Marine Corps along with the other services and Special Operations Command developed a deliberate plan to fully integrate women into newly opened positions no later than January 1, 2016. The Corps’ plan outlines the commandant’s intent to adopt a deliberate, measured and responsible approach to ensure the highest levels of combat readiness are maintained and commensurate with the Corps’ role as the nation’s crisis response force while providing every Marine the opportunity to realize his or her potential, and posture them for success. Marine Corps officials said any force-wide changes to be made will occur

only after the Corps has conducted its research, determined the way ahead and set the conditions to implement recommendations. The 20-km hike was a milestone in the training. Some women dropped from the course and some, having completed combat training required for all entry-level Marines, began their paths to combat-supporting occupations. Seven women remained before the hike, and three were among a group of 29 Marines who fell out while hiking. The hike kicked off patrol week, or what instructors consider the most challenging and important week of training in which students apply their newfound knowledge. Among performing other vital combat skills, the students demonstrated hand-and-arm signals, set ambushes and defensive positions, and simulated crossing danger areas – all designed to build confidence and show they can execute the fundamentals required of an infantryman.

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Capt. Katie Higgins

Blue Angels First Female Pilot

emale naval aviators have been flying fighter jets for 20 years but none have ever broken into the rarefied territory of the choicest job available to them – Blue Angels demonstration team pilot. Many highly qualified Navy and Marine Corps male and female officers submit applications to join the Blue Angels each year. While the Blue Angels team doesn’t discriminate against members based on gender – one would have to wonder why no women had ever been invited to join. That status changed in the summer of 2014 with the Navy’s announcement of the appointment of Marine Capt. Katie Higgins, 27. She will go down in the history books as the first-ever female Blue Angel. Higgins will fly as a C-130 demonstration pilot starting in October 2015. The C-130T Hercules aircraft, affectionately known as “Fat Albert,” must be aircraft commander qualified with at least 1,200 flight hours. Higgins, who is a 2008 graduate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is currently assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. 84

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A total of 16 officers voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels. Each year the team typically selects three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot to relieve departing members. The Chief of Naval Air Training selects the “Boss,” the Blue Angels Commanding Officer. Boss must have at least 3,000 tactical jet flight-hours and have commanded a tactical jet squadron. The Commanding Officer flies the Number 1 jet. Career-oriented Navy and Marine Corps jet pilots with an aircraft carrier qualification and a minimum of 1,250 tactical jet flight-hours are eligible for positions flying jets Number 2 through 7. The Events Coordinator, Number 8, is a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) or a Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) who meets the same criteria as Numbers 2 through 7.

Higgins has flown almost 400 combat hours in support of numerous operations and exercises in Afghanistan, Djibouti, France, Greece, South Sudan, Spain, and Uganda.

CAPTAIN KATIE HIGGINS, USMC Captain Katie Higgins is a native of Severna Park, Maryland, and graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 2004. She attended the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 2008, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Katie then attended Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and graduated with a Masters of Arts in International Security in 2009. Katie reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for aviation indoctrination in November 2009. She completed primary flight training in the T-6B Texan II at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, and completed intermediate and advanced training in the T-44 Pegasus while assigned to Training Squadron 31 (VT-31) at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. She received her wings of gold in October 2011. Katie then reported to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, for initial training in the KC-130J Hercules. She reported to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR-252), “Otis,” at MCAS Cherry Point, in May 2012, to begin training in the KC-130J Harvest Hercules Armament Weapons Kit. While assigned to VMGR-252, Katie deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and to Africa with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis-Response in support of contingency operations. Katie joined the Blue Angels in September 2014. She has accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours. Her decorations include five Air Medals, and various unit and personal awards. 21 S T C E N T U R Y A M E R I C A N M I L I T A R Y W O M E N

Privates Neta Irene Farrell, Rochester, N.Y., and Genevieve Evers, Woodhaven, N.Y., position a depth charge as they prepare to load and arm it in the bay of a plane during a course at the Station Ordnance School at Quantico, Va. in the early 1940s. Photo: Sgt. Melissa Lee

Female Aviator’ s and the

Marine Corps By Cpl. Jessica Quezada

omen’s History Month, celebrated in March, is a time to reflect on the accomplishment of women in the past and encourage advancement in the future. Women have had a lasting impression on the Marine Corps and its air wings. Marine Corps aviation was established in 1912. In 1918, women were allowed to join the military and primarily took over clerical jobs such as shop keeping and administrative work from combat-ready male Marines needed overseas. The Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was officially established Feb. 13, 1943, during World War II. Approximately 85 percent of enlisted Marines at headquarters units were women during that time. Congress passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, which 86

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made women a permanent part of the military and opened many jobs to women. Since then, women have worked alongside their male counterparts in

different occupational specialties. Some of the aviation occupational specialties include maintenance, parachute rigging and flight operation scheduling. However, women

Female pilots with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing pose with Afghan Capt. Niloofar Rahmani, the first female fixed-wing pilot in the Afghan Air Force, during a visit to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA. Photo By: Sgt. Melissa Lee

were unable to become pilots or aircrew until after 1975. At the same time, the term “Women Marines” was discontinued which further integrated women in the Marine Corps and helped them better cohere to their combat brothers. The Marine Corps opened pilot positions to women in 1993. Second Lt. Sarah Deal became the first woman selected for naval aviation training and subsequently flew the CH-53E Super Stallion. Capt. Vernice Armour, a AH-1W Cobra pilot, became the first AfricanAmerican female pilot in 2001. Now, female Marines continue the strong traditions of the women who came before them. “We’re 50 percent of the populace [in the world],” said 1st Lt. Alisa Sieber, a pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352 and a San Diego native. “We have a story to tell. We are still emerging as leaders in this country. It’s very important to show that we can do anything men can do.” Now, women can serve in all aviationrelated military occupational specialties, and 92 percent of occupations Marine Corps wide. The number of women accounts for roughly 7 percent of the Marine Corps, but the numbers continues to grow. First Lt. Theresa Nafis, a student weapons and systems officer with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101 and a Chino, Calif., native, explained that women continue to break boundaries today because of the women who fought for equality previously. “I feel, as a woman, that it’s our duty and position to uphold [the women who came before us] and be professional and make those women proud.” Throughout history, women gradually conquered untouched territory in the military and through their diligence; women now serve as permanent and vital members in the Marine Corps. Not all military specialties are available to women and this professional inequality goes back to an ostracized time

Sgt. Grace L. Wyman practices aerial photography at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Photo: Courtesy USMC

when women struggled to lead Marines on land, air and sea. Today’s Marine Corps now flourishes with more career and billet opportunities for women, and female aviators are just a few of the landmark Marines breaking gender stereotypes for their successors. “My great uncle was a naval pilot in World War II and his stories of serving are what really suckered me into becoming a pilot,” said Maj. Christine Houser, a Garden City, N.Y. native and operations officer with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., currently assigned to the Unit Deployment Program aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. “I visited the U.S. Naval Academy and thought it would be a good career path to go down… After three years of qualifications, courses and all, I finally became a Marine Corps back-seater weapons systems officer for F/A-18 Hornet aircrafts. I love everything about the Corps and everything they offer. If something happened and I couldn’t be a pilot, I would much rather do another occupation in the Marine Corps than anywhere else…”

During World War II, females began serving beyond clerical duties as essential service members in more than 200 hundred various occupations across the Marine Corps. To further extend women’s role in the military, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 allowed women to serve as permanent members in the armed forces. Women progressively incorporated their skills in areas of work pertinent to mission success. In flight line crews, female Marines performed jobs such as refueling, repairing engines and radios, replacing tires, testing the weapons, preparing the plans for their aircrews and bringing the planes on line. Women successfully trained their male counterparts in flight simulators during WWII to ensure pilots are prepared before taking off, they manned the air traffic towers at nearly every aviation command and worked fearlessly in the sky as aerial photographers. Although female Marines could not serve in pilot and aircrew specialties in 1975, the Marine Corps later opened its hangars in 1993 to give women an opportunity to become pilots.

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Lt. Col. Sarah Deal took advantage of this opening and, in that same year, she became the first female Marine selected for Naval aviation training. As the first woman pinned with Naval flight wings in Marine Corps history, Deal’s determination throughout her career as an aviator laid the foundation for future female Marine Corps pilots. Deal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace flight technology from Kent State University in 1992 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in May 1992. Though she had already earned her pilot’s license while in college, the Marine Corps did not yet have any female aviators. After Basic School at Quantico, she attended air traffic control school. When U.S. military policy was changed to allow women to fly combat aircraft in 1993, she requested to become an aviator and was selected for training in July 1993. She began her flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in the T-34C Turbo Mentor aircraft. She went on to helicopter training in the TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter and earned her aviator’s wings on April 21, 1995. Deal was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 as a CH-53E pilot. Deal completed her active duty service in 2004 and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve. In May 2006, Deal was assigned to HMH-769 where she serves as a reserve CH-53E pilot. LtCol Deal is married to Philip M. Burrow, a former Navy F-14 Tomcat pilot who now flies for United Airlines. They are the parents of twin boys and a third son born in November 2006. “I just wanted to be a pilot and I’ve proven myself in a lot of ways,” said Houser. “Throughout my career, I’ve worked with very few females. The community is small, but I’ve always felt like I fit in with the males and in the Marine Corps. As long as you prove yourself and work hard you’ll be a part of the team… I’ve deployed seven times, I’ve qualified to be an instructor in a 88

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Deal flies a CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter from HMH 466, MCAS Tustin, California, over Camp Pendleton. Photo: PH2 Jeff Viano

squadron, I was a company commander for Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, and I was the first female F/A-18 pilot to attend Weapons Tactic Instructors Course, a very elite course in the Marine Corps… and at this point women continue to break barriers in many ways. Yeah, I was the ‘first,’ but I worked for something I wanted and accomplished what I could.” In the illustrious history of the Marine Corps, many determined female Marines followed in the footsteps of Burrow by overcoming discrimination and by making landmark achievements to subdue sexism. Women continue to rise to the top in Marine Corps aviation, from Vernice Armour, the first female African American pilot, to Maj. Jennifer Grieves, the first

female pilot of the Marine One aircraft carrying the President of the United States. These Marines earned their title as the “fewer and prouder” and set the standard not only for female aviators, but for female Marines across the Corps. “I always tell people that as long as you like what you’re doing, keep doing it,” said Houser. “I never planned on serving 14 years but now I plan on going for 20… My brothers a Marine too, an infantry officer, and when I’m up in the air providing close air support for the troops on the ground, I think those troops could be friends or even family. If you’re unsure about Marine Corps aviation, this is not the job for you, but if this is what you want wholeheartedly, then go for it, work hard and you’ll succeed.”

As the first woman pinned with Naval flight wings in Marine Corps history, Deal’s determination throughout her career as an aviator laid the foundation for future female Marine Corps pilots.

Kent State Graduates

Soar Higher Kent State graduate Sarah Deal, ’92, completed Kent State University’s aeronautics program and went on to become the U.S. Marine Corps’ first female pilot. She has also been inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame and chosen by Working Woman Magazine as one of the “350 Women Who Changed the World.” Kent State University provides a welcoming and supportive place for ROTC students and military veterans to achieve their academic goals and further their careers. Again and again, Kent State University has been recognized as an institution that’s military friendly by national publications such as GI Jobs Magazine, as well as the many successful ROTC students and veterans who’ve attended Kent State.

www.kent.edu Kent State University, Kent State and KSU are registered trademarks and may not be used without permission. 15-EMSA-00069-009 Kent State University is committed to attaining excellence through the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and workforce.

Corps Opens Thousands of New Positions to Women

Delta Co. is the first infantry training company to fully integrate female Marines into an entire training cycle. Photo: Sgt. Tyler L. Main, USMC 90

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arine officials announced in Nov. 12, 2014 that female Marines in the ranks of corporal and above would be eligible to fill some 2,600 previously closed jobs in active and Reserve units. This came as the Corps continues to study the integration of women into combat units. In a directive by the Pentagon, the services are to open all military jobs to women by 2016, or be prepared to seek specific exceptions. The new wave of job openings means female Marines in active-duty artillery, tank, assault amphibian, combat engineer, combat assault, and low-altitude air defense battalions and an array of selected reserve units can now fill jobs at the company and battery level, in additional to higher-ranking staff jobs. The Corps first opened a number of previously closed positions in these ground combat units to women in April 2012, allowing female Marine company grade officers, staff sergeants and gunnery sergeants to serve in specific positions within their primary military occupational specialty. This latest slate of changes is the first part of a four-step plan to integrate female Marines into combat roles announced by then-commandant Gen. Jim Amos in March. That strategy also created an integrated task force to develop gender-neutral standards for combat positions, which is currently conducting training aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The job opening announcement comes with one exception: Female combat engineers will not be assigned to combat assault or

Photo: Sgt. Tyler Main, USMC

combat engineer battalions, as the requirements for those positions are still being studied.

For now, all jobs at Marine infantry, reconnaissance, and special operations units will remain closed to women. And

the Marines wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make any staffing changes to fill the newly opened positions with female troops.

A female student at the Infantry Training Battalion buddy carries another female student during the movement-under-fire portion of the Combat Fitness Test. Photo: Cpl. Chelsea Flowers Anderson, USMC

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Sgt. Kimberly Nalepka, speaks to a teacher about the daily lesson plan at a local school in the GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Nalepka and her Female Engagement Team regularly visit medical clinics and schools to interact with the female population in the community and help identify the needs of the women there. The FET supports Regimental Combat Team 1, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads the ground combat element in Helmand province. The mission of the RCT is to partner with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations to secure the Afghan people, defeat insurgent forces, and enable ANSF assumption of security responsibilities in the region. Photo: Sgt. Jesse Stence, 1st Marine Division, USMC 92

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ANN WOOD-KELLY Female Aviation Pioneer

nn Wood-Kelly was born in Philadelphia, one of six children of Mary Colbert and Oliver G. Wood. She was educated in Philadelphia, Belgium, and at D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y. With the encouragement of her mother, she took up flying, and attended ground school through the federal government’s Civilian Pilot’s Training Program. Initially rejected at the allmale Bowdoin College flight training program, she was accepted when the twelve-person program failed to locate a twelfth male applicant. In a short time, she became a flight instructor herself in the Bowdoin Program. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the famous aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran, who, having failed to form an auxiliary of women flyers in the US was turning her sights to Great Britain, recruited her. Consequently, Ann Wood-Kelly became one of the twenty-four American women flyers to serve in the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). This “Flying Legion of the Air” recruited flyers from Britain, the Commonwealth, the US, and a dozen other countries to ferry warplanes from factories to the air bases of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. They ferrying operation carried out by the Flying Legion flyers contributed greatly to the war effort by freeing up British pilots and allowing them to focus on combat duty. From 1942 to 1945, Ann Wood-Kelly ferried more than 900 planes of 75 different types, mostly the renowned Spitfires, to destinations 94

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in England and France. She executed these numerous missions with only a single accident from which she escaped uninjured (of the 700 men and women engaged in the ATA effort, 173 lost their lives, including 14 women). In recognition of this war-time service to the United Kingdom, Ann Wood-Kelly was awarded the King’s Medal by King George IV; presented to her in Washington D.C. by the British Ambassador. After the war, in 1946, she served as the First Assistant to America’s first Civil Air Attaché, based at the US Embassy in London. At the same time that her marriage began to falter, Northeast Airlines invited Ann Wood to return to Boston and resume her former position as Public Relations Director. She remained with this airline for twelve years, successively assuming the roles of Special Assistant to the President, and later to the Chairman of the Board. Her son Christopher Wood-Kelly, born in London, now lives in Watertown, MA. After Northeast Airlines came Pan American. In 1972, she was named Staff Vice President for International Airport Charges. As Pan Am was failing, she returned to Boston as Assistant to the President of Air New England. That too failed in 1980. In 2002, she was still flying her shared Piper Arrow from Beverly airport, MA.

THE AIR TRANSPORT AUXILIARY The ATA was founded by British Airways Limited in May 1938 and organized by them into an operational unit at the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939. It was thus a civilian organization which made an enormous contribution to the war by taking over from service pilots the task of ferrying Royal Air Force and Royal Navy warplanes from factories to maintenance units and frontline squadrons, and back again from the squadrons if damaged or due for an overhaul.

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Drill instructor Sgt. Mallory Ortiz, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., puts Female Poolees through the paces of learning how to get into formation, as well as having them perform many physical strength tests. Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, USMC

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