Courage and Honor: The American Military Woman - 2011

COURAGE AND HONOR

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From the Editor

10 Mullen Praises Trailblazing Military Women

By Lisa Daniel

12 Ray Mabus, Sec. of the Navy Women in Global Security Conference 14 Robert Gates Predicts Women Will Serve in Special Forces 16 Janet Napolitano Secretary, DHS 18

Brigadier General N. Lee S. Price

22 Women on Subs

By Jessica Clark

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Wilma L. Vaught Women In Military For America Memorial Foundation

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Women in Combat Units

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Statistics of Women in the Military

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By Michael Molinaro 42 USAF Female Pilots Inspire Iraqi Women

By Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria 44

Colonel Dawn Dunlop Commander 412th Test Wing Edwards Air Force Base

By Edwards AFB Public Affairs

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Female Engagement Teams: Making Real Differences

24 National Military Appreciation Month 26

2

Improving Health Care Worldwide For Female Service Members Courage and Honor

54 General Ann E. Dunwoody: First Female 4-Star General

By Cheryl Pellerin 58

Mike Mullen: Military Lags in Support of Women Warriors

60

Female Marine Recognized for Combat Readiness

By Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken

A Marine’s Marine

By Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik 61 Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben First Female Chaplain of the Marine Corps 62 Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson First Female Carrier Strike Group Commander 4

Courage and Honor

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Colonel Angela G. Stout, Commandant U.SA.F. OTS

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Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Opens New Women’s Health Services Facility

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From The Editor I

t is with great admiration and respect that I write this letter. The women of our military services are strong, courageous women, looking to better not only their own lives, but the lives of their children, their families, and the lives of people like me whom they will never know.

From the onset of our military, women have stepped forward to do their part, to show that they are viable, capable and useful in protecting the peace and the freedom of our nation. As the military has grown and expanded, our brave American women have been there, ready to volunteer, ready to enlist, ready, to share the responsibility of freedom with their male counterparts.

Now, as we move further into the 21st century, we’re witnessing more validation of the important roles that our military women perform. We’re told that in 2012 the first 13 female crewmembers will be welcomed aboard to serve on a Navy submarine.

Like all the women before them, these women are rising to the challenge and are willing to undergo the scrutiny that will come in order to prove their worth and to hopefully prop open yet one more door to a future where women are truly treated equally.

I had read that a problem arising in the military, such as the Navy, is that more women than men are earning the qualifications necessary to perform the duties that once were only assigned to men. Somewhere along the line, 8

Courage and Honor

the revamping of policies had to come, and it appears that the time is now.

As you will read, the Army and the Marine Corp have created F.E.T., Female Engagement Team(s). These teams are made of all volunteers, women whose jobs titles are supply clerk or driver. These brave all-female teams go into the villages and work with the people to bring about a better way of life for them. The added bonus of their work is that their acceptance by the villagers has enabled them to gather and provide vital information that helps keeps our troops safe in the region. The F.E.T. carry guns, and like any good servicemember, they know how to use them, it’s part of their job. But what is getting them into the gate is not brawn but a lovely smile and soft demeanor, something most men naturally lack.

A commission was put together to discuss the policies regarding women in combat. I know, my thought is this: if I woke up in Afghanistan, I’d believe myself to be in danger of combat. However, women aren’t technically allowed to be in the vicinity of combat, so you decide for yourself – aren’t they already there?

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Mullen Praises Military Women

Trailblazing

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he chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, flanked by two of the nation’s top female military officers, recounted the early days of women’s integration into the services and said “we would be nowhere as a military” without trailblazing women.

“In combat, in every part of who we are as a military right now, women have been extraordinary,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said at Fortune magazine’s Most Powerful Women summit.

Mullen took the stage before an audience of mostly civilian women leaders alongside Gen. Ann Dunwoody, commander of Army Materiel Command, and Navy Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, president of National Defense University.

At the summit’s Leadership Lessons panel moderated by CNN’s Kyra Phillips, the three senior leaders recalled how far the services have come in integrating women since they entered the military — Mullen in 1968, and Rondeau and Dunwoody in 1974 and 1975, respectively.

Mullen recalled serving on the Naval Academy’s admissions board in October 1976 when the academy received a telegram from the White House announcing that women would be permitted to enter the academy in the next academic year. Only one woman served on the admissions board, he recalled, and they would have to move quickly to prepare for the change. The chairman acknowledged it didn’t go smoothly that first year.

“As I look back, I realize now how little I knew about how to integrate women,” Mullen said, adding that he learned from the experience. “Throughout my career, I’ve tried to listen to people and view the situation through their eyes.

“For me, it’s about how we create opportunities, then sink or swim,” he continued. “If the talent pool is there, we need to recognize that and make sure doors stay open.”

Those first female graduates opened doors for others, Mullen said, noting that the military now stays between 20 and 25 percent female. The Navy continues to undergo significant integration efforts, the panelists noted, with the first female submariners chosen last summer, 16 years after women were permitted to serve on surface ships.

“We would be nowhere as a military if someone not had the wisdom to send that telegram way back then, and if we had not had women like this ready to step up when the military wasn’t ready for them and blaze a trail,” Mullen said, referring to Dunwoody and Rondeau.

The Navy’s lack of preparation for integrating women in the 1970s “was pretty profound,” 10

Courage and Honor

CNN anchor Kyra Phillips with (L-R) Gen. Dunwoody, Adm. Mullen and Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau.

Rondeau said. What that meant for her, she said, was trying to find a mentor she could trust to help her grow, determining where she could make a difference, and knowing which battles to fight.

Asked whether women service members must prove themselves more than men, Rondeau said, “I’m not sure that it is as much about who you are, as where you are, and what you bring to the table. You come with a certain amount of competence and confidence, then you just lead.”

Dunwoody, the military’s first female fourstar officer, joined the Army just after the Women’s Army Corps was disbanded. “Our journey was to forge — and sometimes force — women into the full spectrum of capabilities,” she said.

For Dunwoody, that meant jumping out of airplanes, doing 12-mile rucksack marches, and commanding troops in war zones, she said. “That’s our journey and our legacy,” she added. “That was the journey we had to build throughout our careers.”

Phillips asked about the evolving role of women in combat and whether women might soon serve in Special Forces. While none of the three would speculate on when law or policy might change in that regard, all acknowledged that women already serve in combat and that the nature of warfare has changed such that the issue will continued to be addressed.

“We are in an asymmetrical environment without front and rear boundaries,” Dunwoody said of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Every soldier is in danger. What’s so good about the mili-

Photo: Lt. Laura K. Stegherr, USN H

By Lisa Daniel

tary is that we continue review those [policies]. The doors continue to open, and policies continue to change to capture the talent of men and women in uniform. All in battle are making sacrifices, and we can never forget that.”

Military leaders need to assess what has been learned from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan regarding women service members, Mullen said. “It’s very important that we take a look at what we’ve learned in these wars and look at whether we should evaluate those policies. Battle is nowhere and it is everywhere right now; everyone is in a combat zone. We’ve got to understand what that means and roll it into the future.”

Rondeau also said she expects laws and policies to evolve to open more doors for women.

“We’re putting women on submarines, we’ve had them at sea for a while, and we’ve had them in the air a while,” she said. “You can’t win the current fight without women on the field, and that just is a fact.”

The issue surrounding women in combat roles, Rondeau said, is about not only capabilities, but also mindset. She recalled a time when she was commander of Navy accessions training and a female sailor just out of boot camp went out of her way to ask the commander a question. “Am I ready to fight and win?” the young woman asked Rondeau.

“I’d put her in war any day,” the admiral told the audience. “Being a warfighter is not just about the competence to fight. It’s also about the spirit.

A warfighting spirit is something that comes from the heart.” H

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Honorable Ray Mabus Secretary of the Navy

Photos: Staff Sgt Brien Vorhees

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he Role of Women in Global Security Conference was held from October 29th & 30th, 2010, in Eigtveds Pakhus, Copenhagen. Co-hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Denmark and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conference gathered participants from United States, North-Baltic Countries, Afghanistan, Liberia and Uganda. The idea was to promote the importance of women in peace and security by holding discussions on three areas: Women in Active Conflict/Peacekeeping Operations, Women in PostConflict Reconciliation and Women in Economic Development. The conference focused upon experiences in Afghanistan, Liberia and Uganda, countries where women have significant opportunities to effect change in active conflict and post-conflict zones.

Among those speakers at the conference, was the Honorable Ray Mabus, the following is his speech: “I am deeply honored to be representing the United States Department of Defense and the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Events such as this Women in Global Security Conference illustrate the strength of not only international friendship, but also the strength of

clear – sacrifice together to bring stability and the promise of a better future to the people of Afghanistan. It is a war that, unlike those of the past, has seen women involved in every military function.

In this war, women – as well as men – fly the planes, drive the vehicles, and walk the mountain passes on patrol. In Afghanistan, there are no front lines, and every day women serving there

“In Afghanistan, there are no front lines, and every day women serving there take the exact same risks as men.”

– Hon. Ray Mabus the broader relationship of all the nations and international institutions gathered to discuss the role of women in either active conflict and its prevention, in foreign affairs, and in post-conflict reconstruction and development.

It is with the impact of our forces on this last point where I will begin. In Afghanistan, many of our nations are working together to help rebuild the country, fight against terrorism, and guard against the return of an oppressive regime. That commitment comes with a very human cost.

In the village of, Bridzar almost 20,000 US Marines are serving. In Afghanistan, our nations serve together, live together, fight together, and as has been made 12

Courage and Honor

take the exact same risks as men. As a result, dozens of women from a number of nations have made the ultimate sacrifice, while hundreds more have been wounded in service to their countries.

We have found over the course of this war, that the role women play in Afghanistan is critically important, just as it is important in Africa, Southeast Asia, and wherever conflict occurs.

Although many women are trapped by the chaos of conflict, as a group they must not be characterized as victims.

To do so belittles the active role women can and are playing, often at tremendous personal risk, in strengthening the rule of law and demanding improved access to education, economic opportunities, and health care. Fundamentally, that is what Resolution 1325 was all about, and why its successful implementation is so important to women in the developing world.

We have found in Afghanistan, at an operational level, that the impact of women on security and the resolution of conflict is extremely important. With the deployment of the United States Marine Corp’s Female Engagement Teams the inability of our combat units to talk to and work with Afghan women as a result of cultural norms present in deeply conservative parts of the country has been resolved.

The expansion of women’s roles in Afghanistan mirrors a broader expansion of women’s roles in the military and across society. One unique thing about the military is that you can absolutely guarantee equal pay for equal work. That expansion is, without qualification, good for all of us, because by using the skills and the talents of our entire society, we absolutely make our nations stronger – we absolutely make the world a better place in the present – and we absolutely provide the basis for a global future where a person’s qualifications and ability matter more than gender.” H

Gates Predicts Women Will Serve in Special Forces D

efense Secretary Robert Gates foresees a day when the military will lift its ban on women serving in elite special forces.

Although military rules bar women from ground combat, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have thrust female troops into firefights and forced US commanders to review the policy.

Women already serve in a limited capacity within the special operations community -- primarily in civil affairs, mission information support and aviation capacities. However, most special operations billets, including Navy Sea, Air and Land teams, more commonly known as SEAL teams, and Special Forces A-teams, are limited to males.

Gates discussed another issue being debated across the special operations community: Should civil affairs capabilities remain in specialized units within special operations, or be extended more widely across the force?

“My own bias is that we ought to spread those skills -- and language skills -- more broadly in the Army than just special operations forces,” the secretary told the cadets.

In many ways, he said, the discussion has become academic.

“The reality is, in both Iraq and Afghanistan, we have ended up using regular, conventional forces in ways that special operations forces used to do by themselves,” Gates told the cadets. “A lot of regular Army infantry units are doing civil affairs, are doing development, along with fighting the fight.”

Gates said he expected the prohibition against women in US Special Operations forces would be phased out in a deliberate manner similar to the way women will be allowed to serve on submarines.

“It will happen, but it will happen in the same very careful way that women in submarines is being done,” Gates told an audience of students enrolled in reserve officer training in North Carolina.

As a first step, female officers are being assigned to larger Ohioclass nuclear-powered submarines.

The larger vessels make it easier to accommodate female crewmembers, and each team of women includes a more senior female 14

Courage and Honor

officer who serves as a “mentor,” Gates said.

“My guess is at some point... there’ll be a careful step in that direction with Special Operations forces,” he said.

The crack special forces’ units carry out some of the military’s most dangerous and sensitive operations, sabotaging targets behind enemy lines and hunting down suspected terrorists, but have remained one of the last all-male bastions in the armed forces. H

Photo: Cherie Cullen, DoD

ROTC cadets listen as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

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Janet Napolitano Secretary – Department of Homeland Security

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ing new resources to build resilient communities and bolster their response capabilities, and calling on all Americans to play a role in the shared responsibility of making our homeland secure.

In each of these areas – counterterrorism; border security; immigration enforcement; and disaster preparedness, response and recovery – Napolitano is building upon the skills and resources of this young department by deploying the best that science and technology have to offer; reinvigorating partnerships with state, local and tribal governments and the private sector – our nation’s first detectors and first responders; and implementing a bold Efficiency Review that is making the Department a leaner, smarter agency better equipped to protect the nation.

Prior to becoming Secretary, Napolitano was in her second term as Governor of Arizona and was recognized as a national leader on homeland security, border security and immigration. She was the first woman to chair the National Governors Association and was named one of the top five governors in the country by Time Magazine. Napolitano was also the first female Attorney General of Arizona and served

as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona.

Napolitano was born in New York City and grew up in Pittsburgh, Penn., and Albuquerque, N.M. She graduated from Santa Clara University, where she won a Truman Scholarship and was the university’s first female valedictorian, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. Before entering public office, Napolitano served as a clerk for Judge Mary M. Schroeder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and practiced law in Phoenix at the firm of Lewis and Roca. H Photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Evanson

anet Napolitano is the third Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and is leading our nation’s collective efforts to secure our country from the threats we face – from terrorism to natural disasters.

To counter the threat of terrorism, Napolitano has forged new partnerships with international allies, and expanded information sharing with federal, state and local law enforcement – building a collaborative effort to detect and disrupt threats early on.

She has initiated a new, more strategic course to strengthen security along our southwest border, deploying additional personnel and advanced technology, while working closely with Mexico to combat violent international drug cartels – resulting in increased seizures of illegal contraband along the border and throughout our country’s interior.

Napolitano also has forged a smart and effective approach to enforcing our immigration laws and prioritizing public safety while targeting criminal aliens and aggressively pursuing employers that knowingly take advantage of illegal labor.

She has strengthened the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters by cutting through red tape and expediting decision-making along the Gulf Coast, provid-

U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, center right, front, poses with the crew of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Anvil (WLIC 75301), a construction barge, in Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2010. Napolitano observed aids-to-navigation operations while with the crew.

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Courage and Honor

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BG N. Lee S. Price Program Executive Officer Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T)

T

the third class that accepted women. I entered active duty in October 1981 and have never looked back.

Looking back at my more than 35 years in uniform, I don’t know where the time has gone.

Some people say that Public Service is giving more than you receive, but the military has given me so much more than I ever expected. The chance to lead others and help them grow and fulfill their own dreams – how do you put a price on that?

“The doors are continuing to open to women, so charge through them!”

I played every sport that had a women’s team during my school days and was a player-coach on many. Throughout the Army, the philosophy Photo: Rich Mattox, USA

hose of us that serve in uniform had a calling that led us to public service. Mine came when I attended the University of Vienna, Austria, in the summer of 1974. I could hardly believe my luck at receiving a scholarship to travel abroad and study International Relations.

But then, the Turks invaded Cyprus; the fuel crisis of 1974 was in full swing; and President Nixon resigned. With each event, I was asked “how will America respond to these actions?” I was determined, when I returned, to be part of something “larger than the individual.”

Back in the 70s, it was hard to find women in leadership roles in the private sector, and I believed that the military would offer the opportunities I sought. My first hurdle, since there were no women in our Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), was to become a commissioned officer. I was singularly focused on quickly achieving that milestone. Preferring to put one foot in the water at a time rather than jumping in cold, I joined the Alabama National Guard and subsequently attended the Alabama Military Academy where I was in

Brig. Gen. Price receives the Legion of Merit Award from Mr. Dean G. Popps, former Principal Deputy Asst Sec of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology ASA(ALT) during a ceremony in which Price became the Army’s first female PEO on Nov. 20, 2009 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

18

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is the same: personal sacrifice for the sake of the team. Be responsible to the team.

For the younger women coming up through the ranks, I challenge you to get comfortable with change and uncertainty. Look for the hard jobs and do every job well. The doors are continuing to open to women, so charge through them! When you question your ability to fulfill a leader’s request, because your background is limited in the topic; give them credit for seeing something in you that perhaps you can’t see. Women are exceptional team builders and have every bit the desire to excel as their male counterparts.

Being a Soldier is more than a job or a profession; it’s a way of life in which I remain honored to serve. Every once in a while, I stop and look at my uniform when I am putting it on and reflect on how proud I am to wear it each day.

I can’t think of a job that has more “meaning” or would have brought me more joy than the one that I chose. Strength and Honor…Army Strong! H

BG N. Lee S. Price

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M i l i ta r y S t u d e n t C e n t e r :

Serving those Who Serve

“I know how it is. After I separated a few years ago, I really didn’t understand my benefits. I got in school but always worried about the money running out.”

That’s Paul Wells. He’s one of the 28 men and women at the Military Student Center, and he sums up his job as a Military Student Advisor simply: “I help veterans and active military understand their educational benefits.”

Military education benefits can be confusing. The Military Student Center (MSC) is a service organization that’s 100% dedicated to helping active duty personnel, veterans, and their families get the most from them. In fact, the entire MSC staff consists of former military and dependents with more than 270 years of combined military experience. They understand military culture, language and lifestyle. And the red tape.

“We help spouses a lot, too,” Wells continued. “I spoke to an Army wife last week who really wanted to become a nurse, and her husband wanted to stay in. I explained how she could use his GI Bill for school.

She had no idea. Her tuition was covered 100% and she was very happy.”

The military is a step toward the next career for many. Achieving financial security and choosing the right career can be a concern, so the MSC is affiliated with four colleges that offer hands-on training in high demand career fields like medical, IT, business, green technology, paralegal, and the hospitality industry. The schools are

Virginia College, Ecotech Institute, Golf Academy of America, and Culinard (the Culinary Institute of Virginia College).

These military-friendly colleges offer flexible class schedules online and at 21 on-ground campuses in 12 states. MSC personnel, though, are not tasked with generating student enrollment, and are happy to help anyone who needs it, at no charge.

“Just like the military, we focus on mission success, teamwork and service,” says Hal Jensen, MSC’s Manager of Military Operations. “That’s reflected in the success of our graduates, the support team we put around each student, and our service to every military person we encounter.

We help them transition from honorable service in the military to career success in civilian life.”

That support includes helping determine the service member’s (or spouse’s) eligibility for military education benefits, explaining available options, and guiding him or her to the best course of action. The MSC also assists with VONAPP forms, explains housing allowance benefits, and answers questions.

According to Jensen, these are some of the military-friendly advantages that students at MSC-affiliated colleges enjoy: • Special scholarships for military personnel and spouses available • Up to 75% of required credits accepted from other schools and military training

• Credits can be awarded for CLEP, DANTES, and professional certification exams • Military students never pay application fees or re-entry fees • Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) • Military-friendly deployment policy “After a tour in Iraq, one of our military students had difficulty re-integrating with the civilian, college atmosphere,” Jensen continues. “The Academic Dean put her together with another student who had served in the same location. Being able to speak with someone who shared her experience resulted in better focus on her studies and better interaction with her classmates.”

The Military Student Center has a “challenge coin.” On one side are the shields of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard: the people MSC serves.

On the other side are the words “Student First!” Hal Jenson explains. “It says that here, you will find people who will go the extra mile to help you. You know them because you have flown, fought and sailed beside people just like them.”

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Women On Subs

By Jessica Clark, U.S. Naval Academy Public Affairs

E

leven female midshipmen from the Naval Academy’s Class of 2010 have been selected for submarine service upon graduation, following the Department of the Navy’s announcement that female officers now have the option to serve on board subs.

“I heard about the opportunity to go on subs and thought wow, what a chance that would be to challenge myself and be able to do something different,” said Midshipman 1st Class Rachel Lessard, of Newburyport, Mass.

All of the midshipmen had previously been assigned other warfare communities in preparation for graduation. Of the 11 selected, eight had already gone through the screening for service in the nuclear surface community. The other three had been selected for the conventional surface, Navy aviation and Marine Corps ground communities.

Many of the selected midshipmen first became interested in submarine warfare after spending 24 hours on board a submarine, something all midshipmen have the opportunity to experience as part of their summer training.

“I was really impressed by the enlisted crew.

They all loved their jobs and wanted to teach you about them,” said Midshipman 1st Class Laura Martindale, of Roselle, Ill. “It was a unique environment that we hadn’t been exposed to before as women.”

For Midshipman 1st Class Kayla Sax, of Richland, Wash., the Submarine force appealed to her because of the amount of responsibility assigned to junior officers.

22

Courage and Honor

Naval Academy Midshipman 1st Class Marquette Ried, center, had originally planned to fly helicopters before being chosen to join the submarine community.

“You jump in really quick and qualify to operate a nuclear reactor,” said Sax. “And you’re trying to qualify on all the watches at the same time that you’re trying to lead your division.”

Sax said the challenges inherent in the submarine community appealed to her for the same reason she was drawn to the Naval Academy.

Midshipman 1st Class Jessica Wilcox agreed.

“It’s a challenge, which is exciting, but I’m in it because of what it offers for your development as a leader and for you to help the Navy in the best way possible,” said Wilcox, of Honesdale, Pa. The midshipmen said they have received strong support, both from mentors in the subma-

Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam K. Thomas

rine community and from their peers.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support from classmates through this entire process to help me get ready for my technical interview and talking to me about their experiences on their sub cruises during the summer,” said Midshipman 1st Class Marquette Ried, of Fort Collins, Colo. “They’re excited to have us going to [nuclear] power school with them and to have us on the boat with them.”

Ultimately, these women are eager to serve and looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

“I’d like to serve however the Navy can best use me,” said Midshipman 1st Class Elizabeth Hudson, of Plymouth, Mass. “If this is a skill set I can offer and I was selected, then outstanding.”

• Marquette Ried, Fort Collins, CO

Two NROTC midshipmen at North Carolina State University also have been picked:

• Kayla Sax, Richland, WA • Misty Webster, Wesley Chapel, FL • Jessica Wilcox, Honesdale, PA

• Megan Bittner, Chesapeake, VA • Karen Achtyl, Rochester, NY H

FIRST TO GO The 13 women chosen 11 Naval Academy midshipmen: • • • • • • •

Tabitha Gant, Bowie, MD Abigail Gesecki, Luzerne, CO Elizabeth Hudson, Plymouth, MA Peggy LeGrand, Amarillo, TX Rachel Lessard, Newburyport, MA Kristin Lyles, Fairfax Station, VA Laura Martindale, Roselle, IL

Naval Academy Midshipman 1st Class Kayla Sax will head to the submarine force after earning a master’s degree in nuclear engineering at Cambridge University.

T h e Am e r ic a n M ilit a r y W o m a n

23

N

ational Military Appreciation Month started as a simple idea: to gather America around its military family; to honor, remember, recognize and appreciate those who have served and those now serving; to know the history behind it all. This idea was then legislated twice to achieve greater national attention and recognition.

The first legislation was in the United States Senate in 1999 designating May as National Military Appreciation Month. With the support and sponsorship of Senator John McCain, (R-AZ) and Rep. Duncan Hunter, (R-CA) of San Diego and over 50 veteran service organizations, this important and timely legislation tells our service members that their country has set aside an entire month to honor, remember and appreciate them.

In April of 2004, more comprehensive legislation was passed by unanimous consent of both Houses of Congress, H. Con. Res. 328, that May is National Military Appreciation Month and urges the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the American people to recognize this special month of May through appropriate ceremonies and events.

For 12 years a group of volunteers from Washington D.C. to California has been working toward preserving May as National Military Appreciation Month. Instrumental to achieving these results has been Duncan Munro, MSgt USAF (Ret) of Virginia, who serves as National Events Coordinator and supports the NMAM website. Michael

Fleming from Los Angeles works diligently as the Public Relations and Media contact to promote and encourage participation worldwide. In addition, Rita Whaley Thompson, Executive Director of Time for America, who meticulously walked the halls of Congress helping to pass the initial legislation and Alice Wax, NMAM Executive Director, worked for passage of related legislation.

Shauna Fleming of A Million Thanks served for four years as National Spokesperson. She continues to appear on radio and television shows and has visited the Oval Office while working on her own goal of collecting 2.6 million letters of appreciation for our troops through A Million Thanks.

Other military support organizations embracing NMAM include Rebels With A Cause, Armature Radio Military Appreciation Day (ARMAD) and The Thank You Foundation.

Our military has played a major role in the development of our country chronicled through their unbending honor, their dedication to duty and their love of country. Unfortunately, many families are neither aware of, nor value the service given by those in their own families, many of whom are of the “Greatest Generation”.

Schools no longer teach those military events that turned the course of history. We are slowly losing our connection to our own American history. Names like Pearl Harbor, Shauna Fleming San Juan Hill, Civil War, Belleau Wood,

24

Courage and Honor

Continental Army, 38th Parallel, Berlin Airlift, Tet Offensive and Normandy are rapidly losing their significance to the general American population, particularly our future generations — our youth.

Because most holidays commemorating historical military events have somehow lost their meaning, this month is needed to remind us of the sacrifices and the history we as Americans have been privileged to participate in throughout the past 230 years.

Through appropriate means and incentives, Federal, State, and local governments and private sector entities are invited to participate in this special month and to encourage everyone to sponsor and participate in programs via multiple venues, giving the nation a time and place upon which to focus, draw attention, and express our appreciation and thanks to our military family.

Due to military deployments worldwide protecting our national interests, Americans are being asked to serve. Employers are being asked to accommodate lengthy absences by key employees. Our military represents the highest caliber of professionalism and technology. We ask them to willingly risk their lives on a moments notice; should we not willingly and openly recognize their contributions and their sacrifices as well? H GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES For more information go to www.nmam.org

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Improving Health Care Worldwide For Female Service Members

A

Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class William S. Parker

s the role of women in the Armed Forces has evolved over the last 15 years, the Military Health System’s offerings in the combat Theater have as well. This is due in part to the growth of the female force increasing from nearly 66,000 to more than 203,000.

Today, women serve as pilots, military police, medics and combat engineers and practically every other occupation the military has to offer, deploying into combat zones where the front lines are no longer clearly defined.

While casualties in combat are inevitable, the survival rate has seen dramatic increases

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Courage and Honor

in recent years due to advances in battlefield medicine and innovative technologies. It’s those innovative technologies developed within the Office of the Chief of Information Officer that help ensure a higher survivability for those injured on the battlefield.

One of the contributing factors to the increased survivability rate is the ability by the Department of Defense to make betterinformed health care decisions through the use of the electronic health record.

The EHR allows care providers to annotate, track and forward a service member’s personal health information safely and securely from one location to the next – no matter where he or she is coming from or going to. Ensuring all aspects of a patient’s records are complete can be vitally important when proper diagnosis and treatments for women can mean the difference between life and death. Knowledge of prior screenings, mammograms, allergies, surgeries and even dental work all provide useful information to care providers.

“Before the EHR, records were handcarried from one posting to the next, and frequently became incomplete due to the difficulty in transporting them,” said Army Lt. Col. (P) Aaron Silver, Deputy Program Manager for the Defense Health Information Management System program office.

“In a great many ways, military treatment facilities and care in theater are the same for men and women,” Silver said. “The response to trauma or injury doesn’t change significantly depending on gender. However, there are some health issues unique to women in the field, which the MHS must respond to. For instance, there is now an obstetrician/gynecologist available at every

combat support hospital established around the world. This provides enough OB/GYN’s to serve the service members in Theater.”

Silver said that facilities in Theater are prepared to help patients who discover warning signs of breast cancer, and any who need surgery can be transported to the military treatment facility in Landstuhl, Germany.

“Every effort is made to be sure that female service members have access to any of the health services they may require, in order to ensure that all service members have equal care and are able to conduct their missions in good health,” said Silver.

Before deploying, all service members, female and male, are required to have preventative screenings. The EHR enables the easy transition of the results of those screenings from Military Treatment Facilities in the United States to those abroad.

EHR makes it possible for health care providers both at home and in Theater to access full medical records for all service members needing treatment.

Within the EHR, the Theater Medical Data Store allows care providers in theater to access any information about any patient they are treating in order to gain a complete picture of a patient’s medical history. When the patient returns home from deployment, all information from his or her treatment in Theater will be part of his or her EHR and will be available to their primary care providers.

The collection of this valuable data in the EHR can serve as a baseline for health care providers when tracking trends or viewing previous information on health screenings.

As a result, health care providers will be better positioned to detect breast, ovarian or other cancers and diseases that target women.

Whether in battle or at home, early warning of an attack either from combat or disease saves lives no matter the gender. H

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Women In Military Service For America Memorial

The Women’s Memorial is located at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. The Women’s Memorial is a unique, living memorial honoring all military women - past, present and future - and is the only major national memorial honoring women who have served in our nation’s defense during all eras and in all services.

The Memorial houses an Exhibit Gallery, Hall of Honor, Gift Shop, Theater, Upper Terrace, Court of Valor and, the heart of the Memorial, a computerized Register containing 250,000 women’s stories.

Example of Registry

Military Registry

Hall of Honor

Artifact Exhibits

Admission to the Memorial is absolutely free.

Hours of Operation: Open every day except Christmas October 1 - March 31, 8:00am - 5:00pm April 1 - September 30, 8:00am - 7:00pm

www.womensmemorial.org • 800-222-2294

Wilma L. Vaught

President of the Board of Directors – Women In Military For America Memorial Foundation

O

ne of the speakers at the October 1997 dedication of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial was 101-year-old Frieda Mae Hardin, a yeoman first class who had served in the Navy during World War I. She had traveled all the way from California to be a part of the dedication program and to speak on behalf of her World War I women shipmates. Armed with a dynamic message for women in uniform, she stepped to the microphone and in a resounding voice said, “In my 101 years of living, I have observed many wonderful achievements – but none as important or as meaningful as the progress of women in taking their rightful place in society.

When I served in the Navy, women were not even allowed to vote! Now, women occupy important leadership positions. To those women, … I say, ‘Go for it!’” The 40,000-member audience jumped to their feet and roared their assent.

Frieda Hardin was proud of her military service and equally proud of the women who followed in her footsteps, breaking down barrier after barrier. Today, more than a decade after making her memorable remarks, her words still resonate every time a military woman achieves another success or reaches a new milestone.

While Frieda may not have envisioned the roles military women fill today, I doubt she would have been surprised.

Nor would she have been surprised by their success. Today, women serve in nearly every rank, unit and echelon of America’s military and fill critical leadership and warfighting positions. At nearly 15% of the total force, the nation couldn’t go to war without military women.

Close to 200,000 servicewomen have served on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. They have served with honor and distinction, earning Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Crosses and other medals for heroism. Military women have also shared the burdens and tragedies of these wars, with more than 100 killed, nearly 600 wounded, and three who were Prisoners of War. Standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, these women patriots and warriors are leading attack helicopter squadrons and flying fighter aircraft; serving as drivers, gunners, and convoy commanders; in charge of field hospitals; and performing critical battlefield communications and intelligence

Vaught with U.S. Sec. of Defense, Robert Gates as he signs the Memorial guest book.

missions. Just as servicemen have been described for decades, these women, too, are ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things; and like so many other soldiers, they humbly respond that they “are just doing their job.”

The glass tablets that form the skylight of the Military Women’s Memorial include 13 quotations by or about military women. As the sun passes over, these quotations are reflected down and inside onto the exhibit gallery’s marble wall. This dramatic presentation of servicewomen’s words, beginning with the Civil War to the present, is a powerful reminder of women’s contributions and commitment to the nation. In November 2007, during the Memorial’s 10th anniversary celebration, the most recent tablet was unveiled with a quotation by one of today’s women patriots, Kentucky Army National Guard sergeant Leigh Ann Hester who was awarded the Silver Star in June 2005 for heroism in combat. Her words will be featured for generations to come at the only major national memorial to pay tribute to all of America’s military women, “This award doesn’t have anything to do with being a female. It’s about the duties I performed that day as a soldier.”

I can just imagine Frieda saying, “Go for it!” H

Wilma L. Vaught Brigadier General, United States Air Force, Retired President, Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation T h e Am e r ic a n M ilit a r y W o m a n

29

Sending Thanks to U.S. Service Members

HELP US SEND 100,000 CARE PACKAGES TO U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS THIS YEAR 10 EASY WAYS TO HELP 1 Write Letters, Letters and More Letters!

Please include your address or e-mail in each letter so the recipient can choose to write back.

8 Recycle Old Cell Phones & Ink-Jet cartridges: Operation Gratitude receives cash!

GRC: 877-744-3601 or info@grcrecycling.com

2

Send us Your Easter and Halloween Candy!

9 Check out our Great Ideas page for creative ways to support Operation Gratitude and send additional care packages: www.OpGratitude.com/ideas.php

3

Hand-Knit or Crochet Scarves for our troops.

10

4

Make a tax-deductible donation of your vehicles through Cars for US Troops (www.carsforustroops.org) to support Operation Gratitude.

Donate Financially. On-line or By Check Each Operation Gratitude package costs $15 to send. a donation of any amount is greatly appreciated.

For more information on these and other ways to help, go to www.OperationGratitude.com

5 Buy or Sell on EBaY: Sellers can designate 10-100% of auction proceeds to Operation Gratitude.

For donation and volunteer information, please email: OpGrat@gmail.com

6

Phone Information: 818-909-0039

BEaNIE BaBIES! Service members give them to kids in the patrolled communities. Send us your old collection and put smiles on all their faces!

7 Shop at the Operation Gratitude Store: www.CafePress.com/OpGratitude. Every 3 items purchased pays to send another care package.

Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-based organization that sends care packages of items & letters individually addressed to U.S. Service Members deployed in harm’s way & Wounded Warriors recuperating at home. Our mission is to put a smile on a service member’s face & express to all troops the appreciation & support of the American people.

Please send donations to: Operation Gratitude; 16444 Refugio Road; Encino, CA 91436. All donations are tax deductible as provided by law.

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Commission to Recommend Allowing Women in Combat Units A

military advisory panel appears poised to recommend allowing female troops to serve in combat units without any restrictions, calling the current prohibition an out-of-date idea that unnecessarily discriminates against women.

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Courage and Honor

If approved by military officials, the move could open front-line posts to military women for the first time. Until now, either U.S. law or Pentagon policy has prohibited female troops from serving in any unit whose primary mission is direct ground combat, although they may serve

in combat support roles.

The Military Leadership Diversity Commission, established by Congress two years ago, issued the recommendation as part of a draft report on diversity in the services. The final report is due to lawmakers this spring, and commission members are meeting this week in Virginia to debate final changes.

In the draft, commission members call for a phased approach to open additional career fields with ground combat units to qualified women, saying the current policy limits the ability of commanders to pick the most capable person for their missions.

“To date, there has been little evidence that the integration of women into previously closed units or occupations has had a negative impact on important mission-related performance factors, like unit cohesion,” the draft states.

“Furthermore, a study by the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services actually found that a majority of focus group participants felt that women serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have had a positive impact on mission accomplishment.”

Photo: Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs

Spc. Crisma Albarran detaches an ammunition case from its mount after a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flight over Iraq.

Albarran with Task Force 38’s B Company, 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, volunteered for the job as door gunner prior to her second deployment.

The draft report notes that the restriction on combat posts prohibits women from serving in about 10 percent of Army and Marine Corps occupations, a “structural barrier” which could hurt their chances of promotion or advancement.

Proponents of women in combat roles have argued that the distinction is obsolete in the new combat environments of Iraq and Afghanistan, where support units have routinely found themselves involved in roadside bomb attacks and insurgent ambushes.

Since 2001, 114 female U.S. servicemembers have been killed in fighting in Iraq and 23 have been killed in fighting in Afghanistan.

But Elaine Donnelly, president of the conservative Center for Military Readiness, said the commission’s recommendation confuses troops in harm’s way with those assigned to front-line, offensive combat missions. Performing heroically in an ambush is not the same as grueling front-line combat.

“Physical differences between men and women do matter,” she said. “If the purpose of the change is to help with career advancement and diversity, it’s fine. But if the purpose is to help better defend the country, then it’s divorced from reality.”

Donnelly said barring women from some military jobs does not diminish their contributions, but instead recognizes that only a small percentage of female troops can meet the strength and endurance requirements mandated in “brutal and uncivilized” front-line fighting.

But Genevieve Chase, founder of American Women Veterans, said the restrictions are largely an issue of seman-

tics now. Commanders have gotten around the rules by “attaching” female troops to combat units when needed, allowing them to work in combat roles without having them assigned to combat units.

“But that becomes a records issue, what counts for promotion and experience,” she said. “We’re asking for women

to be recognized and acknowledged for that work.”

Chase, an Army reservist who served in Afghanistan, said standards for female combat troops need to be the same as those for men, but also noted that brute strength is not the only qualification. Language skills, leadership experience, and other combat-related specialties can be just as vital to mission success.

The commission, which includes 24 senior retired and active-duty servicemembers, recommended that women already in combat-related roles should be open for assignment to combat units immediately, and the services should look for ways in coming months to open additional combat posts to women.

The report also notes that the recommendation was not unanimous, with several members opposed to opening the front-line posts to women.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said he expected the commission’s report, along with other ongoing military reviews, would reopen the debate into women’s roles in the military.

Removing the combat restrictions would not require approval from Congress, but defense officials are required to notify lawmakers of any such change at least 30 days before it is put in place. H

T h e Am e r ic a n M ilit a r y W o m a n

33

Statistics of Women in the Military Number of Women Serving Active Duty, Reserve and Guard ACTIVE DUTY

Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force Total DoD Coast Guard

Women 74,411 12,951 51,029 64,984 200,375 5,454

Total 553,044 202,786 329,304 333,408 1,418,542 43,628

% Women 13.5% 6.4 % 15.5% 19.5% 13.9% 12.5%

Total

208,829

1,462,170

14.3%

RESERVE & GUARD

Army Reserve Marine Corps Reserve Navy Reservea Air Force Reserve Total DoD Coast Guard Reserve Reserve Total Army National Guard Air National Guard National Guard Total

Women 62,879 5,334 20,973 29,201 189,577 1,483 191,060 51,020 20,168 71,190

Total 282,262 95,199 109,267 111,168 1,070,213 9,399 1,079,612 363,121 109,196 472,317

% Women 28.7% 5.6% 19.2% 26.3% 17.7% 15.8% 17.7% 14.1% 18.5% 15.1%

Women Veterans By State as of Dec. 2010 Alabama. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34,902 Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,406 Arizona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,992 Arkansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,496 California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167,086 Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,699 Connecticut. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,297 Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,365 Dist. of Columbia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,881 Florida. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139,474 Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,198 Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,495 Idaho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,371 Illinois. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,656 Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,015 Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,744 Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,844 Kentucky. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,372 Louisiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,958 Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,230 Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,615 Massachusetts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,473 Michigan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,371 Minnesota. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,077 Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,723 Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,287 Montana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,921

Nebraska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,198 Nevada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,133 New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,793 New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,438 New Mexico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,379 New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,116 North Carolina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68,380 North Dakota. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,567 Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60,704 Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,221 Oregon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,226 Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,593 Rhode Island. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,053 South Carolina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34,915 South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,873 Tennessee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,669 Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152,571 Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,740 Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,696 Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90,234 Washington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55,060 West Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,700 Wisconsin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,023 Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,400 Puerto Rico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,216 Terr./Foreign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,355 Total Women Veterans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,824,198

Number of Women who served in military conflicts Civil War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unknown Spanish-American War. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,500 World War I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,000 World War II (era) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400,000 Korea (in theater) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Vietnam (in theater) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,500 Grenada (deployed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Panama (deployed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770 Desert Storm (in theater) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,000

Number of Female POW’s during individual military conflicts Civil War. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Desert Storm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 World War II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Operation Iraqi Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Information courtesy of the US Coast Guard, Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

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Courage and Honor

Thank you to the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation, Inc.

(800) 222-2294 / hq@womensmemorial.org / www.womensmemorial.org

firepower to put yourself ahead of the pack…way ahead.

JONES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Jones international university ®

ASSOCIATE’S • BACHELOR’S • MASTER’S • DOCTORATE • CERTIFICATES

866.427.1308 • www.jiumilitary.com

Navy Admiral Mike Mullen once said, “The day you stop adjusting is the day you lose.”

Of course, that quote was in reference to the American military effort. But isn’t it true in life as well?

Whether you’ve chosen the military as a career or a stepping-stone to a better future, reinvesting in your skill base is a necessity for advancement, in the military and in life.

Education is a tool that allows you to adapt to the current military landscape and the real world environment.

Focused, Dedicated Career Education Jones International University® (JIU®) has been a leader in online education since 1993.

As an industry pioneer, JIU offers degree programs to service members and their dependents that cater to their needs, both at home and abroad.

JIU offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree programs in business and education. The fully online and accredited curriculum is flexible, yet focused; allowing you to choose the hours that work best for your education.

Photo: Courtesy DoD

Their learning approach is one that military members find especially useful, manifesting itself in application. Because education can take you places, but applied learning can be put to use today, tomorrow and every day there after.

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Courage and Honor

Nationally Recognized Military Friendly Education Not only is Jones International University consistently ranked among the top online universities, it’s also nationally known as one of the top 10 higher education institutes for military members. Military Advanced Education (MAE), a leading journal of higher learning for service members, ranked JIU among a select group of schools with “commendable distance learning programs” and excellent “veteran support programs.” JIU also earned a position in the top 15 percent of schools that embrace military members by G.I. Jobs in their 2011 Guide to Military Friendly Schools. The ranking is especially significant in that G.I. Jobs looks at over 7,000 schools nationwide.

JIU serves all branches of the Armed Forces and they are a premiere Servicemember Opportunity College. The SOC program promotes distance-learning opportunities for current, inactive and former military members, providing support and educational opportunities.

Military Advancement Program The JIU Military Program is an all-inclusive program designed for military members and their families. JIU makes the transition back to school as seamless as possible, no matter what your military obligations look like.

The military program includes comprehensive services that allow for the easy transfer of previous credits, special military financial aid, streamlined educational curriculum and an individualized admissions program.

JIU makes it easy for past and current members of the Armed Forces to get a higher education by offering reduced tuition and no application and academic fees, including books and course downloads.

Take Control of Your Future The decisions made today could have a significant impact in the future. JIU can help you make the transition and accelerate your career path, whether you’re a lifelong military member or looking to venture into civilian society.

Start your next journey.

Call JIU at 866.427.1308 to learn more, or visit us at www.jiumilitary.com.

What sets you apart from the crowd?

Let us help you be

outstanding.

Whether you hope to climb the ranks or climb the ladder in a civilian career, Jones International University (JIU®) can help you get started on your future now. As the first fully online university to receive regional accreditation, JIU offers degree programs that emphasize real-world application while providing you the flexibility to fit learning around your military life. A Top 10 Military Friendly University, JIU can provide you with the educational firepower to put yourself ahead of the pack…way ahead.

JONES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

®

ASSOCIATE’S • BACHELOR’S • MASTER’S • DOCTORATE • CERTIFICATES

866.427.1308 • www.jiumilitary.com

38

Courage and Honor

T h e Am e r ic a n M ilit a r y W o m a n

39

40

Courage and Honor

Photo: Frank Brown

Soldier with 21 national rifle shooting records added one more trophy to her case in October 2010, the U.S. Army’s Soldier of the Year.

Sgt. Sherri Gallagher’s young life has been one of high achievement. Now the 26-year old rifle shooter/instructor for the Army Marksmanship Unit is the first female to win the Army’s Best Warrior competition.

“This is such an honor - I don’t think it has sunk in yet,” Gallagher said moments after the announcement here Monday. “Any one of us could have won the competition. I learned so much from everybody out here and loved every minute of this experience.”

Named the winner by Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston at the Association of the U.S. Army awards luncheon, the three-year veteran bested 11 other Soldiers representing the Army’s major commands during the competition Oct. 18-22 at Fort Lee, Va. “The reason I was successful is the training my sponsor, Sgt. 1st Class David Steinbach, developed for me,” said Gallagher, a native of Prescott, Ariz. “He pushed me so hard that I was ready for everything during the competition. Nothing came as a shock and my confidence was really high. I wish that I could share this with him because it truly was a team effort.”

Her preparation was tested at every level during the week at Fort Lee. Following a board led by SMA Preston Oct. 18, competitors were tested on their knowledge in a written exam and essay. Three days of field exercises Oct. 20-22 was next. The candidates conducted urban orienteering Wednesday and each led a squad through simulated battle operations that included engaging insurgents, tending wounded Soldiers on the battlefield, and a stress shoot while moving under enemy fire Thursday and Friday.

Steinbach said it wasn’t difficult preparing Gallagher. A Soldier that soaks up training like a sponge, he said, is extremely motivating.

“She’s pretty easy to train. For every bit you put into it, she will give you that much back and more,” Steinbach said. “I tell people that training

Gallagher and Staff Sgt. Russell Kojo, with Lt. Gen. John Sterling. Both were named the 2010 TRADOC Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year.

her was as easy as using a claymore mine; just pull a trigger and she’ll do all of the work.”

Work was the order of the day for Gallagher at Fort Lee during Best Warrior. Though small in stature, she demonstrated the drive and determination it takes to be a U.S. national rifle champion. “The amount of preparation they put into every lane was amazing,” she said of the experience. “Every event was so professional, above and beyond what I was expecting.”

One event Gallagher was expected to ace, of course, was M4 rifle qualification.

“It was faster-paced, quick, reactive shooting, but all shooting’s the same,” she said, “Keep your sights aligned and you’re good.”

“I’m always more comfortable with a gun in my hand.”

Gallagher’s quest began after being named the U.S. Army Accessions Command Soldier of the Year in May at Fort Knox. Ky. In July, she won the Training and Doctrine Command Best Warrior competition at Fort Lee, sending her to the Army event.

In between preparing for numerous boards and Soldier competitions, Gallagher became the first U.S. military shooter since 1987 to win the National High-Power Rifle Championship in August. She was only the second woman ever to win, following in her mother Nancy Tomkins’ footsteps.

Gallagher’s family is legendary in U.S. shooting competition.

“My family is always there for me — we are really close,” Gallagher said. “Being named Best Warrior was that much

more special since my mom was there sitting next to me today. I am who I am today because of my family.

We have so much fun and live life that way.”

Being assigned to the AMU was another benefit to her path to Army Soldier of the Year, she said.

With a little more than 100 Soldiers assigned to it, it represents teamwork and success. This year alone the unit has produced multiple national and world champions who are also U.S. Olympians. Army Soldier of the Year becomes a unique accomplishment in a unit known for high achievement.

“My Army family is awesome,” Gallagher said. “My teammates on the service rifle team have always had my back. The entire unit went out of its way to support me in any way they could. Even the leadership at Accessions Support Brigade and Accessions Command would call me and offer help. The whole experience was just fantastic.”

As a unit that falls under USAAC, Gallagher is used to representing the Army all over the nation. One of the marksmanship units’ main missions is promoting Army service and connecting America’s Army to the American public.

“She connects with people in a way that’s immediate,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Hodne, AMU commander. “Sgt. Gallagher possesses a unique combination of skill sets and character traits. She easily stands out because she is truly ‘one of a kind’ and we simply knew that she had the potential to earn the prestigious title of Army Soldier of the Year.”

This week begins a year of Gallagher representing the Army as its best enlisted Soldier.

Next week, however, it’s back to training: Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., before attending Warrior Leaders Course soon after that.

“How great is the Army?” she asked. “I just got to spend a week with some of the most talented people this Army has to offer, and in a few weeks I get to jump out of an airplane. Nothing is better than being a Soldier.” H

Photo: Michael Molinaro Photo: Michael Molinaro

Gallagher with Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army Vice Chief of Staff, and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston during the 2010 Army Soldier of the Year awards.

Gallagher receives a hug from Sgt. 1st Class David Steinbach.

Steinbach was Gallagher’s sponsor and trainer.

Photo: Michael Molinaro

Photo: Michael Molinaro

Gallagher and her mother, Nancy Tompkins are the only women to ever win the National High-Power Rifle Championship.

SGT Sherri Jo Gallagher

T h e Am e r ic a n M ilit a r y W o m a n

41

USAF Female Pilots Inspire Iraqi Women

By Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria

T

said Lieutenant Short. “We have also educated the women on their opportunities in an industry they may not have previously considered.

“Horizon East has worked with the U.S. State Department, Department of Transportation, Iraqi Ministry of Transportation, Iraqi and U.S. Military, aviation corporations and Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority as well as the general public to spread that message.

“Members of Horizon East are collaborating with Iraqi nationals in a number of initiatives to include spending time mentoring local Iraqi children and encouraging them to follow their dreams into the skies,” said Lieutenant Short.

The chapter has started an Iraqi network of female aviation professionals, and men who support them, so they can network with each and encourage those around them who are interested in these careers.

“With their intelligence, handwork and desire to improve their community, these women are a boundless resource for their country and fellow Iraqis,” said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Lila McClintoc, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintenance officer and Birmingham, Ala., native.

Photo: Spc. Amie J. McMillan

he U.S. Embassy Baghdad and U.S. Department of Transportation hosted a reception to honor and recognize the efforts of Horizon East, the Iraq chapter of the non-profit organization Women in Aviation, started by U.S. female pilots deployed to Joint Base Balad. The organization works to inspire, empower and educate the women of Iraq for success in all aviation related careers.

Several of the founders for the Iraqi chapter, including Horizon East president U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Chrystina Short, 777th Expeditionary Aircraft Squadron C-130 pilot made the 42-mile journey via rotary-wing to attend the reception. The reception was a chance for Horizon East to interact with current Iraqi aviation leaders.

“While the event was limited in attendance by the Embassy facility, the inspirational message we delivered went out all over Iraq through the media reaching thousands of Iraqi women,” said Lieutenant Short, a Kansas native.

According to the lieutenant, the reception was the culmination of four months of effort here in Iraq and it gave them a chance to promote the visibility of women’s potential to contribute in the aviation industry and highlight the increasing opportunities in Iraq’s civilian and military sector.

“We thought we were coming here to inspire them, but it was really the Iraqi women who inspired us with their courage and determination,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Dana Parker, 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron C-130 and MC-12 pilot and Marysville, Wash., native.

Ambassador Jeanine Jackson, management counselor, mentioned in her opening remarks of the reception the importance of networking and connecting professional Iraqi and American women.

“Horizon East was founded in September 2010 and officially gained provisional chapter status two months later in November. The chapter has worked to increase the awareness of the Iraqi women’s ability to contribute to the aviation industry.

Capt. Dana Parker and 2nd Lt. Lila McClintoc, speak to Iraqi women about their experiences’ in aviation.

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Chrystina Short poses in front of a C-130.

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Courage and Honor

Photo: USAF

“Our biggest success has been creating this important dialogue which will continue the encouragement of women in the aviation field,”

The WAI organization provides more than $500,000 in scholarships annually and, due to Horizon East’s initial outreach efforts, several Iraqi women have already submitted their applications.

“Our goal is to see the Iraqi’s take ownership of this chapter now that they are connected to the international network of WAI and have access to the resources, information, and scholarships,” said Lieutenant Short.

As security continues to improve in Iraq, the country is rebuilding both its civilian and military aviation sectors. Now that all legal restrictions on women in aviation careers have been removed, Iraqi women now have opportunities to excel in this field and Horizon East is working to make that a reality.

“We want to effectively outline paths to aviation careers and encourage Iraqi women to seek them,” said Lieutenant Short. “By engaging women here, we improve American – Iraqi ties, counter terrorist recruitment efforts and strengthen Iraqi capabilities. Even if only a few women enter the industry, they alone become powerful role models and resources for their community.” H

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Pressure release detonation

Tripwire capabilities for detection training

Colonel Dawn Dunlop Commander 412th Test Wing Edwards Air Force Base

By Edwards AFB Public Affairs

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Photo: Greg L. Davis, USAF

From L-R Col. Dunlop, Brig. Gen. Robt C. Nolan II and Col. Gregory E. Schwab.

Col. Dunlop gives her first salute as commander of the 412th Test Wing, the Air Force’s premier flight test wing.

Photo: Rob Densmore, USAF

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na warm E d w a r d ’s high desert morning Col. Dawn M. Dunlop assumed command of the 412th Test Wing during a change of command ceremony at Edwards.

Maj. Gen. David Eichhorn, Air Force Flight Test Center commander, officiated the ceremony where Col. Dunlop assumed command from Brig. Gen. William J. Thornton.

“An exceptional unit requires an exceptional leader; fortunately, we have another one waiting to take over,” said General Eichhorn. “She’s ready to take over.”

Colonel Dunlop, former 412th TW vice commander, has served nearly seven years at Edwards AFB. As a 1988 Air Force Academy graduate, Dunlop began her aviation career as a T-38 Talon instructor pilot and was among the first women flying Air Force fighters once the ban on female fighter pilots was lifted in 1993.

After flying operational F-15E Strike Eagles for 2 1/2 years, she was accepted into the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards in 1997 and began flying F-15 tests mission the following year.

In 2003, she was assigned as operations officer for the F-22 Combined Test Force at Edwards and became the first woman to fly the jet that November.

Out of the cockpit, Dunlop was chief of the Air Staff’s Senate liaison division and a White House fellow.

After receiving the 412th TW guidon from Maj. Gen. Eichhorn, the new commander spoke to more than 400 members of the Flight Test Nation team about the important legacy of the Air Force’s premiere test wing.

“I can’t imagine a more inspiring setting to change command; standing under our great American flag and surrounded by aircraft and Airmen that represent the strength of our nation,” said Colonel Dunlop.

“Here at Edwards, we develop technology and unproven concepts into the missionready capabilities that have long made our Air Force the envy of Air Forces around the world. It’s a mission I am incredibly proud to be a part of.”

“What we do at Edwards equips our Air Force and enables the joint fight. What we do at Edwards secures our nation and our future.

What we do at Edwards can only be done due to you, the incredible engineers, maintainers, program managers, test pilots and navigators, and all the supporting organizations from the 95th Air Base Wing and the Test Wing that make that mission possible,” added Colonel Dunlop. “It is the intersection of these disciplines that first-flights are achieved and the war fighter’s needs are met.”

As commander Colonel Dunlop is responsible for the airframes, propulsion systems, avionics, and electronic warfare development, test, and evaluation of the most diverse collection of manned and unmanned aerospace systems collocated at one base. She also oversees specialized flight test training at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and operation of all Edwards test facilities and ranges. The wing supplies decision-quality data, test results and recommendations that directly influence major aerospace acquisition programs. H

Some Mom’s Serve Double-Duty

Female Engagement Teams Making Real Differences

Lance Cpl. Rosemarie I. Epity a supply clerk with FET, participates in a patrol with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, in Musa Qala, Afghanistan.

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Courage and Honor

Photo: Cpl. Lindsay L. Sayres

n the most dangerous place in the world FET’s are making real differences in the lives of the Afghan people.

As Marines, they patrol fields and villages, trudge through canals, secure areas, and do their best to stay alive.

As members of the Female Engagement Teams, these women Marines are proving to be goodwill ambassadors to the people of Afghanistan. The combination of training, a friendly smile and a sincere interest in them as people has opened the doors to FET’s that have remained shut to male Marines.

In Afghanistan, when it comes to the virtue of women, the matter is taken very seriously. For most Afghan women any place beyond the walls of their compounds is a foreign place, as male escorts are required for going on the shortest of outings. Speaking to men is forbidden if you are a woman there, so the ability for male Marines to interact with villagers is limited. This extreme isolation makes it imperative for FET’s to be able to reach out to the Afghan women, and their children.

Lance Cpl. Kathryn L. Mannion, who volunteered to participate in the program, is assigned to the female engagement team with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

“We’re just getting our faces out there,” said Mannion, 24, who joined the Marine Corps as a college senior.

I

“When the villagers see the females, they know we are not here to fight; we aren’t here to hurt anybody. We are kind of seen as the third sex. We can talk to the men, the children and the women, where the men can only talk to men. Female Marines tend to give a sort of comfort to the local populace,” continued Mannion.

The FET members believe that the more they go out and are seen by Afghan men, the more these men will start to see what their women are capable of and give them a chance to become business women, teachers and even members of the government. Male Marines cannot effectively talk to the Afghan women because of cultural sensitivities, a fact which has slowed the progress of successfully reaching out to the Afghan people in the past.

“When I had to search my first Afghan woman, it was scary,” said Jones, originally an administration clerk. “I could see she was uncomfortable because she thought I was a guy.”

Lance Cpl. Sharhonda U. Jones had constantly been asking her command for a chance to deploy, so when they approached her and told her about the new female engagement team program, she jumped at the opportunity.

The 21-year-old from Wills Point, Texas, trained for three months before she deployed. She participated in field and weapons training, as well as classes on the Pashtu language and civil affairs.

Continued on Page 48

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Photo: Cpl. Megan Sindelar

Continued from Page 47

Lance Cpl. Sharhonda Jones sits with a local child while he waits for medical attention during a village medical outreach in Afghanistan.

cal outreach, the local females automatically assume she is a male.

Jones has become more vocal around the women and has even gone as far as removing her flak so they can see her female figure. This way the Afghans are more comfortable and Jones can move on with her

Continued on Page 50

Photo: Sgt. Heidi Agostini

Jones, admitting it was hard to engage Afghan women at first, said that most of the locals in this area have never seen an AfricanAmerican female before. They have grown accustom to only seeing African-American males come through. Every time Jones visits a compound or is involved in a village medi-

mission of engaging the Afghan women and children; showing them that this is so much more than just a war – the Marines are helping the Afghans build their government and use their own resources to rebuild their country after years of fighting.

“She’s great with the kids,” said Lance Cpl. Kathryn L. Mannion, Jones’s team leader with the FET. “And once the Afghan women realize she is a woman as well, they get a kick out of her. She’s really funny.”

Most FET members get assigned to ground forces made up of entirely male Marines, but Jones has a different perspective than most female Marines on that topic.

“I like it,” she exclaimed. “Growing up around males, I believe I have a different look on the Marine Corps. I see what they are going through and I have a lot of respect for them.”

She said that the male Marines have grown accustomed to working with her and her teammate, and they are treated as one of their own.

While on a FET mission, she searches Afghan women and converses with them with either a linguist or the little Pashtu she picked up during training and during her current deployment. Her intent is to find out more about the population in the village and their living conditions.

Jones really enjoys and is proud of what she is doing out here, but when she returns

FET members with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, enjoy a meal of stewed chicken, potatoes, rice and watermelon prepared by members of the Afghan National Civil Order Police at Combat Outpost Saipan.

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Courage and Honor

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“My company was being sent out with different infantry battalions and they couldn’t take me because I was a female,” said Mannion. “I really wanted to deploy, so I saw it as a good opportunity.”

The motivation for many who volunteer for the FET program is the wider range of opportunities that are available. FET members, while each having a military occupational specialty, like mechanic or supply clerk, are offered a chance to receive training and perform duties in other fields.

The FET training program is three months in duration and includes cultural awareness and sensitivity classes. The trainees also find themselves embedded with a battalion for integrated training that includes military operations in urban terrain

Photo: Lance Cpl. Megan Sindelar

Photo: Cpl. Brice D. Sparks, USMC

home, she is going to be busy putting in her re-enlistment package and her plan is to request temporary orders to try out for the Marine Corps basketball team.

“She loves the Marine Corps; I’ve never heard her complain once, no matter how bad the living conditions can get,” Mannion said. “She’s more than just a team member, she is a great friend.”

Mannion said at first, their male counterparts with the infantry battalions were not used to seeing female Marines in their area of operations, and were unfamiliar with their exact mission. After awhile, the units start to see what the teams do and how they operate, and they are effectively able to include the FET and work together.

Photo: Sgt. Heidi Agostini, USMC

Continued from Page 48

Above: Cpl. Rachel Campbell, attached to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, gives candy to local girls while on patrol in Garmsir, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Right: Sgt. Guadalupe Rodriquez hands snacks to a family waiting to receive medical care during a women’s medical engagement held outside Combat Outpost Riley.

Bottom: Lance Cpl. Jones purchases potatoes from a bazaar outside Combat Oupost Saipan.

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Photo: Sgt. Heidi Agostini

house clearing, on-site casualty treatment, basic patrolling, improvised explosive device (IED) detection and fire and maneuver drills.

Even as they extend humanitarian efforts, FET’s must always remember they’re in a war zone. Through their interactions, FET’s have encountered many Afghan women who say they’ve never left their compound for fear of the firefights and improvised explosive devices.

The cooperation built through the Female Engagement Teams’ efforts is helping to build stronger relationships between all Afghans and our Marines. H

Above: Lance Cpls. Yvienne Yumol, and Kathryn Mannion take a break from their duties while assigned to FET.

Photo: Sgt. Heidi Agostini

Left: Lance Cpl. Mannion, washes her face at the makeshift hygiene area, which consists of stray water bottles and a wooden shelf.

FET members with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment endure desert critters – mosquitoes, mice and camel spiders while they try to sleep in a bunker.

T h e Am e r ic a n M ilit a r y W o m a n

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A Legacy of

Healing and Hope

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation During the Vietnam era, over 265,000 women served their nation in uniform and in civilian support roles. Nearly 11,000 women served in country. They completed their tours of duty and made a difference. Some gave their lives. Eight military women and 59 civilians died during the Vietnam War.

The VWMF includes veterans of the Global War on Terror in its activities at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and works with others at every opportunity to assist this new generation of warriors.

The VWMF assists researchers from around the world as they study the effects of wartime service on the women and their families.

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation (VWMF), is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from the public to continue its missions to sustain the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, to identify and honor the hundreds of thousands of American military and civilian women who served, to educate the public about women’s roles, to facilitate research on these women and their families regarding the effects of their service, and to promote healing.

To lend your support or share your story, contact the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation at 1735 Connecticut Av. NW 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20009, 866.822.8963, vwmfdc@gmail.com.

Visit our award winning website:

www.vietnamwomensmemorial.org.

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Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody:

First Female C

all it breaking the brass ceiling. Ann E. Dunwoody, after 33 years in the Army, has ascended to a peak never before reached by a woman in the U.S. military: four-star general.

At an emotional promotion ceremony, in November 2008, Dunwoody looked back on her years in uniform, said it was a credit to the Army — and a great surprise to her — that she would make history in a male-dominated military.

“Thirty-three years after I took the oath as a second lieutenant, I have to tell you this is not exactly how I envisioned my life unfolding,” she told a standing-room-only auditorium. “Even as a young kid, all I ever wanted to do was teach physical education and raise a family.

“It was clear to me that my Army experience was just going to be a two-year detour en route to my fitness profession,” she added. “So when asked,

General

U.S. Army Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody addresses the audience during her promotion ceremony in the Pentagon.

Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess

By Robert Burns

Gen. Dunwoody being pinned by Gen. George W. Casey (left) and her husband Craig Brotchie.

Gen. Dunwoody recites the oath of office to Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey during her promotion ceremony in the Pentagon Nov. 14, 2008.

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‘Ann, did you ever think you were going to be a general officer, to say nothing about a four-star?’ I say, ‘Not in my wildest dreams.’

Federal law excludes women from combat jobs, which is the typical path to four-star rank in the military. However, in 2005, Dunwoody became the Army’s top-ranking female when she received the promotion to lieutenant general (three stars) and became the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 (logistics).

Dunwoody, whose husband, Craig Brotchie, served for 26 years in the Air Force, choked up at times during a speech in which she said she only recently realized how much her accomplishment means to others.

“This promotion has taken me back in time like no other event in my entire life,” she said. “And I didn’t appreciate the enormity of the events

Photos: Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess, U.S. Navy

This article first ran in the May 2009 issue of Salute To Freedom: Honoring Military Women.

Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess

until tidal waves of cards, letters, and e-mails started coming my way.”

“I’ve heard from men and women, from every branch of service, from every region of our country, and every corner of the world. I’ve heard from moms and dads who see this promotion as a beacon of home for their own daughters and an affirmation that anything is possible through hard work and commitment.”

“And I’ve heard from women veterans of all wars, many who just wanted to say congratulations; some who just wanted to say thanks; and still other who just wanted to say they were so happy this day had finally come.”

On that same day, at Fort Belvoir, Va. — her birthplace — Dunwoody was sworn in as commander of the Army Materiel Command, responsible for equipping, outfitting and arming all soldiers. Just five months ago, she became the first female deputy commander there.

Dunwoody, 55, has made it clear that she feels no need for special acclaim for her historic achievement.

“The recognition makes her a little bit uncomfortable from the standpoint of the gender aspect — that we’re making a big deal (that) she is

Hal Dunwoody stands in recognition during his daughter’s promotion ceremony in the Pentagon. He is also a decorated veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.

Photo: Isidro Reyna

Continued on Page 56

Gen. Dunwoody is applauded, as she becomes the new commander of Army Materiel Command.

With her, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. (center) and outgoing AMC commander Gen. Benjamin S. Griffin.

T h e Am e r ic a n M ilit a r y W o m a n

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Continued from Page 55

Ann Dunwoody (right) during a Women’s Officer Training Course in Sept. 1975.

the first female general officer,” Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, said in announcing that Defense Secretary Robert Gates would attend the promotion ceremony.

When nominated by President George W. Bush in June 2008 for promotion to four-star rank, Dunwoody issued a statement saying she was humbled.

“I grew up in a family that didn’t know what glass ceilings were,” she said. “This nomination only reaffirms what I have known to be true about the military throughout my career — that the doors continue to open for men and women in uniform.”

There are 21 female general officers in the Army — all but four at the one-star rank of brigadier. It was not until 1970 that the Army had its first one-star: Anna Mae Hays, chief of the Army Nurse Corps.

Women now make up about 14 percent of the active-duty Army and are allowed to serve in a wide variety of assignments. They are still excluded from units designed primarily to engage in direct combat, such as infantry and tank units, but their opportunities have expanded over the past two decades.

While it may be unusual for a woman to rise to the top in the Army, it’s not unusual for a Dunwoody. The family has four generations of West Point graduates, including Ann Dunwoody’s father and brother.

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Dunwoody hails from a family of military men dating back to the 1800s. Her father, 89-year-old

2nd Lt. Ann Dunwoody (left) sits with one of her classmates at Fort McClellan, Ala in 1975.

Hal Dunwoody — a decorated veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam — was in the audience, along with the service chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, plus the Joint Chiefs chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen.

But unlike her father, West Point was not an option for the young Dunwoody when she left for college in the early 1970s. The Women’s Army Corps — or WAC — was about to be phased out as women were integrated into the Army. ROTC and the service academies had not quite opened up to women. But the transition from a draft Army to an all-volunteer force was creating opportunities.

As a junior at the State University of New York at Cortland, Dunwoody decided to try the College Junior program, a women’s officer orientation course.

Her interest was physical education, but joining the Army program meant $500 a month during her senior year, a lot of money in the 1970s, and only a two-year commitment to the Army.

What Dunwoody really wanted to do was jump out of airplanes, and the Army seemed a safe option to do that. The Quartermaster Corps offered women that opportunity, so she chose the career field. Upon graduation in 1975, she received a direct commission as an Army second lieutenant.

“It was my generation of women who came in at that time who were all first in their field,” she said. “We are talking about Ann Dunwoody today, but the women that came in with me were all first because they were into integration of the Army, too — first signal platoon, first maintenance platoon.”

Dunwoody said she belongs to an “entire generation on that journey that had helped make integration of women a reality.”

Dunwoody came into the Army the year Saigon fell — and the Vietnam War ended — leaving the military exhausted, under-funded, and beset with drug and discipline problems.

“In the mid-’70s, I don’t think it mattered if you were a male or female,” she said. “It was what we refer to now as the broken Army. I think we were all challenged with instilling the discipline and reinforcing the standards.”

At the same time, women faced the challenge of integrating themselves into the Army.

Dunwoody received her Army commission after graduating from the State University of New York in 1975.

Her first assignment was to Fort Sill, as supply platoon leader in June 1976, and she remained at Sill in various positions until she was sent to quartermaster officer school at Fort Lee, Va., in July 1980.

She later served in Germany and Saudi Arabia.

After graduating from the Command and General Staff College in 1987, she was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., where she became the 82nd Airborne Division’s first female battalion commander.

She has numerous decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal and Defense Superior Service Medal. H

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Photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, USN

Mike Mullen:

Military Lags in Support of Women Warriors

By Cheryl Pellerin

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and Richard H. Solomon answer questions from the audience at the U.S. Institute of Peace Women and War.

A

ccording to a top U.S. Military officer, resources for women in the military services are lagging those of men, and officials within the military system do not yet understand the unique challenges of women in uniform.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to several hundred participants in the U.S. Institute of Peace Women and War Conference.

“As we celebrate the doors that have been opened to our women in uniform and honor the impact they have had around the world, we also have to look very hard at doors that are still closed,” he said.

Participants at the conference examined links among women, peace and security in war zones and after conflicts. It also marked the 10th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted in 2000 to reaffirm the role of women in preventing and resolving conflicts.

“I am privileged to serve alongside some of the most accomplished, most influential women in this country,” Admiral Mullen said. “I rely on their talent and counsel every single day.”

The chairman mentioned Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, the first female four-star general, and Navy Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, who serves on the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace, predicted that more women will rise to the top ranks.

“Ann Dunwoody may be our first fourstar female in this nation’s history,” he said, “but I can promise you that many more are on the way.”

Admiral Mullen said he was on staff at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1976 when “a tele58

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gram came from Washington telling us that women were on their way to Annapolis.”

“Congress did the right thing, even though we couldn’t,” he said.

Eighty-one women entered the academy that first year and later entered a military that was less than 5 percent female.

“Today, women are rising through our ranks and expanding their influence at an ever-increasing rate, serving magnificently all over the world in all sorts of ways,” Admiral Mullen said. “And each time we open new doors to their professional lives, we end up wondering, ‘Why did it take us so long?’”

More than 200,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, he noted, demonstrating resilience, adaptability and a capacity for innovation.

Admiral Mullen said women have given the services a “competitive advantage” in Iraq, through outreach to local women who were helping to subvert security checkpoints, and in Afghanistan, where female Marines have formed engagement teams that operate in Taliban strongholds.

Despite laws excluding women from combat roles, “I’d be hard-pressed to say that any woman who serves in Afghanistan today or who served in Iraq over the last few years did so without facing the same risks of their male counterparts,” Admiral Mullen said.

“Time and time again,” he added, “they show us that courage and leadership recognize no gender.”

The chairman noted that today’s asymmetric warfare means there’s no clear delineation between the front lines and the sidelines.

“This will be the first generation of

veterans where large segments of women returning will have been exposed to some form of combat,” he said.

Women are returning from war with the same visible and invisible wounds as men, and “they’re also coming home to Dover,” Admiral Mullen said, referring to Dover Air Force Base, Del., where the remains of servicemembers killed in combat arrive in the U.S. More than 100,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, Admiral Mullen said, and almost 4,000 are from today’s generation. Ten percent of those seeking help for homelessness are women.

“Many of these women have young children who have already been through so much,” he said. “This is something that deeply troubles me.”

Admiral Mullen said he and his wife, Deborah, recently welcomed their first granddaughter into the family, prompting him to think about how the benefits that women bring to the military, U.S. efforts across the globe and addressing the cost of war all have implications for the future.

“The recruits and young officers we bring in (to military service) today will be the four-star leaders of tomorrow, 30 years into the future,” he said. “That’s why when it comes to diversity, I believe we can’t go fast enough.

“In 2040, when our granddaughter turns 30,” he continued, “we will need a military leadership that is truly reflective of and connected to the American people. And let’s face it, when that day comes and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of 2040 looks at her leadership team, those of us who are still here will not want to have to answer the question, ‘What took you so long back in 2010?’” H

Female Marine Recognized for Combat Readiness Contributions

By Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken

“I couldn’t have gotten this award without the help from Lance Cpl. Brian C. Knowles,” Plaia explained.

Knowles is also an IMRL asset manager and has worked with Plaia since June, 2009.

“She pushes me to be better and more competent at my job,” Knowles said. “It makes me a better Marine.”

Plaia joined the Marine Corps in February 2005, and she jokingly remembers how the news of her joining was received. “Some of my friends said I was too girly,” Plaia said. “I wanted to be a part of the toughest branch.”

Plaia said she feels strongly about serving her country and volunteered herself for both of her deployments to Iraq. H Photo: Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken, USMC

A

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine was named for her outstanding contributions to the Marine Corps by top officials in the Marine Corps League.

Sgt. Elizabeth A. Plaia of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 was awarded the Sgt. Maj. Bertha L. Peters Award for her work as an individual material readiness list asset manager with the squadron.

“My friend called and told me I won, and I just screamed,” said Plaia. “I feel honored and privileged.”

Sgt. Maj. Bertha L. Peters was the first female sergeant major in the Marine Corps, and the award bearing her name recognizes an enlisted female Marine who has made a significant contribution to increased combat readiness.

Plaia was nominated for the Peters award by 1st Lt. Melissa A. DePriest, a maintenance material control officer, and Plaia’s prior officer in charge.

“As her OIC, I was able to see the direct positive effects she had in regards to program improvements,” said DePriest. “It is rare to find a Sgt. Plaia in the individual material readiness list community.”

Plaia feels her best quality as a Marine is her leadership, and she aspires for her Marines to be better than her.

Sgt. Plaia and Lance Cpl. Knowles, inventory a wire repair kit at VMAQ-3’s hangar.

A Marine’s a Marine

By Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik, 1st Marine Logistics Group

F

Lance Cpl. Kimberly R. Burrows, a 22 year old from Albany, Ore., is currently at Forward Operating Base Zeebrugge, near the Kajaki Dam in Helmand province, Afghanistan, and she’s the only female Marine for miles.

Burrows, who joined the Marine Corps in April 2007, isn’t at all bothered by this fact. She is just glad to have the chance to help with the current mission: improving one of the most remote Marine FOB’s in Afghanistan.

“It’s nice to do things for people who need it and will appreciate it,” said Burrows.

“These [India] Battery Marines need the Photo: Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik

emale Marines represent just six percent of the entire Marine Corps, and for one combat engineer from 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) that small ratio is a large reality.

Lance Cpl. Burrows moves a two-by-four while working on improvements for Forward Operating Base Zeebrugge.

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work to be done for both their safety and comfort, and I’m glad to be helping out with that.”

When engineers from 9th ESB arrived at FOB Zeebrugge they were tasked to enhance security and improve living conditions for the Marines of India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division, who currently own that battle space.

According to Burrows leadership, she’s a valuable asset to the engineer team conducting the mission.

“She has a good work ethic,” said Sgt. Martin D. Allen, a combat engineer from 9th ESB, who currently leads the projects on FOB Zeebrugge. “Burrows is very knowledgeable, and she has great initiative. She keeps busy, and she keeps great accountability of the tools.”

As for being the only female around, Burrows looks at it quite simply: “You’ve got males and females, but we are all Marines, and we have a job to do. It’s about giving these Marines a safe place to sleep.” H

Photo: Cpl. Jo Jones

Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben

First Female Chaplain of the Marine Corps

By Cpl. Jo Jones

Kibben speaks to chaplains and religious program specialists during a luncheon at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

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ear Adm. Margaret Kibben has been taking care of Marines and sailors since 1986. Having served as a chaplain with various Marine Corps and Navy units for the past 24 years, the Princeton Theological Seminary graduate was a prime candidate for a new top senior leadership position within the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

In July 2010, Kibben assumed her duties as the 18th chaplain of the Marine Corps, making her the first female to serve in this role. She was also appointed as the deputy chief of Navy chaplains.

“She represents everything that we think the Chaplain Corps ought to represent,” said Navy Capt. Lawrence P. Greenslit, command chaplain of II Marine Expeditionary Force. “She is mature, wellspoken, intelligent, and she has a good grasp of strategic issues. Yet her focus is always on taking care of Marines and sailors. That is what we do, and that is her focus and her mission. She also takes care of the chaplains and (religious program specialists) who work within the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.”

One of the ways Kibben accomplishes her mission is by visiting Marines and sailors at their respective installations. She most recently visited Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 27 through 30.

During her four-day tour, Kibben met with a number of people such as the Marines and sailors of Wounded Warrior Battalion – East, family members and Chaplain’s Religious Enrichment Development Operations personnel. She also talked to chaplains who recently returned

from combat tours; she listened to their stories, conveyed her appreciation for their hard work and sacrifices and offered them encouragement.

Additionally, Kibben attended a luncheon at the Ball Center aboard Camp Lejeune where she met with chaplains and RPs who hailed from various East Coast installations, and addressed their concerns.

Kibben, who once served as a chaplain with 2nd Force Service Support Group, now 2nd Marine Logistics Group, aboard MCB Camp Lejeune, said she enjoyed seeing first-hand the camaraderie and teamwork between Marines, sailors, chaplains and RPs. “My trip here has been absolutely phenomenal,” said Kibben, a Warrington, Pa., native. “I am so enthused about the ministry that is being done here, and I’m excited about the support the commanders are providing to their chaplains and RPs.” Senior Chief Petty Officer Christine Giampa, the senior RP assigned to II MEF, said it was encouraging for the chaplains and RPs to see their senior leader visit during a time when many of them are preparing for their deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She said Kibben, who served as the command chaplain for Combined Forces Command Afghanistan in 1996, stressed the importance of teamwork, a concept that would boost morale and save lives while fighting the war on terrorism.

“She’s all about the team,” said Giampa. “We’re in it together with the Marines and the mission at hand. The overall mission is to win the war and get

everybody back home safe and sound.”

Although gender was not a deciding factor in the decision to appoint Kibben to her current positions, Giampa said women serving in senior leadership roles sends a strong message to future leaders – both men and women.

“There’s nothing you can’t achieve,” said Giampa. “It opens up a lot of career paths, not only for women but for (everyone). It broadens everyone’s thinking.

Being the first female chaplain of the Marine Corps is truly a blessing and something unique and diverse.”

Kibben attributed her success to her predecessors – both male and female – and said she was excited to be a part of a team that helped so many people.

“The opportunity to serve, regardless of my gender, is an incredible honor that just overwhelms me,” said Kibben.

“To serve as a woman in this particular role, it’s on the shoulders of a number of people who have gone before me, both men and women. Both have understood the diversity, the gifts and the characteristics that make a person able to serve in a leadership role, regardless of gender or ethnicity. All of this is because of them.”

Greenslit, who has known Kibben for 25 years, said he had no doubt she would be successful for the next few years.

“I just want to say how proud we, in the Navy Chaplain Corps, are of Chaplain Kibben,” reiterated Greenslit. “We are so glad to have her here. I’ve known her for 25 years, and she is not just one of the finest chaplains that I know, but also one of the finest individuals. We are proud of her, her accomplishments and who she is.” H

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Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson First Female Carrier Strike Group Commander

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signal “that there is no limit as to what you can do.”

Tyson’s flagship will be the carrier USS George H.W. Bush, which was commissioned last year. At 1,094 feet long, its the 10th and last in the line of Nimitz-class carriers.

“It seems like a dream,” Tyson said as she took command aboard the carrier at Norfolk Naval Station. After the ceremony, Tyson received a congratulatory phone call from former President George H.W. Bush.

As a one-star admiral, Tyson is not the highest-ranking female Navy officer – there are other women with two or three stars. But her appointment comes at a high-water mark for women in the military in general and the Navy in particular.

Ever since the Army first promoted its first female one-star general in 1970, one barrier after another has fallen. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed legislation requiring all U.S. military academies to accept women, for instance, and other laws have cleared the way for females to share in more of the opportunities, and the sacrifices, associated with the military.

Photo: Nicholas Hall, Mass Comm Spc.

hen Nora W. Tyson entered the Navy in 1979 women were not allowed to go to sea on aircraft carriers.

The idea of a woman commanding a mighty carrier strike group was certainly for another day.

That day arrived in August 2010 for Rear Adm. Tyson, who made history in assuming command of Carrier Strike Group Two in a ceremony on board the USS George H.W. Bush.

The strike group consists of the Bush, America’s newest carrier, four guided-missile cruisers; Destroyer Squadron 22, which includes six guided-missile destroyers and two frigates, and Carrier Air Wing 8, with eight squadrons of aircraft.

In accepting her new assignment, Tyson spoke of the challenges that the Navy faces and said she was humbled to be selected. Talking later with reporters, she downplayed her history-making step.

“As far as the trailblazing piece, I understand I am the first woman on the job,” she said. “But I’m a professional just like my fellow officers are, and my fellow strike group commanders.”

Adm. Gary Roughead, the chief of naval operations, said her appointment should send a

Commander Tyson passes through the side boys after a change of command ceremony on the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH.

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In April 2010, the Navy announced a policy change that will allow women to serve on submarines. The first group of female sailors has since been accepted.

In June 2010, the Navy announced its four sailors of the year, and women swept the field for the first time.

“It’s been a tremendous year for women in the Navy,” said Regina Akers, a naval historian with Naval History and Heritage Command.

Tyson’s promotion ceremony prompted Akers to recall other women who have broken barriers in the Navy, starting with Joy Bright Hancock. Born in 1898 and serving in World War I as a yeoman, she lost two husbands to aviation accidents while still in her 20s. Other Navy women have broken barriers as well. Barbara Allen was the first female aviator in 1974.

Brenda Robinson was the first black female aviator. Rosemary Mariner was the first woman to command an operational aviation squadron.

Tyson said she’s thought about whether she’ll face more scrutiny. She said it all comes down to professionalism.

But while women have made progress in the Navy over the years, Tyson’s appointment marks a dramatic step forward when it comes to the burden of responsibility. Because carriers are a symbol of America’s military might the positioning is one of constantly being on the front lines. As well, the tradition of the Navy is that whoever is in charge is responsible.

Tyson acknowledged the level of her new responsibilities during her speech.

“This,” she said, “is not an easy position to be in.” H

Captain Mary M. Jackson

First Female Commanding Officer – Norfolk Naval Station

By MCS Seaman William Jamison

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aval Station (NS) Norfolk marked a new milestone during a change of command ceremony held aboard the installation in the summer of 2010. Capt. Mary M. Jackson relieved Capt.

Kelly M. Johnson and became the first female commanding officer of the world’s largest naval installation.

Johnson will be moving on to a position with the staff of Commander, Naval Installations Command in Washington D.C. “Johnson constantly challenged his crew to find better

successes in every department, in every area and arena as articulated by Capt. Johnson.”

Under Johnson’s command, NS Norfolk led the way in Navy efforts to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, receiving numerous awards including the 2009 Secretary of the Navy’s Blue Energy Award and the Hampton Roads Sanitation District Silver Award.

Johnson said he hoped his tenure at Naval

Jackson’s hope for her time in command is that it will be marked by “small talk and big action”.

Station Norfolk would be marked by a renewed focus on force protection measures and a rigorous adherence to program guidelines. “The installation commanding officer is, at worst, a cat herder and, at best, a facilitator and integrator for the hundreds of program elements

associated with this complex facility,” said Johnson. These aspects of a commanding officer’s duties were especially important for Naval Station Norfolk, which dealt with more ship movements and the transition towards becoming the leading helicopter base on the East Coast. H Photo: Mass Comm Spc Seaman Anna Wade, USN

ways to do business, holding effectiveness high while improving efficiency,” said Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Rear Adm. Mark S. Boensel. “From personal experience, I know relinquishing command can be a bittersweet feeling, because for the past year and half you have invested so much of yourself in this command, but rest assured, you are leaving Naval Station Norfolk in very capable hands.”

Jackson, who previously served as executive officer (XO) of NS Norfolk and commanding officer of USS McFaul (DDG 74), said she wanted her time as commanding officer to be marked by “small talk and big action.” She also issued a challenge to the command.

“As Sailors we profess and demand excellence in service,” said Jackson. “One of the critical attributes to such success is to inculcate and instill the sense of ownership at all levels. I challenge each of you, individually and collectively, as a command, to take ownership to the next level.” Jackson is taking the reigns at a time of remarkable success for Naval Station Norfolk. “Naval Station Norfolk, I am extremely proud of you and the vast and varied work you do here aboard the installation, as well as on Individual Augmentee assignments and in our community,” said Jackson. “Over the last 16 months, during my tenure as XO, I have witnessed your

Capt. Kelly M. Johnson, left, salutes Capt. Mary M. Jackson during the change of command ceremony.

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Colonel Angela G. Stout

Commandant – U.S. Air Force Officer Training School

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olonel Angela G. Stout is commandant, United States Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. OTS commissions approximately 2,600 totalforce officers annually for the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard through the Basic Officer Training program and Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science. It also provides initial officership training for newlycommissioned health professionals, staff judge advocates, and chaplains through its Commissioned Officer Training program.

Col. Stout entered the Air Force as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1988. After obtaining her commission, she attended intercontinental ballistic missile training with a follow-on first assignment as a missile combat crewmember at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. Her career has included a variety of space and missile operations assignments, including crew and instructor time in both the Peacekeeper ICBM weapon system and the 1st Command and Control space surveillance mission. She served on the staffs of Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, AC2ISR Center, 20th Air Force and Air Com-

mand and Staff College. Additionally, Col. Stout was the 400th Missile Squadron Operations Officer until she took command of the 90th Operations Support Squadron.

Mission The mission of OTS is to produce world-class officers of character possessing the Ameri-

Colonel Angela G. Stout

The mission of OTS is to produce world-class officers of character possessing the American warrior ethos, prepared to lead Airmen and embodying the Air Force Core Values. can warrior ethos, prepared to lead Airmen and embodying the Air Force Core Values.

Motto and Honor Code Officer Training School’s motto is “Always with Honor,” reflected in the school’s honor

code: “We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.” The code is a standard of personal conduct for each officer trainee. OTS expects each graduate to adopt the code as the ethical standard maintained throughout their Air Force careers.

History Air Force OTS began at Medina Annex near Lackland AFB, Texas, in 1959. The first OTS class was composed of 89 trainees, including 11 women. Its predecessor, the Officer Candidates School, was established in 1942 in Miami Beach, with the mission to train and commission members from the enlisted ranks. OCS moved to Lackland in 1944 and gained the additional mission of training officers directly from civilian status in September 1951. OCS closed its doors with its last graduation in June 1963.

The school moved to Maxwell AFB, Ala., in September 1993 as part of the Air Force chief of staff’s vision to align all officer education and training programs under Air University. Production numbers have varied over the years, from 323 the first year to a high of 7,894 officers in 1967. H

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n inspirational, cutting-edge, digital history project, educating and motivating generations with the incredible history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP of WWII, first women in history to fly America’s military aircraft.

WASP ON THE WEB Wings Across America’s WASP website, with 2,000 pages of resources, games, videos, audio, photos, articles, and primary records. The site, which won “Yahoo Pick of the Week,” was reviewed in the New York Times. A priceless online resource, WASP on the WEB is linked by PBS, Britannica and NASA. www.wasp-wwii.org “I have the utmost respect for all members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

They were hard working, dedicated pilots who served our country well, playing an important part during the war. ‘Wings Across America’ will be invaluable in preserving the WASP history and teaching the current and future generations of their proud history.”

—Chuck Yeager, BRIG. GEN., USAF, Ret.

DIGITAL VIDEO ARCHIVE Wings Across America’s most priceless resource: digital video interviews with 114 WASP, most in their own homes. This archive

WINGS ACROSS AMERICA will eventually be encoded and uploaded as searchable video information, containing 300 hours of footage. Still in the fundraising stages, this project has gained international recognition from The Voice of America, the Pentagon Channel and the Air Force News.

YOU CAN HELP build this valuable, educational resource for future generations. Visit our site today and give your support. www. wingsacrossamerica.us/ wings

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

“Thank you so much for your truly remarkable efforts in documenting the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. You are breaking new ground in this educational effort that will inspire and captivate generations to come. The WASP were and still are my role models.”

—Eileen M. Collins, COL, USAF (Ret.) Former NASA Astronaut

FLY GIRLS OF WWII Wings Across America’s inspirational traveling WASP exhibit, showcasing the history of the WASP. Display is filled with stories, video, photos, quotes and authentic WASP uniforms and memorabilia. www.wingsacrossamerica.us/flygirls

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Rear Admiral Katherine L. Gregory Making Navy History

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female commanding officer of an active Seabee battalion.

Although the Combat Exclusion Law prohibited women from assignment to Seabee units when she first joined the Navy, she explained that the CEC community leadership was aggressive in getting the units opened as polices changed and has been supportive of women throughout her career. “I have never felt restricted or precluded by our leadership from any opportunity. In fact, most of the opportunities I’ve been offered were at the suggestion of my chains of command or peers,” she said. Gregory credits a long list of people who have helped her during her career, including her family, friends, and CEC leadership who all encouraged her to not be afraid of change and to never give up. “I think not giving up is the real key to success,” she said.

Her Seabee tours include assignments as company commander and detachment officer in charge, deploying to Honduras with Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, as the Seabee action officer at Naval Facilities EngiPhoto: Daryl C. Smith, USN

he Navy’s first female Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) flag officer took command in July 2010 in a change of command ceremony held at Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Rear Admiral Kate Gregory became the first female CEC flag officer to take command when she relieved Rear Admiral Michael Giorgione as commander of NAVFAC Pacific. She was promoted to Rear Admiral June 1, 2010, becoming the first female CEC officer in the history of the Navy to attain this rank.

“The promotion is simply the result of generous mentoring by my chains of command, tremendous help from all the wonderful Navy men and women with whom I’ve served, friendship of my peers, and unfailing support of my friends - and most of all my family,” remarked Gregory. “To all of them I am very grateful, and very humbled by the tremendous responsibility I have been given serving as the NAVFAC Pacific commander.”

This promotion caps a series of milestones for the St. Louis native, who was the first female executive officer of a Seabee battalion and first

Family members attach new shoulder boards on Rear Adm. Katherine L. Gregory during her promotion ceremony.

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neering Command headquarters in Washington, D.C., and as the executive officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1.

Her first command tour was commanding officer of NMCB 133, with deployments to the European and Western Pacific theaters.

She subsequently served as commander, 30th Naval Construction Regiment, during which she deployed to the Al Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A St. Louis native, Gregory was commissioned as a CEC officer after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982. She arrived in Hawaii from Little Creek, Va., where she served as the chief of staff for the First Naval Construction Division. She is no stranger to Hawaii, however, as she previously served as executive officer during the transformation of Public Works Center Pearl Harbor to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii.

Gregory holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Southern California, and George Washington University; has completed the Senior Executive Program at the London School of Business; is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and is a qualified Military Parachutist and Seabee Combat Warfare Officer. Her personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Gregory assumed command of approximately 4,000 military and civilian men and women who work for NAVFAC Pacific and its three Facilities Engineering Commands in Hawaii, Guam, and Japan. H

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Brigadier General Colleen L. McGuire First Woman Provost Marshal General – U.S. Army

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rig. Gen. Colleen L. McGuire assumed responsibility as the first woman provost marshal general of the Army and also took command of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Belvoir.

McGuire succeeds Brig. Gen. Rodney L. Johnson, who retired after 33 years of service.

She assumes the Army’s top law-enforcement position after serving as head of the Army Suicide Prevention Task Force.

McGuire is the 10th commander of CID

command and lead,” McGuire said. “The greatest honor for any Solider is to command the sons and daughters of America.

It is a particular honor for me, a military police officer, to command at this level in a time of war.”

Following the change-of-command ceremony, McGuire took the oath to assume responsibilities as the Army’s provost marshal general. The position was first established in 1776 during the Revolution-

“I am honored to be given this privilege to command and lead.”

– Colleen McGuire

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ary War, but was abolished after the war. During its long history, it was usually established during major combat, but discontinued shortly after the conflict was over.

In line with history, the secretary of the Army at the time, Thomas White, approved the re-establishment of the office, effective Sept. 26, 2003, during the Global War on Terrorism.

McGuire concluded her comments with a

Courtesy of Army News Service Photo: Jeffrey Castro

since it was first established as a major command Sept. 17, 1971, and the 13th provost marshal general of the Army since 1941. She is the first woman in both positions.

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli hosted the ceremony at Well’s Field House on Fort Belvoir and during his remarks noted how the Army’s military law-enforcement team contributes to the Army mission, in theater and worldwide.

“You [Army law enforcement] should be incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished on behalf of your Army and our Nation,” Chiarelli said. “You have a significant and lasting impact. However, much work remains to be done. And, I absolutely believe Brigadier General Colleen McGuire is the right person to lead you in the challenging days ahead. She is a proven, gifted leader – both in garrison and combat.”

McGuire most recently served for about two years as the director, Senior Leader Development Office, Office of the Chief of Staff, Army, while also leading the Army Suicide Prevention Task Force established 10 months ago.

She assumes command of CID as the organization enters its 39th year as the Army’s premier investigative agency for felony-level crime.

“I am honored to be given this privilege to

reminder to all that the work of the Army’s lawenforcement team is never done.

“We are truly an expeditionary force,” she said. “Our military police, criminal investigators, corrections experts, civilian police and support team need to maintain their edge under conditions of uncertainty and change regardless of the operational environment. To do that, we need to be, and will remain grounded and pure in our doctrine, our organizations, our training and our operations.”

McGuire is a 1979 graduate of the University of Montana where she was commissioned in the Military Police Corps. During nearly 30 years of active service, she has been assigned in key command and staff billets from platoon level to the Army staff. H

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli swears in Brig. Gen. McGuire as the Provost Marshal General of the Army.

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center

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Photo: Devin Fisher, Fort Carson Mountaineer

eginning in the Spring of 2011 Fort Hood’s babies will be born in the new 50,000-square-foot addition of the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Women’s Health Services facility.

“Our main goal of moving into this facility is to improve patient satisfaction,” said Dr. (Col.) Elizabeth Spooner, chief, Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We already give the highest quality care, but we are hoping that we’ll be able to improve our customer service.”

The majority of OB/GYN services, including labor and delivery, will move to the new facility; however infertility, perinatology, genetics and non-stress testing will remain in the current location.

Spooner said the additional space is intended to provide patients with added comfort and continuity of care.

As moms-to-be walk into the new, bright entrance, they will follow routine check-in procedures. However, instead of waiting for their names to be called, they will be handed a pager, and they can wait outside on the new patio or in the waiting room.

George Wall, department administrator, OB/GYN, predicts that wait times should be reduced.

There will be 37 exam rooms in the new facility, and 10 exam rooms will remain in the current Women’s Health Center, 12 more than currently available.

“It’s designed to give us more space to take care of the patient,” he said. “Providers will all have their own exam rooms, which should help with the patient flow and possibly alleviate some of the wait times.”

There will also be nine 400-square-foot labor and delivery suites Soon the facility will welcome new families like Pfc. to accommodate the Michael Carlson, his wife, Danielle and their baby, 200-250 babies born at Peyton Jackson.

Photo: Christie Vanover (Darnall Army Medical Center)

Opens New Women’s Health Services Facility CRDAMC each month.

“Currently, our labor rooms are smaller than my office,” said Spooner. “It’s very tight quarters. These rooms are larger, so it will accommodate more family members. And, if we anticipate a complication, we’ll still be able to stay in the same room and don’t have to move the mother down the hall.”

Mothers will also experience more continuity care, as the department moves to a new team concept. The team consisting of physicians, midCorita Thomas, mammogram tech at the wives, nurse practitioner, regisMedical Center, uses a new digital mamtered nurse and certified nursmogram machine. ing assistants will be assigned to each patient. That team will follow her through her entire pregnancy.

“Every week, each case will be discussed among the team, so they have knowledge of what’s going on with the medical care of every patient seen by that team,” said Wall, admitting that the concept is challenging right now because of the lack of space.

With the new facility, providers will have their own exam rooms and offices within their team areas.

“You’ll always go to a team. You’ll always go to the same spot,” said Wall.

As the new space opens, the OB/GYN department plans to implement more changes like providing basic pharmacy services for mothers, so they can avoid waiting in line at the main pharmacy. Spooner said they will also canvas the community for further suggestions.

“We’re very optimistic about the aesthetics of the clinic. We’re hoping that that’s going to help with our patient satisfaction,” said Spooner. H T h e A m e r i c a n M i l i ta r y W o m a n

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American Military University Salutes Our University of Heroes The servicewomen of the Armed Forces have many responsibilities other than what is required of them in the military. Many are wives and mothers who dedicate their time outside of work to care for family and pursue personal goals.

Yeoman 1st Class Mayleka HicksAmerson is one of those women who have to balance career, family, and school. She is a 12-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, the single mom of a seven year old, and is earning her associate degree at AMU. After graduating high school and entering into the military, college was not a priority. It wasn’t until 2006 when she started taking classes. “It made me think about my family’s future and life goals,” she says, “I transferred to AMU in 2009 and it was one of the best decisions I could have made for my education and career.” While she admits the classes are challenging, she has a great sense of pride knowing that the school expects the best from her.

As an active duty Air Force officer and AMU instructor, Major (select) Alysia Harvey understands how the demands of the military can impact a student’s success. “If our students know that we understand their lifestyles and are willing to work with them, should they miss an assignment deadline, they can focus on their mission in the field

Alysia Harvey

and then get back to the books once they have taken another step in the effort towards securing freedom’s future,” she says.

Harvey encourages women who must balance work, family, and other responsibilities to consider going back to school and look into AMU. “Women can earn their degree

Mayleka HicksAmerson

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Marcelle Penn Mathis

by attending classes at their convenience – from the comfort of their own homes even at two o’clock in the morning!”

Even with the success of a career, sometimes life leaves a void that needs filling.

Commissioned as an officer into the Medical Services Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve, Marcelle Penn Mathis began this new journey at age 45. “What I love about the military is that it provides a myriad of opportunities to challenge yourself,” she says. It fulfills a role she had been yearning for – to give back and impact lives. “Because I receive so much from the military and my education, it is important to ‘pay it forward’ by participating in community outreach. Children need to see how these two life choices provide unlimited access to a quality life for them and their families. I had no idea that I would receive so much in return.” Penn Mathis received a Masters in Public Health from AMU in 2009. “It was the first time in my academic career that I was sorry to see it come to an end,” she adds.

These are just a few of the servicewomen who defend American ideals and freedom – truly our nation’s heroes. We salute you!

To learn more, visit amuonline.com/1 or call 877-777-9081.

“Women can earn their degree by attending classes at their convenience.”

MILITARY

Constance St. Germain, J.D. | Veteran, U.S. Army | Program Director, Criminal Justice & Legal Studies Our military roots run deep. From Fort Bragg to Baghdad, AMU is dedicated to educating those who serve.

With access to quality courses, unrivaled support, and a book grant for undergraduates, we stand behind our community— 55,000 military members strong.

Learn More at www.amuonline.com/salute

Some photos courtesy of the DoD.

IS OUR MIDDLE NAME.

Art & Humanities | Business | Education | Management | Public Safety & Health | Science & Technology | Security & Global Studies

RDML Sandra L. Stosz

First Female Superintendent U.S. Coast Guard Academy

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hirty-five years after it began admitting women, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy will get its first female superintendent.

Rear Adm. Sandra L. Stosz will ascend to the helm of the New London academy in the summer of 2011, becoming the first woman to lead a U.S. military service academy.

“The Coast Guard will have the first woman superintendent of a military service academy at the helm of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy when classes convene next summer.

The commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Bob Papp, has selected Rear Adm. Sandra L. Stosz, Coast Guard director of reserve and leadership, for the superintendent position.

“Rear Adm. Stosz has dedicated her career to developing professional Coast Guard men and women,” remarked Papp. “We are also extremely proud to be the first service with a woman at the helm of our academy.”

This appointment is hardly the first first for Stosz who is also the first woman to command a Coast Guard cutter on the Great Lakes and the first female academy graduate to achieve the rank of admiral.

Stosz, 50, said her appointment symbolizes “a generation of progress” for women.

“There were challenges,’’ said Stosz, “but I always looked beyond the challenges to the opportunities.

The Coast Guard didn’t put any roadblocks in the way of women…I was blessed.

The Coast Guard has always led by allowing men and women equal access to all career fields and assignments.

In her current position, Stosz is responsible for policy affecting the recruitment and training of more than 8,000 Coast Guard reserve members. She has also commanded the Coast Guard’s only recruit training center in Cape May, N.J. She will be the first and only female commander to head any of the nation’s five military academies.

“I am humbled by the prospect of taking over such an important position in our service and honored to be following Rear Adm. Burhoe,” said Stosz. “The school and officer corps have benefited in so many ways from Scott’s outstanding leadership and vision.”

Under the command of the current superintendent, Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe, the school was ranked as a top college by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and listed as the number one college in the northeast by U.S. News and World Report. The school had five Fulbright and three Truman scholars during his tenure. Burhoe 72

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also improved the school’s diversity record, doubling the percentage of minority admissions from 12 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2010.

“Rear Adm. Stosz is an excellent choice to succeed me as superintendent,” said Burhoe, “She has a distinguished record of service, and as a member of the board of trustees understands the importance of continuing to move the academy forward on its current track.”

The Coast Guard Academy was established in 1876. The oldest service academy is West Point, which was established in 1802. H

Get the Education You Deserve

Triumph Over Tragedy Military wife perseveres in the midst of loss Julia Anderson knows suffering, and has faced her fair share of challenges.

In March 2007, she lost her unborn daughter, which would have been her fifth child. While devastating and life changing, the event would be just the beginning. A mere seven months later her husband of 10 years, Ryan, would take his own life while serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Sterett.

When she became a military widow, Anderson and her family were offered extensive provisions from the Navy as she transitioned into her life as a single parent. Anderson clearly recalls the Julia Anderson with her chil dren (L-R) Lisette, Gavin, Bail day she learned that ey and Payton. education benefits were available to her.

It was also the day she decided to attend Liberty. received benefits from Liberty and “The knowledge that I would the university’s Heroes Fund Scholreceive college benefits was like arship. The funding she is receivhaving a weight lifted from my shouling has given her the opportunity to ders and I gave a big sigh of relief,” she make her dream of earning a degree said. “There was no question where a real possibility. The scholarship is I would attend school, I thought, funded through private donations, ‘Watch out Liberty! Here I come, and I and is offered to service members am bringing my four kids!’” who were wounded during the Gulf In addition to receiving stanWars or to the spouses of those who dard military benefits, Anderson also died during that time.

“The Heroes Fund Scholarship is sustained through the donations of those who choose to give back to servicemembers and veterans through education in Liberty University’s Residential and Online programs,” said Emily Foutz, Liberty’s director of Military Affairs.

Anderson now strives to excel at her coursework while raising her four children: Payton, 10; Bailey, 8; Gavin, 5; and Lisette, 4. For Anderson, receiving the opportunity to complete her degree has been a blessing to her as well as a challenging endeavor for the single mom.

“I know that if I don’t do my homework, I am going to fail [my classes], but if I don’t take care of my kids I am going to fail as a parent,” Anderson said. “A lot of times I feel overwhelmed, but I also know that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I am supposed to be at Liberty finishing my degree.”

Anderson looks forward to the future as she continues to raise her family, anticipates graduation and strives to inspire others with her life story.

As one of America’s top military-friendly schools, Liberty University Online offers more than 45 career-ready degree programs and 100 specializations at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Programs include business, education, counseling, psychology, criminal justice, nursing, multidisciplinary studies, seminary and religion.

Liberty also offers generous benefits for active-duty personnel, reservists, guardsmen, veterans and their spouses, including tuition discounts, college credit for military training, and free book vouchers. For more information, visit www.LUonline.com.

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d l u o c u o y f i t a h W ? e r u t u f r u o y d r a u safeg With a degree from , ersity Online Liberty Univ

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ols, -friendly scho ry ta ili m p to erica’s degree As one of Am career-ready 5 4 n a th re o ers m u and LU Online off to prepare yo s n o ti a liz ia c e 100 sp ond. programs and areer and bey c ry ta ili m r u o for y your spouse generous erve you with s s u t e L . s u You serve ding: benefits inclu ers and Fee Waiv ts n u o c is D 1. Tuition k Vouchers 2. Free Boo Affairs Office ry ta ili M d te a 3. Dedic Training it for Military d re C e g lle o 4. C hip und Scholars 5. Heroes F 2009

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Proud partners of GoArmyEd®, the Yellow Ribbon Program, Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership (NCPDLP), SOC Network, and Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC).

What Makes ‘Military-Friendly’ Colleges

By Doug Lederman

Reprinted Courtesy of Inside Higher Education

M

ore and more colleges are seeking to enroll members of the military (and, increasingly, their spouses), viewing service members as an attractive pool of students who are eager to learn and able to pay, with significant financial support from the federal government.

“Military friendly” has to be “more than a slogan,” given the unusual needs of members of the military, stated Robert Bothel, voluntary education chief for the U.S. Coast Guard. “Look at your Web pages, your policies, all your stuff. If you compared that to what Joe Blow off the street sees, and there’s no difference, how dare you call yourself ‘military friendly.’”

Bothel hastily added, that the vast majority of institutions are working hard to be (and not just claiming to be) “military friendly.”

But they also acknowledged that colleges had lots of reasons to woo servicemen and women – $445 million of them, in fact.

That’s how much the various branches of the military spent on what they call “voluntary education” – that pursued by soldiers, sailors and others on their own time – in the 2006 fiscal year. Bothel said. That represented 840,000 enrollments, with 43,500 service members earning credentials from high school completions to Ph.D.’s. “”There’s money out there to be made, and some schools are making a pretty good living off the military,” Bothel said.

The world of military education is one of those unusual and under examined corners of higher education, and like many other pockets of the increasingly diverse postsecondary landscape, this one has its own jargon – ESO’s (education service officers), ACE credits (American Council on Educationrecognized credit for certain types of training), – and its own complicated structure.

Some of the education is provided on military bases by colleges with contracts or “memorandums of understanding” between branches of the military or individual bases.

But increasingly, the education is being offered online, with as much as 75 percent of the instruction offered that way in 2007 to soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghani76

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stan and Navy personnel aboard ships around the world. Service members who want “training assistance” funds, as the military education aid is called, most often work through the education officers in their units in choosing the providers, but they can also enroll directly in (and be marketed to by) individual colleges.

At the 2008 CCME conference, more than 900 people attended, a sharp increase from the 2007 attendance records, with more than 75 institutions choosing to exhibit.

There was a domination by institutions like the University of Maryland University College, Central Michigan University, Thomas Edison State College and Excelsior College that have served the military for many years.

Most of the colleges at the San Francisco meeting were members of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, a group that requires its 1,800 member colleges to fulfill certain criteria and standards, a Good Housekeeping seal of approval of sorts.

Continued on Page 78

Features of Military Friendly Colleges and Universities •

• • • • • • • • • • •

Military friendly colleges prepare students in many areas of study including leadingedge, business, technology, criminal justice, and nursing and healthcare degrees, health sciences, liberal arts, etc Programs offered at all levels: certificates, diplomas, associates, bachelors, masters, and PhD programs Coursework is flexible via asynchronous online formats Many certificate and degree programs to meet the needs of active military members, veterans, and their spouses and family members They offer military benefits to the extended military community including military financial aid and benefits to servicemembers, veterans, auxiliary, and spouses Open enrollment Forged partnerships with several senior service schools Tuition discount for military, their spouses and veterans Accept transfer credit from all branches of the military Transfer credits awarded for military training, professional experience and previous courses Flexible military leave of absence policy to allow students in the military to pursue their education while being active in their military service obligations Some military friendly colleges offer military-supported programs such as ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) for students who are interested in learning more about national and community service while pursuing their higher education.

Hawai‘i Pacific University • Military Campus Programs

Supporting Women Who Serve in the U.S. Military Get where you want to go with HPU’s military friendly degree programs • Traditional classroom and online degree programs • Regionally accredited Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees • Flexible course scheduling and formats • Free evaluation of transfer and military training credits • Military spouse scholarships Regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). A member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), eArmyU/GoArmyEd, and Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership (NCPDLP)

www.hpu.edu/military • 1-866-CALL-HPU Graduate Advising mcpgrad@hpu.edu (808) 687-7070

Yellow Ribbon Institution

Off Island Advising mcponline@hpu.edu 808-687-7071/808-687-7072

Veteran’s Benefits va@hpu.edu (808) 356-5222

Continued from Page 76

while the Army and Coast Guard saw sizable increases.)

Distance education courses can cost the service as much as $80 more per credit hour on average than inclass courses, Hunter said, and to her dismay, sailors were twice as likely to fail or withdraw from online courses.

The Navy plans further study about why, she said, because “if we’re going to spend more money for distance learning, we want to make sure we’re getting the biggest bang for our buck.”

Given the pounding that college officials are taking from politicians and families about their prices, it probably was not surprising that it was a common theme from military officers as well. Hunter pointed out that Navy policy calls for books and fees unrelated to a specific course not to be covered by the service’s training assistance funds. But she said the service is increasingly finding that books and certain fees are included – “and I don’t want to use the word ‘masked’ –

The growth of distance education to serve the military is logical, given the farflung nature of today’s armed forces and the ever-improving technology, but military leaders expressed some concerns about the trend, even as they acknowledged its inevitability.

Ileen F. Rogers, director of education for the Army, cited a mix of practical and philosophical reservations. She noted the disruption that occurred when several severed undersea cables limited Internet access in the Middle East and Asia. “This caused a great deal of anxiety and worry over connectivity, about soldiers being unable to do their coursework online because somebody cut a cable,” said Rogers.

But more fundamentally, she described herself as an “old fogey” because “I still think it’s romantic to be in a classroom… I like that kind of stuff, and I kind of hate to see that disappear.”

Rogers’ counterpart for the Navy, Ann Hunter, voluntary education service chief and enlisted education program manager for the Chief of Naval Operations, Training and Education, presented statistics in her presentation to the group showing that the Navy spent more money for fewer courses for fewer sailors in fiscal 2008 compared to 2007. “I’m not being critical, I’m just simply saying, from the Navy perspective, and from a business perspective, we’re not getting as much benefit from our money 78

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For military personnel, be it the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or National Guard, online college degree programs via military-friendly colleges have the advantage of providing self-paced, flexible, convenient options that are important to advancing their education while serving the country. as in the past.” (According to Carolyn Baker, the Pentagon’s deputy under secretary for military community and family policy, the Navy and Air Force saw drops in the number of servicemembers taking college courses,

in some colleges’ tuitions. “There have been some creative ways of getting around our policies,” she said.

Such policies are certainly not “military friendly,” Bothel said in his presentation about how colleges should treat servicemen and women. “We still have members paying a parking fee, and they’re sitting on a cutter taking a class. And we don’t need your health fee – the military has the best health care around.”

Bothel warned at the start of his talk that he wouldn’t offer a “list of bullets” for colleges interested in enticing military personnel to their campuses, but in fact he wound up providing a slew of do’s and don’ts drawn from working with the 991 colleges to which he said the Coast Guard delivered some of its tuition assistance in 2006. H

Lewis University Offers Two

Online Graduate Degree Programs

Veteran’s Yellow Ribbon Program

Nursing

Public Safety Administration

Offered in an accelerated format and online, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is designed to provide the professional nurse with requisite knowledge and skills to assume leadership roles in Nursing Administration and Nursing Education.

The 36 credit-hour Master of Science in Public Safety Administration provides a concise, accelerated, and contemporary course of study that is unique, flexible, and relevant to the changing needs of today’s public safety practitioner. It is designed to help those who are preparing to manage police, fire, emergency medical, and private law enforcement services in our society.

(Master of Science)

Program Outcomes Graduates in Nursing Administration are prepared to function as leaders in the administration of nursing services and patient care services to improve the delivery of healthcare and the practice of nursing. Graduates in nursing administration incorporate skills gained in the financial, economic, human resources and organizational components of management.

Graduates in Nursing Education are prepared to assume faculty roles in nursing education programs, and educator roles in staff development, continuing education and community education in municipal, managed care and private sector environments. The nursing education specialization provides students with the skills in curricular design: instructional methodology, program evaluation and educational research that help them become valuable and highly marketable members of the education and nursing professions.

(Master of Science)

Concise, accelerated courses of study will help you take the next step in your career.

Lewis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

For further information, e-mail grad@lewisu.edu or

phone (815)

836-5610

Women in Uniform Turn to Ashford University for Affordable Higher Education Founded in 1918, Ashford University’s campus is located in Clinton, Iowa. But members of the US Armed Forces benefit from Ashford’s flexible degree programs also available online. Online courses are asynchronous, so as with email, students can login anytime to participate in discussions and post their work in class. Because online education is not limited by geography, Ashford University can accommodate military students around the world.

Lisa Marie Webb, 40, is an activeduty Air Force member. In her time with the military, she has traveled extensively and currently serves as a Department of Defense instructor. She credits her professional success, and, specifically, her most recent position, to the fact that she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology degree in May 2010.

Lisa Marie chose Ashford partly because of the opportunity to complete her coursework online, and because “the program included a technology aspect, and Ashford accepted military financial aid. But it was my Admissions Counselor who sealed my decision. He answered every question and was very helpful, which was especially fantastic considering I was serving overseas at the time.”

Once enrolled, Lisa Marie excelled academically, which quickly provided her with exciting opportunities. “An opportunity to compete for a special duty job came my way, and I believe my degree program was a favorable factor in my getting selected for the position – a coveted military teaching job at the only school

of its kind in the Federal sector.” This also meant she would be returning to the US, and the move brought more than professional success. “In a bittersweet turn of events, the timing of my move back to the United States allowed me to see my father just weeks before he unexpectedly passed away, an opportunity I would have missed if I had still been overseas.”

For Lisa Marie, finishing her degree was one of the most important accomplishments of her life. “It has taken what seemed like forever to get here, and it feels good to have finished. The cool thing is that it is not just a ‘paper on the wall’ – it opens doors. Who knew a quiet little campus in small town Iowa could have such a large footprint in the world?”

Lisa Marie was able to visit that small town last May, where she proudly walked across the stage and received her diploma. Graduation day also happened to coincide with her 22nd anniversary in the Air Force and Mother’s Day, which made the experience even more significant. “I had been overseas for a long time, so, needless to say, I didn’t get to see Mom too frequently. She flew from Ohio and I flew from Florida and we met in Iowa for the graduation. I’m grateful to say I’m among the Ashford alumni!”

Servicemembers can balance their jobs and busy schedules with online courses as they earn their degree, thanks to the flexibility of online courses at Ashford University.

ASHFORD UNIVERSITY SERVES MILITARY WOMEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ★★★★★ 80 EARN YOUR ASSOCIATE’S, Courage and Honor

• There is no fee to apply and

ASHFORD UNIVERSITY SERVES MILITARY WOMEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ★★★★★ EARN YOUR ASSOCIATE’S, BACHELOR’S, OR MASTER’S DEGREE ONLINE • Your Ashford Military Tuition Grant covers all required course materials, including books, and you pay only $250 a credit for undergraduate courses.

• Your military training counts.

Transfer up to 99 previously earned credits from prior college/work experiences.

• There is no fee to apply and the Technology Services Fee is waived by your Ashford Military Tuition Grant, a $1,290 savings.

• 5-6 week courses are taken one at a time so you can earn your degree without disrupting your life.

2008 - 2010

CALL TOLL FREE 800.510.6276 VISIT US ONLINE MILITARY.ASHFORD.EDU/FREEDOM

REGIONALLY ACCREDITED BY THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION (NCAHLC.ORG)

Benefits apply to all Active Duty, National Guard, Reservists and spouses, dependents utilizing VA education benefits, plus civilian DOD employees, Coast Guard employees & separated vets/retirees using VA education benefits.

11AU0202 • AC - 0 2 5 5

Ashford University • 400 North Bluff Blvd. • Clinton, Iowa 52732

More Educational Opportunities for Military Families

A

As part of the Obama administration initiative to support military families, the U.S. Department of Education will focus on providing educational opportunities for children of military families, especially when a parent is deployed and during times of transition between schools. The Department will also simplify the financial aid application process for members of the military.

“The men and women who serve in our Nation’s armed forces place a high value on education and the availability of quality educational opportunities for their children,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “The U.S. Department of Education is committed to providing children of military families the support and education they need to thrive, as well as expanding educational opportunities for military spouses and veterans.”

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden announced nearly 50 commitments by federal agencies responding to the President’s directive to establish a coordinated and comprehensive federal approach to supporting military families. Strengthening Our Military Families: Meeting America’s Commitment, is the result of an effort led by the National Security Staff and Domestic Policy Council, responding to the Presidential Study Directive-9 calling on all Cabinet Secretaries and other agency heads to find better ways to provide our military families with the support they deserve. The report identifies four strategic priorities that address the primary challenges facing our military families.

1 Enhance the wellbeing and psychological health of the military family.

2 Ensure excellence in military children’s education and their development.

3 Develop career and educational opportunities for military spouses.

4 Increase childcare availability and quality for the armed forces.

U.S. Department of Education will make supporting military families one of its supplemental priorities for the its discretionary grant programs. This priority, when applied, will for the first time ever, favor grant applications to meet the needs of military students.

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The Department has also made accessing and processing of financial aid more tailored to military families and more sensitive to the financial fluctuations of Guard and Reserve personnel. Also, the Department is seeking new ways to collect and report data pertaining to military connected children.

These four priorities were identified with special attention to the feedback that the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, and Administration officials have received from the many service members and their families they have encountered over the past two years.

They address the concerns and challenges of the families of Active Duty and Reserve Component Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard members; Veterans; and those who have fallen. Each Cabinet Secretary pledged to continue to communicate these priorities, share expertise, and establish sustainable solutions through leveraging partnerships.

This report also serves as a springboard to highlight the military families’ contributions as a national and community resource and identifies opportunities to leverage more of the skills, experience, and capacity of military family members. Additionally, this overall effort endeavors to strengthen existing feedback mechanisms for military fami-

lies to voice their concerns and opinions, their unique challenges, the effectiveness of existing programs, and their input on the future direction of related federal programs and policies. H

Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education

Printed courtesy of the Dept. of Education.

For more information visit www.ed.gov.

You’ve Served Your Country, Now Let Us Serve You Enlisted Military personnel and Veterans are an important part of Argosy University Online Program’s student community. We appreciate the service you provide to our country which may make you eligible for a number of military benefits, including: • • • •

Post 9/11 GI Bill - Argosy University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Montgomery GI Bill - Get up to 36 months of educational benefits.

Tuition Assistance - Educational benefits for Active Duty personnel.

“Top Up” Program - Supplement other tuition assistance programs.

online.argosy.edu/military or call 1-877-800-8412 Argosy University, Phoenix, 2233 West Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021

Helping You With Your New Mission in Life At South University, we are proud to help current and former members of the Military achieve their educational goals. With dedicated and knowledgeable military-focused support staff, flexible programs to fit your busy schedule and an academic tradition of excellence dating back more than 100 years, South University stands ready to serve you.

Our experienced Military Student Financial Aid Officers are committed to helping you understand the types of financial aid you may qualify for, as well as helping you to establish an overall financial plan so you can begin your education with confidence.

Engage your future today!

online.southuniversity.edu/military/ or call 1-888-313-7209

Established 1899

South University, 709 Mall Boulevard, Room DE, Savannah, GA 31406-4805

CHART A CREATIVE COURSE IN YOUR CAREER As a current or former member of the military, you are helping to create a brighter tomorrow for the rest of us. At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, we want to use our leadership in creative arts education to help enlisted military personnel and veterans like you create tomorrow in the next phase of your career.

We value the commitment you have made and want to help you create the tomorrow you deserve, that’s why we have structured the tuition schedule for military affiliated personnel and spouses of active duty service members to eliminate or minimize their out-of-pocket costs.

Start on your creative career path today, visit us at

www.aionline.edu/military/ or call 1-877-300-3656

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, 420 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1301

SERVICEMEMBERS OPPORTUNITY COLLEGES (SOC)

A

rmy Navy, Air Force, Marines – there is military support for your education, by all means. And if you’re active duty military or a military veteran, the choices of what to study and where to learn from are limitless.

Serving on active duty is a challenge, but if you have anyplace on your base that you can access a computer, then the potential for you to attend school becomes available.

Taking classes while serving in a battle zone is not for the faint of heart, it is difficult, and finding time to study is even more challenging, but with Internet delivery it IS possible.

One unique option for military personnel and their families: Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a consortium of more than 1700 colleges and universities that provide educational opportunities designed with the military family in mind.

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges is co-sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and managed for the DoD by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).

and Army Reserves). ConAP allows you to enlist in the Army at the same time as you apply for college.

DANTES also operates its own Distance Learning Program.

Once you find a program you want to study, the Armed Forces Tuition Assistance (TA) Program will support you by allowing active military to enroll in courses at accredited colleges, universities, junior colleges, high schools, and vocational-technical schools. TA will pay up to 100% of the cost of the course and up to 100% of the cost of obtaining a high school degree, with a limit of $250 per credit hour and an aggregate annual limit of $4,500.

Even boot camp can give you certain credit toward a college education, there is a standardized program ran by the Department of Defense for credit for every different type of training and active duty service. It depends what type of job and military rating that you serve in, not all jobs and training qualify for college level credit, but many types do, it all depends.

Service in the Military can also offer different credit for time in service, for training. There are a lot of schools that have scrambled to offer part of their catalog on the Internet, and the amount of schools that are available with online Internet Delivery

Serving on active duty is a challenge, but there are many opportunities available that make it possible to get your education and serve your country.

Your course work can be done on campus, at military installations and armories, and at a distance by computer or correspondence. Associates, Bachelors, and Graduate degree programs are available. Special curriculum areas include SOCAD (Army), SOCNAV (Navy), SOCMAR (Marines), and SOCGuard (Army National Guard).

In addition, SOC operates ConAP (Concurrent Admissions Program) to increase college enrollment of Army enlistees (Army 84

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is increasing all the time.

And don’t overlook US Service Academies. Each branch of the US military operates its own Service Academy as a four-year institution of higher education. Attending a US Service Academy, you receive a full scholarship with a small monthly stipend. Upon graduation, you’re commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps or as an ensign in the Navy or Coast Guard. H

Montana State University Committed to

Veteran student success Montana State University in Bozeman is proud to be designated a military friendly school by G.I. Jobs magazine. Students, faculty and staff enjoy a challenging and collaborative atmosphere that fosters innovation, exploration and creativity in a spectacular Rocky Mountain setting.

MSU support for veteran students: • Participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for 100 percent eligible post 9/11 GI Bill recipients, including MSU’s new Aviation Program • Orientation and a University Seminar class for veterans to help with the transition into higher education • Support services dedicated to veteran students • Career coaching, internships and job placement assistance We invite you to explore the many options offered at MSU.

Apply online at: www.montana.edu 1-888-MSU-CATS

Educational Opportunities for Deployed Soldiers

By Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke

AGHDAD – One word sums up what a post-secondary education creates for someone: Opportunity. A person with a college degree, on average, can earn twice as much, or more, in their lifetime compared to someone who only has a high school diploma.

A degree from an accredited college or university can be a key that opens the door to a promising future. A deployed Soldier, however, cannot always attend the college of their choice and must work around their busy schedule to earn a degree online.

An increasing number of Soldiers are doing just that with the help of the Education Center at Camp Victory. Between 700 to 1,000 service members a week pass through the doors for counseling and assistance in their quest for higher education.

“They [service members] can come in for any type of educational assistance and Soldiers can process and use their tuition assistance within 24 hours,” said Paul Karczewski, of Washington, D.C., and one of the three counselors who work at the education center. “We don’t process National Guard or Reserve tuition assistance here, but all active duty Soldiers can use Title 10 money for college,” he added.

The education center works closely with Central Texas College, based in Killeen, Texas. It has a lab with computers for student use and proctors are available for examinations. The counselors and Soldiers use GoArmyEd, an online portal established in 2006, which allows students to research colleges and universities, register for classes, and request course materials and books. The portal services more than 140 accredited colleges and universities.

“The education center has helped me a lot with proctoring my exams and adding classes,” said Pfc. Randi Boardman, Joint Visitors Bureau administrator for the 1st Cavalry Division. “GoArmyEd is so easy too. I got my schedule and registration done and my materials and books were mailed to me with no problem.”

Boardman, who is from Chana, Ill., is attending Central Texas College online and plans to study architecture at Arizona State University. “I like the lecture setting, but sitting down and forcing yourself to actually read the textbook and learn the material is harder,” she said. “Luckily, I get a lot of spaces in between work so I pull out a book and work on coursework.”

B

Sgt. Magdalena Sweesy, the executive administrative noncommissioned officer for Brig. Gen. Fred­er­ick Rudesheim, deputy com­mand­ing general for support, 1st Cav. Div., Multi-National Division-Baghdad, makes effective use of her free time by working on her geography assignment. “There is no better time to get college coursework done than now while we’re here,” said the Honolulu native. She plans to major in criminology at Kansas State University.

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Sgt. 1st Class Julia Palma, of Lafayette, La., the budget manager for 1st Cav. Div., Multi-National Division-Baghdad, works on a statistics lesson during her lunch hour. Palma is working toward completing her Masters in Business Administration at the University of Phoenix online.

“My advice to Soldiers starting their online classes is to utilize tutorials and the education center and don’t forget that your instructors are there to help you [customer service],” said the 19-year veteran.

The online community is just as diverse, maybe even more so, than a college lecture hall. Just down the road from division headquarters, Sgt. 1st Class Julia Palma, the Budget Manager for the 1st Cav. Div., is working to earn her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix online. “It fills the time when you’re separated from your family,” said Palma, who is from Lafayette, La. Being deployed has not stopped the 19-year veteran from working to earn her master’s degree. “You have to be disciplined to complete online coursework,” she said. “You work it into your schedule and stay up late to complete the work.”

Discipline and dedication is what drives Sgt. Magdalena Sweesy, the executive administrative noncommissioned officer for Brig. Gen. Frederick Rudesheim, deputy commanding general for support of the 1st Cav. Div. Sweesy is working 8-week semesters that will earn her double the college credit that a traditional semester offers.

“This is hard; I’m very busy and work after hours to complete all my class work and research,” said Sweesy, who hails from Honolulu. She is attending Barton County Community College online and aspires to major in criminology at Kansas State University in 2010. “GoArmyEd is very helpful here because of the time difference,” she said. “I don’t have to wait for someone to be in the office for registration. My career counselor is always online via email.”

Whether single or married, working in an office or not, Soldiers have increasingly jumped into the virtual world to begin their college coursework. The Army’s tuition assistance program makes it easy.

Sgt. Ryan Sweesy, one of the personal security officers for Command Sgt. Maj. Rory Malloy of the 1st Cav. Div., and husband to Sgt. Magdalena Sweesy, has started his first semester of classes. “I’ve started class work here because there are fewer distractions,” he said. “I either have a mission going out or a paper due.” Sweesy, who is from Cleveland, is attending Central Texas College online and plans to major in astronomy.

The opportunities for Soldiers who have the desire and dedication to earn a degree online outnumber the hurdles they may encounter. Time management is essential for deployed Soldiers who are working online to attain a degree.

“Make sure you’re really ready to do this because it’s so easy to say you’ll do the assignment tomorrow and put it off because you don’t have to physically go to class,” said Magdalena Sweesy. “It’s all on your initiative.”

A deployment can be an excellent opportunity for Soldiers to begin or continue their post secondary education. Determination, creativity, time management and the help of the education center here and GoArmyEd, can make that opportunity become the key that will open to many doors to a better future. H

If you want to advance your business career, you’ll have to earn our stripes.

Get your master’s degree online from The Florida State University College of Business and get an edge in the ever-changing business world. Choose one of our flexible programs, and you can further your education without ever setting foot on campus. You’ll receive the same innovative business education offered by our traditional degree programs, because our online programs are taught by the same world-class faculty who teach on campus. That means a cutting-edge curriculum and individual attention from professors who will challenge and inspire you to shape the future of business.

Learn more about our online master’s degree programs at graduatebusiness.fsu.edu.

Elliott Junco, FSU MBA 2010

College Credit for Military Service Y

our military service has likely earned you college credit. Many schools and colleges award military students credit towards a degree based on training, coursework, and occupational specialty. You’ve worked hard in the military — now you can save tuition dollars and classroom time!

Pursuing your college degree can be the best career move you can make, but it can also be very expensive and time consuming. That’s why claiming credit for your military experience is vital. Applying your military experience credits could save you as much as $600 and 5 months on a typical 3-credit college course. Best of all, using these college credits costs you nothing; you’ve already earned them!

The American Council on Education (ACE) was created in 1942 to recognize the educational value of military training and experience. Since that time ACE has continuously evaluated military schools, correspondence courses and occupations to determine the amount and level of academic credit each should be awarded. Through ACE, you can take academic credit for most of the training you have received, including Basic Training. The ACE military evaluations program is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) and coordinated through DANTES. Visit the ACE Military Programs website to see how much credit you may have earned, www.acenet.edu.

Claim Your ACE credits

The first step to claiming the credits you have earned is to request a transcript from your military service. Each service will provide unofficial personal copies and send schools an official copy of your transcript at no charge.

Each service branch has their own system for recording your military education and experience credits.

ARMY

The Army uses the AARTS system, which automatically captures your academic credits from military training, and Standardized tests. The AARTS system is available to enlisted soldiers only, go to http://aarts.army.mil.

Army Officers must use the form DD 295 (Application for Evaluation of Learning) to report their military training and experience.

NAVY and MARINE CORPS

The Navy and Marine Corps use the SMART system, Continued on Page 90

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YOU’RE SERVING OUR COUNTRY WITH HONOR.

NOW, IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO SERVE YOU. BRYANT &STRATTON COLLEGE

IS ASERVICEMEMBER OPPORTUNITY CONSORTIUM (SOC)COLLEGE DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS. The greatest thanks we can give you for your service to our country is helping you start the career and life you want after the military. If you’re a service member or family of one, Bryant & Stratton College can help you earn your degree in business, healthcare, technology or the legal field in as few as 16 months.* • With 17 regional campuses and a strong online program, we offer you and your family members a high-quality, career-focused education wherever you’re stationed now or in the future.

• All our degree programs are approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and we have on-site military coordinators and VA certifying officials to help guide you and answer your questions.

• Our flexible day, evening, weekend and online class schedules help active-duty, reserve and veteran personnel fit college into their busy lives.

• A variety of scholarship, financial aid and transfer-credit opportunities are available to help make college more affordable.

• We offer special campus events specifically for military students.

• Our lifetime career placement assistance can help you find a position in your field after you graduate. *16 months (4 semesters) of full-time, consecutive attendance

To learn more, visit us at:

http://www.bryantstratton.edu/admissions/military.aspx

Ask about our “Salute To Spouses” scholarships Available at our Milwaukee, Virginia Beach and Online campuses!

or connect with us on Facebook at: facebook.com/bryantandstratton

Campus Locations New York Albany • Buffalo • Amherst • Orchard Park • Greece • Henrietta • Syracuse • Liverpool Ohio Cleveland Downtown • Eastlake • Parma Virginia Hampton • Virginia Beach • Richmond Wisconsin Milwaukee • Wauwatosa • Bayshore Online Education

http://www.bryantstratton.edu/admissions/military.aspx

Bryant & Stratton College PERSONAL EDUCATION. LIFETIME SUCCESS.® SINCE 1854

Continued from Page 88

https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/transcript.html.

This system automatically captures your training, experience and standardized test scores. SMART Homepage

AIR FORCE

The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) automatically captures your training, experience and standardized test scores. Transcript information may be viewed at the CCAF web site.

COAST GUARD

The Coast Guard Institute (CGI) requires each Service member to submit documentation of all training (except correspondence course records), along with an enrollment form, to receive a transcript.

VETERANS

Under most circumstances, Veterans are eligible to use their former service branches transcript program. However if you are not eligible for AARTS, SMART, CCAF, or CGI systems, you will need to fill out form DD-295 and provide your

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Many schools and colleges award military students credit towards a degree based on training, coursework, and occupational specialty.

DD-214 Discharge Document to receive credit or your experience.

One Last Money-Saving Tip

Applying Your ACE Credits

Have all of your official transcripts from previous colleges and service branches sent to your new school for evaluation, before you start taking any classes. Many students’ waste valuable time and money taking classes that are unnecessary duplications of previous courses, because they signed up before their military and prior college transcripts were completely evaluated. H

In most cases, ACE-recommended credits will be used to fulfill your free-elective requirements, but each college determines the number of credits they will accept, and how they will be applied toward your degree. In fact, some schools may even choose not to grant any credit for military experience. That is why it is critical to shop around for the most “military friendly” school available.

For more information go to www.earmyu.com

UMUC SALUTES AMERICA’S HEROES

University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is the largest public university in the United States and a premier provider of higher education to U.S. military servicemembers.

UMUC salutes women in the military by working to eliminate the obstacles they face in pursing higher education.

To make higher education more affordable and accessible, UMUC offers • Dedicated military advising teams to help servicemembers maximize their education benefits • Yellow Ribbon (GI Education Enhancement) Program that helps cover tuition and fees

exceeding the allowable amount payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for eligible veterans • On-site and online undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs to advance

servicemembers’ military careers or help them transition into civilian life • Scholarships, financial aid and an interest-free monthly payment plan

No SAT, GRE or GMAT is required for most programs, so you can get started right away.

ENROLL NOW. visit military.umuc.edu/serveourheroes call 877-275-UMUC

Copyright © 2011 University of Maryland University College

Auburn University Executive MBA Program Auburn University’s Executive MBA Program, aimed at mid and upper level professionals, optimizes a working professional’s most valuable resource - time. The keys to Auburn’s EMBA program are quality and flexibility. The curriculum is designed for immediate applicability in the workplace. Our mixed delivery system uses five one-week on-campus residencies during the 21-month program, lectures on video iPods, internet discussions, and international study, affording the executive both the real time interaction with faculty and fellow executives, and the flexibility of a self-paced distance program without career interruption. An executive can participate from anywhere in the country, or the world for that matter.

Our faculty and staff have years of experience and are focused on meeting the unique needs of the Executive MBA student. The faculty brings a wealth of knowledge, practical experience, and teaching excellence to the program. They are committed to meeting the challenge of providing a relevant and compelling educational experience. The staff focuses on customer service. They register students for classes, purchase textbooks and course materials, make hotel reservations, cater the meals, and generally act as an interface between the students and the university so students can concentrate on their coursework.

The Auburn staff is aware that students in the Armed Services face unique challenges, such as deployments, that can interrupt their schooling. Customer focus and flexibility allows for the development of alternate curriculum models that insure students in this type of situation will be able to complete their degree. The Auburn Office of Veteran’s Affairs also works closely with our students to help them maximize their educational benefits to pay for tuition.

EMBA alumna, COL Meg Foreman, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp, has this to say about the program, “The Army is employing business practices more and more as it strives to operate smarter and leaner while first and foremost supporting the Warfighter. Creativity and resourcefulness are no longer ‘nice to have;’ succeeding in today’s transforming Army absolutely requires these skills.

Auburn’s EMBA program has provided me the tools to think beyond the confines of “business as usual” and to utilize industry tools and practices in evaluating a problem, defining solutions, communicating a vision, and inspiring my officers and civilian employees to work

toward that vision. Auburn’s emphasis on peer interaction, combined with a broad business curriculum executed by a cadre of accomplished faculty members, has strengthened my ability to think quantitatively, analyze objectively, and lead effectively in an Army that needs flexible thinkers, adaptive staff officers, and strong leaders.”

Auburn University is a special place, with special people, and special programs. People often talk about the Auburn “family”. It’s an appropriate designation. Once you become a part of this institution, you become part of a family and you’ll have more than 230,000 relatives all over the world – ready to welcome you with a heartfelt “War Eagle”!

See how an Executive MBA from Auburn University can meet your educational needs.

MARY MARGARET FOREMAN – Colonel, U.S. Army COL Meg Foreman, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, is currently assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia as the Staff Judge Advocate. She is responsible for managing the daily operations of a 70-member legal team that supports the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, as well as the military and retired service members located in and around the Chattahoochee Valley.

COL Foreman is a 1988 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; a 1994 graduate of Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska; and a 2009 graduate of 92

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Auburn University College of Business, Auburn, Alabama.

COL Foreman was born in Baumholder, Germany and lived all over the United States as the daughter of a career Army officer. Her previous duty locations include Fort McPherson, Georgia; Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; Arlington, Virginia; Würzburg, Germany; Bamberg, Germany; Hohenfels, Germany; and Fort Hood, Texas. She deployed to Southwest Asia in 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and again in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon II

REFUEL YOUR CAREER WITH THE BEST, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

The Executive MBA Programs at Auburn University can fuel your career without grounding your schedule.

Ranked among the world’s best by the Financial Times of London, the programs feature a uniquely flexible blend of advanced curriculum delivery and short campus visits.

Take your career to new heights.

Contact us for information at: www.AubEMBA.org or 1.877.AUB.EMBA

C OLLEGE

OF

BUSINESS

Executive MBA Programs

business.auburn.edu Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.

The Professional Degree: Business

A

re you a strong communicator who is good at leading, organizing, and working with a team? Do you enjoy solving challenging math problems and working with numbers? Are you skilled at working on a computer? In today’s competitive business world, these qualities and more are essential for success. If you answered yes to the questions above, you’re probably considering, or should consider, majoring in business.

Business students today can expect a balanced and broad-based education that focuses on a lot more than business related courses. As a freshman and sophomore, you will take mostly arts and science classes including: calculus, psychology and/ or sociology, economics, computers, writing workshops, oral and written communications, accounting, and statistics. Your professional business education generally begins junior year, and includes a set of core courses in areas such as finance, management and organizational behavior, marketing, and operations management. The rest of your junior and senior year courses will focus on your specific business major (e.g., finance, accounting, or management), electives, and a course in business policy in which you apply all the subjects you have studied in order to solve actual business problems.

Understanding Your Career Choices What can you do with a business degree? Plenty! Majoring in business prepares you to work in a variety of settings including business, government, and nonprofit. Most students who graduate with a business degree go to work immediately after graduation in jobs such as: • • • • • • • •

Entry-level manager Human resources specialist Assistant product manager Market researcher Public relations representative Systems analyst Securities salesperson Financial analyst

Only 10 to 15 percent go directly to graduate school. Most work for two or more years before applying to a graduate program, and when they do, it is usually for a master’s of business administration (M.B.A.).

With all these career choices, it’s important to think about your specific interests, skills, and preferences. Practical experience, such as internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer positions during your college years can help you figure out what type of work setting and industries are most interesting to you. Some colleges and universities offer internships, in which business majors may earn academic credit while getting firsthand business experience.

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The Pros and Cons of the Business Major If an M.B.A. is your goal, there are a few things you should know as you decide what to major in. First, business schools will accept students from any major. There are some requirements, but these can be fulfilled outside of a business major.

Second, graduate business schools generally prefer applicants who’ve completed a broad, well-rounded, and challenging curriculum, with no one major preferred over another.

More important are grades, college achievements, and strong standardized test results. With this in mind, you may want to take advantage of your college years as a time to explore subjects unrelated to business.

On the other hand, while a business major will not guarantee you acceptance into an M.B.A program, it will provide a focused education and the knowledge you need to succeed in areas that interest you. It will also help prepare you for the GMAT (the business school entrance exam)—though, like students in any major, you will have to study for this exam. Business majors are also sometimes able to complete an M.B.A. program more quickly than other majors. Still another advantage to majoring in business is the balanced curriculum that includes a mix of liberal arts and business-oriented courses. This combination of courses provides you with the tools, skills, and knowledge for your first job following graduation, while also giving you an opportunity to explore areas of interest.

So whether you decide to major in business or not, there are many paths that can lead you to the same goal, you just need to decide which is best for you. H

The CUNY School of Professional Studies

THE EDUCATION YOU NEED FOR THE LIFE YOU WANT. Study with renowned CUNY faculty and industry leaders in an environment that is supportive of the needs of working adults.

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS n Applied Theatre n Business Management and Leadership 8 n Disability Studies n Labor Studies

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CREDIT COURSES n Children’s Program Administrator Credential n Seminars on Science

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS n Adult Learning: Program Design and Facilitation n Coaching in the Organizational Context n Disability Studies n Health Care Administration n Immigration Law n Labor Studies n Project Management n Public Administration and Public Policy n Youth Studies

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Thomas Edison State College Expands Nuclear Program Options Thomas Edison State College has expanded the areas of study under the Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology (BSAST) program for students interested in an engineering career in the nuclear power industry.

Students can now earn a BSAST degree in nuclear energy engineering technology, a 126-credit degree program designed to prepare students for career pathways in the engineering field. The College still offers students the 120credit BSAST degree program in nuclear engineering technology, which has long been popular with students who have completed the Navy’s Nuclear Power Training program.

“Both programs prepare students to perform competently in reactor operations, health physics, quality assurance, chemical technology and instrumentation and control technology and are appropriate for nuclear industry personnel who aspire to function in supervisory roles in maintenance, scheduling and operations,” said Dr. Marcus Tillery, dean of the School of Applied Science and Technology at Thomas Edison State College.

The main difference between the two programs is that the 126-credit BSAST program in nuclear energy engineering technology has different requirements, including additional nuclear electives, a radiation analysis lab, electrical theory and a fourcredit capstone course, which are

“We have been providing specialized educational opportunities for members of the United States military for nearly 40 years,” said Louis Martini, director of Military and Veteran Education at Thomas Edison State College. “We continue to play a pioneering role in the development of degree programs specifically for enlisted personnel that optimize military training and experience.”

Dr. Marcus Tillery, dean of the School of Applied Science and Technology at Thomas Edison State College

not required in the 120-credit BSAST program in nuclear engineering technology.

The nuclear energy engineering technology area of study was developed to prepare students for career pathways in the engineering function within the nuclear industry and support the ability to attain a professional engineering license.

Both programs honor the College’s long history of developing programs that meet the unique needs of active-duty military personnel and maximize military training that can be applied as credit toward the degree.

The Kelsey Building at Thomas Edison State College’s campus in historic Trenton, N.J.

Louis Martini, director of Military and Veteran Education at Thomas Edison State College

The College is a long-standing member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) and is a SOC Network member institution. The College also holds a Memorandum of Understanding with Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) as an external degree partner.

The College’s Military Degree Completion Program accommodates the special needs of military personnel, whose location, relocation and time constraints make traditional college attendance difficult — if not impossible.

It allows enlisted men and women to engage in a degree program wherever they are stationed or deployed.

The College is also proud to be a participating institution of the GoArmyEd program, the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership, the Navy College Program for Afloat Education, the Air Force General Education Mobile program, the Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement College Partnership and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program.

For more information about degree programs for military service members and veterans, earning credit for military training, or the new area of study in nuclear energy engineering technology, please contact the Office of Military and Veteran Education at (866) 446-1804 or militaryhelp@tesc.edu.

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You know how to earn your stripes.

But don’t forget: the more you learn, the more you earn.

Are you ready to shoulder the future? Invest now to get the quality education you deserve—with the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership (NCPDLP).

Military-friendly program Associate, Baccalaureate, Master’s degrees, and Certificate programs Liberal transfer credit policies Multiple course delivery options Military training and previously earned college credit, certification, and licenses may be applied toward your degree New terms begin every month!

To apply online, visit military.tesc.edu.

To learn more, call 1.888.442.8372 or e-mail us at militaryeducation@tesc.edu.

involved in the accreditation process.

The only role the government plays is to evaluate these accrediting agencies using well-developed criteria in order to identify those considered to be “reliable authorities” on the quality of institutions of higher education.

Why should You Care About Accreditation?

Distance Learning and Understanding Accreditation W

ill employers value the online degree you have received?

Will you be able to transfer credits from your online course to another institution? Will the online program you select provide a rigorous and worthwhile educational experience? A key to answering these questions is an understanding of accreditation and the accreditation process. This

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article will provide you with the basic information you need to make wise and informed decisions when selecting an online program or course.

Accreditation is simply a validation process by which institutions of higher education are evaluated against established standards to ensure a high level of educational quality. It is typically accomplished through a peer-review process in which faculty from accredited institutions help to conduct evaluations of either new non-accredited institutions or accredited institutions seeking renewal. The standards used to conduct these evaluations include assessing: the institution’s mission, goals and objectives, resources and resource allocation, student admission requirements, student support services and the quality of the faculty and educational offerings.

Unlike the practices of most other countries, in the United States, accreditation is a voluntary process that is implemented by private nongovernmental accrediting agencies. At present, there are both regional and national agencies

Knowing something about a school’s accreditation can tell you a lot about the value of the degree or course for which you are paying. Employers may not recognize degrees obtained from non-accredited institution and course credits may not transfer to other institutions. Understanding accreditation can also help you identify and avoid “diploma mills” (i.e. an unaccredited institution that grants degrees without ensuring students are properly qualified.)

It’s important to understand that some institutions use the term “accredited” rather loosely. All institutions of higher education, online or “brick and mortar,” should openly provide information on their accreditation. The documentation should clearly state that the institution is “accredited” and should list the accrediting agency. Some unaccredited schools use terms that give the appearance of accreditation where none exists.

Be wary of phrases such as: “pursuing accreditation”, “chartered”, “licensed or registered”, “recognized”, “authorized” or “approved.” If these phrases are used without the term “accreditation” you should beware.

It is also very important to review the qualifications of the accrediting agency that has evaluated and approved the institution in question. The “American Association of Accredited Colleges and Continued on Page 100

Get a quality education.

Continued from Page 98

Know your options.

Second, even if two institutions are accredited they may not allow you to transfer credit form one to the other.

Other factors, such as your GPA, current and past degree programs, duration of the course, etc. may also factor into your ability to transfer credits.

Is not having accreditation always a bad thing?

No. It is important to stress that just because a school is not accredited, does not mean that they are inferior or illegal.

For example, there are innovative non-traditional schools that may have not sought accreditation for legitimate reasons. In addition, some types of institutions that offer only professional training or continuing education may not be eligible to seek accreditation from the organizations previously mentioned.

Universities”, for example, may sound rather official but in reality this fake organization was invented several years ago by a less than prestigious college. How can you ensure that your school of choice is accredited? Simply visit the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs at www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation.

Are distance-learning institutions accredited differently than “brick and mortar” institutions?

Achieve your goals.

The answer is yes and no. Both the regional and national accrediting agencies, responsible for all accreditation including programs offered at a distance, hold distance-learning institutions to the same high standards as other colleges and universities.

However, they have recognized specific standards that are applied to “brick and mortar” institutions need to be adapted for distance learning to ensure that they continue to promote high quality education.

Is accreditation a “cut and dry” issue?

Research schools thoroughly.

What is the Carnegie Classification?

The Carnegie Classification data is a snapshot of U.S. higher education based on data available prior to the 2000 classification. This Carnegie info tells you if a learning provider is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and tells you the level (Associates, Bachelors, Masters, Doctoral) of degree the institutions’ are accredited to grant.

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The short answer is no. First, just because an institution is accredited does not mean that you are guaranteed a high quality education. It simply means that the infrastructure and educational offerings needed to get a good education are present. What you get from these resources depends a lot on what you put in.

Make your education dollars count.

As a result, it is likely that your education plans will play a role in how important accreditation is to you. For example, if you are seeking an online MBA, then you will likely want an accredited university or college. If you are simply looking to learn word processing then an online “training institute” that is not accredited might be fine. When making decisions about which online program is best for you, it is important to not only consider the institution’s accreditation status, but your educational goals and learning needs as well. H For extensive distance learning resources and information, go to www.elearners.com. View this article at: www.elearners.com/resources/ accreditation.asp

Harrison College:

Individual support for student success

Harrison offers a unique learning environment for students who want to pursue a career-focused, quality education and complete their degree in a student-centered atmosphere. Our staff and faculty believe student success is linked to a connection between the college and the student; therefore, we take many steps to connect with students at an individual level.

This has been Harrison’s philosophy since its inception.

At Harrison, we understand the hardships that military personnel and their families go through while trying to attend or complete a college degree. Since this process can be overwhelming we stand ready to assist you in making that transition into the classroom and beyond. To aide in that transition we have programs that include: support groups for service members and their families, assistance with financial aid for service members and their families, and special credit transfers for service members.

Audra Lindell, Manager of Student Enrollment explains: “As, a former service member myself I believe Harrison College recognizes your service, the commitment to your country and your educational goals. I know that graduating from college is an honor much like that of serving in the military. By combining a college degree to your military experience a student can only add to their personal resume. Harrison College salutes YOU!” Harrison College’s support and services extend beyond just the service members and veteran students to include their spouses and dependents as well. Harrison offers a Military Service Grant that service members’ family may be eligible to receive, which can reduce tuition by up to 30 percent. We also provide around the clock counseling, made possible by collaborating with Student Resources Services (SRS). Clinicians at SRS connect students with legal, financial and psychologi102

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cal counseling and offer resources to alleviate any barriers students may encounter while completing their education.

You have already earned our respect and that is why Harrison College is prepared to work extra hard to earn yours. Our hope is that your student experience is a positive one throughout your tenure at Harrison.

As 109-year old institution, Harrison College has sought to offer the education and training workers need and employers expect. At Harrison, we hold as our guiding values the following: Excellence, Service, and Compliance.

•

•

•

Excellence: We provide a climate of high quality, relevant classroom content delivered by faculty equipped with strong credentials and demonstrated industry expertise.

Service: Harrison College continually strives to improve services to all members within our College community.

We strive to provide a personal, responsive, and attentive learning environment that exceeds student expectations.

Compliance: We accept our responsibility to be held accountable by all and operate with integrity and fairness.

Harrison College offers more than 30 degree programs in five schools of study. More than 5,000 students are enrolled at 13 campuses and at its online division and culinary division (The Chef’s Academy). Harrison is a nationally accredited institution dedicated to excellence in higher learning. Harrison provides contemporary career education in a learning environment where students receive individualized support, care and respect. For more information, visit www.harrison.edu.

YOU’VE ALREADY EARNED OUR RESPECT. THAT’S WHY WE WORK EXTRA HARD TO EARN YOURS.

As a member of of the military militar y, your contributions to our country countr y can’t be overstated, or over-appreciated.

That’s why why we’re going all out to make the Harrison College experience as rewarding as possible for stud stu dents like you ou.. In fact, Harrison College is listed in the to top p 15% of militar ilitary y-friendl -friendly y schools i n the th e country countr y by G.I. Job Jobs .

Here are just a few of the advantages we offer: offer: A Military Service Grant to help reduce costs and maximize tuition for active, reserve, guardsmen, retirees, veterans and dependents of military personnel attending our college.

Your choice of more than 30 programs in a wide variety of career fields available through our five schools of study and The Chef’s Academy.

Personalized assistance in getting the most from your benefits, including the Montgomery G.I. Bill, tuition assistance programs, and many Federal and private aid programs.

Flexibility in scheduling and course completion, including the convenience of online classes, and the availability of a military leave of absence for students deployed to a new assignment while enrolled at Harrison College.

Ability to convert your military experience into college credit, based on the recommendations of the American Council of Education.

Learn more about why military students choose Harrison College at harrison.edu/military or call 800.601.7802.

AC0186 / Ohio Reg #08 -11-1883B

here are different versions of the Montgomery G.I. Bill for both active duty and reserves. Additionally, all of the active duty services, and many of the reserve services offer Tuition Assistance (TA) to help pay for college courses while in the military.

As of October 1, 2002, all of the branches of military service began offering 100% TA for courses taken while service members were on active duty. However, there are limitations. All of the Services limit TA to $4,500 per year, per individual. Additionally, there are limits on the amount of TA available per semester hour.

Guard/Reserve Tuition Assistance Both the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard offer TA. The Army National Guard allows 100% TA not to exceed $250 per semester hour, up to $4,500 annually.

The Air National Guard offers 100% TA not to exceed $250.00 per semester hour, or $166 per quarter hour, up to $1,000 annually.

Additionally, many states offer additional education benefits for members of their National Guard (National Guard is controlled —for the most part—by the individual States, not the Federal Government, so benefits can vary widely from state-to-state).

The Air Force Reserves give 100% TA for undergraduate degree programs. Tuition assistance is limited to $250 per semester hour, or $166.67 per quarter hour, up to $4,500 annually. For graduate degree programs, the Air Force Reserves offer 75% TA, limited to $187.50 per semester hour, or $125 per quarter hour, with a $3,500 annual maximum.

The Army Reserves offers 100% TA for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Tuition assistance cannot exceed $250 per semester hour, or $166.67 per quarter hour, up to $4,500 annually.

The Coast Guard Reserves offer TA for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Tuition assistance cannot exceed $250 per semester hour, or $166.67 per quarter hour up to $4,500 annually.

The Navy and Marine Corps Reserves do not offer a Tuition Assistance Program, at present.

However, (for all of the reserve service), military members who are called to active duty under Title 10 — Federal Call up — get the same TA benefits 104

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as their active duty counterparts. That means, for example, that a Reserve Marine, called to active duty, would be eligible for the Marine Corps Active Duty Tuition Assistance Program.

Army College Tuition ssistance Program Soldiers now have more money to pay for their education because of changes to the Department of Defense’s tuitionassistance policy.

The Army’s TA program will pay up to the new cap of $250 per semester hour of credit and an annual ceiling of $4,500 to soldiers enrolled in a post-secondary school. The policy also covers textbooks if they are included in the school’s tuition rates.

Under the old policy, the tuition-assistance grant was up to 75% of tuition, capped at $187.50 per semester hour and $3,500 a year.

There is a misconception that the new TA will always cover 100% of tuition. However, the Army will pay 100% only if the institution’s fees are $250 per semester hour or less. If the fees exceed $250, the Army will not pay more to cover the difference.

Enrolled soldiers may also draw funds from their Montgomery GI Bill. Active-duty soldiers

can receive up to $32,400 for 36 months or more of service.

Soldiers enrolled in the MGIB, and who have also been on active duty for at least two years, can elect to use part of their MGIB entitlement to cover tuition costs that exceed the TA cap. This add-on benefit is called “Top-Up”.

The TA Program was introduced in 1947 to showcase the Army’s commitment to educating its soldiers, officials said.

Navy College Tuition Assistance Program

Tuition assistance is an important benefit for sailors pursuing education during their off-duty time. The TA program provides a significant opportunity and is a strong commitment to the professional and personal development of our sailors. The Navy will pay 100% of tuition costs and all required fees charged by educational institutions for course enrollments, with the following stipulations: a Payment for tuition and fees will not exceed $250.00 per semester hour.

Continued on Page 106

Service in her

sights After spending most of her adult life overseas in the Air Force, Ebony Littlefield is a master of life balance.

“I hit the ground running and keep going,” she says.

“Being on active duty taught me how to focus on the task at hand.” The former senior airman’s focus now is on mentoring students through Boys and Girls Clubs and earning her degree in social work. After graduation, she wants to return to the military in a role that serves her fellow soldiers.

Texas State’s EBONY LITTLEFIELD: soldier, servant, inspiration.

For more of Ebony’s story, visit va.txstate.edu.

A member of The Texas State University System

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b There will be a fiscal year funding limit of 12 semester hours (or equivalent) per individual. c Tuition Assistance will cover fees that are published, mandatory and charged for course enrollment. TA funds will not be used to purchase textbooks or reading materials.

Waivers to semester hour limits will be considered for exceptional circumstances. Waiver requests must be submitted via the applicant’s commanding officer to NETC and must contain the following: – Name, rank/rate, social security number/ designator; – Additional semester hours requested; – Course title(s) and description(s); – Current degree program; – Semester hours completed to date and required to complete current degree program; – Transcripts from current degree program (summary is acceptable if request is submitted via rmg); – Commanding officer’s justification for exception.

Since program funding is limited, all hands are highly encouraged to pay close attention to benefit usage and to make maximum use of voluntary education programs (NCPACE, GI Bill, etc.) And the college level examination program (CLEP). By passing CLEP examinations covering more than 150 subject areas, sailors may earn one-third or more of the credits required for a college degree. Additionally, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) carry American Council on Education (ACE) college credit rec106

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ommendations, which may be accepted for individual degree programs. Service members should explore all off-duty education options by visiting local navy college offices or calling the navy college center toll-free at 922-1828 or 1-877-2537122 between the hours of 0600 - 2100 (CST), 7 days a week or visit www.navycollege.navy.mil.

Air Force College Tuition Assistance Program Air Force personnel can take advantage of a new Department of Defense TA policy that pays 100% of the cost of tuition for offduty courses.

The policy pays tuition costs and mandatory fees for up to a maximum of $250 per semester hour, or $750 per three-hour course.

The policy also includes a $4,500-per-year TA ceiling.

Prior to 2002, only instructional fees were paid, such as a lab fee for science courses. The amended policy allows for all costs to be paid as long as the total cost falls under the authorized total, the student doesn’t have to pay any money out of (his or her) pocket.

Tuition assistance still cannot be used to pay for textbooks unless they are included in an academic institution’s published tuition rates.

Marine Corps Tuition Assistance Program All active duty marines (to include selected Marine Corps Reserve enlisted Marines on continuous active duty) are eligible for TA per policies established herein. Tuition assistance is autho­rized for officers only if they agree to remain on active duty for two (2) years after completing the TA funded course. Eligibility and funding for active duty members of other military services are established in accordance with the other military services’ TA policy.

Tuition Assistance Funding Policy Tuition Assistance funds are authorized up to 100% of tuition, instructional fees, laboratory fees, computer fees and mandatory course enrollment fees combined, not to exceed $250 per semester hour equivalent and $4,500 per individual per Continued on Page 108

If you’re ready to go to college, we’re ready to serve you.  at the base of the Wind River Mountains.  solid academic reputation, first-class faculty and great campus facilities.

 All veterans receive in-state tuition/general fees Any veteran who originally enlisted in Wyoming and served overseas, entitled to tuition waiver.

 visit our website for more information and to complete your application

ESTIMATED ANNUAL COSTS (2010-2011 Academic Year)

Tuition General Fees Books/Supplies plus housing costs

$1,632 $ 504 $1,000

Questions?

307.855.2119 or 1.800.865.0193 admit@cwc.edu 2660 Peck Avenue • Riverton, WY

www.cwc.edu

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fiscal year. Mandatory course enrollment fees are those refundable fees charged by the institution that are directly related to the enrollment in a course offered by that institution. Service members are responsible for the portion of tuition and other costs not funded by TA. Funding combinations for the various voluntary education programs will not exceed the fiscal year cap.

A semester hour is the equivalent of 15 clock hours. Tuition assistance will fund a maximum of $16.67 per clock hour. A semester hour is the equivalent of .66-quarter hours. Tuition assistance will fund a maximum of $166.67 per quarter hour.

Tuition for courses less than or equal to 18 weeks in length will be funded up front. Tuition for courses longer than 18 weeks, or self-paced courses will be reimbursed to the student following successful completion of the course.

Tuition for study leading to a valid high school credential or diploma will be fully funded (100%) up to a maximum of $4,500 per individual per year.

Tuition Assistance funds are authorized for vocational-technical, undergraduate, graduate, independent study, and distance learning programs. Courses must be offered by institutions accredited by agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Tuition assistance funds are authorized for study toward a certificate or degree at a higher academic level than that currently held by the service member. If the academic institution requires prerequisites, TA may fund up to nine (9) semester hours or equivalent of those prerequisites for the next higher academic level of study. The service member must provide the education officer with an official letter from the institution listing required prerequisites. The education officer shall determine if funding is warranted and shall retain the letter on file.

Service members eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) may use their MGIB benefit to offset that portion of tuition and related fees not covered by TA. Members enrolled in MGIB must

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clearly print “TA Top-Up” across the top of the TA authorization and forward a copy to their veteran’s administration regional office. All first time Top-Up applicants must also forward a MGIB application, VA Form 22-1990. Service members will work with VA directly for settlement. Although MGIB

Tuition Assistance funds are not authorized for continuing education units, developmental courses, or preparatory courses.

Tuition Assistance funds are not authorized for courses that end after the service member’s EAS (discharge date).

Tuition Assistance funds are not authorized for books.

Tuition Assistance is not authorized for personnel awarded a punitive discharge, in confinement, on appellate leave, or awaiting administrative separation, other than honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions. Tuition Assistance is not authorized for service members convicted by foreign or domestic courts, serving sentences in foreign prisons, or pending administrative vice punitive discharges.

Tuition Assistance funds will be recouped from the service member for failed courses, incomplete courses, or courses from which the member voluntarily withdrew. Recoupment for duty related withdrawals may be waived for a service member.

The service member must submit proof, such as TAD or PCS orders, and a letter endorsed by his or her commanding officer. The Education Officer will determine if a duty waiver is warranted.

Recoupment for undergraduate grades of “F” and graduate grades of “D” and below will not be waived.

TA funds are authorized for vocational-technical, undergraduate, graduate, independent study, and distance learning programs. may be used to offset TA, TA is not authorized to offset that portion of MGIB not paid by VA. There must be a TA dollar contribution in order for TA top-up to apply.

An individual must have no more than two outstanding grades at any given time. An outstanding grade is defined as a grade not received within 30 days after the completion date of a course.

All first time students must complete a “TA Orientation” class (College 101) prior to using TA. Marines on major installations may access the course at local education offices. Marines at remote sites (Non-Marine Corps installations) may access the course via www.usmc-mccs.org, Lifelong Learning, Military Tuition Assistance or www.usmc-ccs.org/perssvc/per_serv_main.html, (Lifelong Learning), Military Tuition Assistance.

Remote on-line users will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate will be faxed to the appropriate Lifelong Learning (LL) Center with the initial TA request for processing and authorization.

Marines with a GT of 99 and below must complete the test of adult basic education with scores of 10.2 and higher to receive TA. If the test score is not satisfactory, marines must complete military academic skills program prior to receiving tuition assistance.

To continue using Tuition Assistance, Marines must have a written degree plan before exceeding 12 semester hour equivalent courses. H

Freedom ad 2011:Layout 1 2/1/2011 11:55 AM Page 1

Invest in Yourself Education at Wayland increases your potential. n Associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees n ONLINE bachelor’s degree n ONLINE master’s degrees in: n Management n Christian Ministry n Public Administration (justice or government administration, homeland security) n Education (certification or professional studies) n English n History

n Earn credit for work experience, training, military education n Affordable tuition and low fees n Four 11-week terms each year n Face-to-face classes in evenings, weekends n More than 200 classes offered online each term for flexible scheduling Let us help you seek your dreams for the future through a higher education degree!

Campuses in: n Anchorage, AK n Fairbanks, AK n Phoenix, AZ n Sierra Vista, AZ n Aiea, HI n Albuquerque, NM n Clovis, NM n Altus, OK n Amarillo, TX n Lubbock, TX n Plainview, TX n San Antonio, TX n Wichita Falls, TX

www.wbu.edu

Upper Iowa University For over 152 years Upper Iowa University has been proudly serving the men and women in America’s Armed Forces. Beginning with the Civil War and extending to modern day, our university has a rich and proud heritage of supporting the military student and transitioning veteran.

In 1973 Upper Iowa launched an external degree program, one of the first in the United States. Today this self-guided, independent study program continues to enable service members stationed around the world with an opportunity to continue their education without having to attend class or have consistent internet access. Deployed military members can work via the U.S. mail or email, depending on their access and location.

During the 1990’s, Upper Iowa University established off-campus learning centers on several military installations in order to provide accelerated and convenient degree completion opportunities for service members. These

locations included Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort Polk, Louisiana; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. More recently, we began to offer classes in support of the Louisiana National Guard, and at the U.S. Naval Support Activity and U.S. Coast Guard facility in New Orleans.

Today, Upper Iowa University has 17 off-campus learning centers in 6 different states.

In 1999, Upper Iowa began online program delivery. The program has continued to grow both in enrollment and national reputation. Our online program is delivered in accelerated 8-week terms enabling military personnel to quickly navigate their course work while meeting the many demands of military life. It is now ranked in the top 10% of online programs nationwide by Online Education Database (OEDb) 2009.

The flexibility of Upper Iowa’s distance learning programs makes them a terrific fit for active duty as well as transitioning service members. They have two options to continue with their education goals and 110

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can select the best delivery program based on their preferred learning method and the demands of their current assignment and/or family situation. No matter where military personnel are stationed around the globe, Upper Iowa University can meet their educational needs. Students can study at any time and from anywhere.

We offer a tuition discount for all actively serving members of the military. The discount is extended to spouses and military retirees and their spouses. For military students utilizing tuition assistance (TA), we promise to keep our undergraduate tuition rates at or below the military TA cap. Additionally, we work hard to ensure that our admissions staff, academic advisors and financial aid counselors are well trained and understand military and veteran’s benefits in order to provide our military students with first-class customer service.

As a regionally accredited university, Upper Iowa University applies progressive transfer policies for previous college credits and credits awarded through CLEP and DSST examinations. We also recognize and award maximum credit from military schools and military occupational specialties so students enter the program with as many requirements satisfied as possible.

Because service to our country can create special circumstances, we have implemented policies that make earning a degree even easier. This is evidenced by the fact that Upper Iowa was recognized twice in the past few months as one of the top military-friendly colleges and universities

by Military Advanced Education and GI Jobs.

Upper Iowa University’s vision is to be recognized and respected as an exceptional and ascending institution of higher learning, developing global citizens who become lifelong learners prepared for leadership within society. To this end, our university will continue to support and meet the educational goals of the men and women in America’s Armed Forces.

For more information regarding this military friendly school, please visit www.uiu.edu/military or email at distance@uiu.edu.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER...

At UIU you have the power to reach your goals, build a new future, and recharge your dreams

TURN YOUR POWER ON!

UIU.edu

Real education for real change

• Regionally accredited • Multiple course delivery options with flexible start dates • Ranked #4 overall in nation’s online programs - Online Educational Database (OEDb) 2009

• Maximum credit for military training, transfer credits, CLEP and DSST exams • Tuition benefits and scholarship programs for Total Military Family • Member of SOC, GoArmyEd, NCPDLP, and AU-ABC • Approved for Veterans Education benefits

Proud participant in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program.

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army

800-603-3756 • www.uiu.edu/military UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

On Campus • Online Independent Study • U.S. & International Centers 800-603-3756 • •www.uiu.edu/salute On Campus • Online • Independent Study • U.S. & International Centers

Success Strategies for Distance Learners D istance learning has special challenges. You will probably never see or meet the teacher. You won’t have classmates. You don’t have a campus full of people studying the same thing.

But you can succeed! Plan on it! Follow the simple tips below, and you’ll do better in your learning. They may seem pretty basic, but they’ll help keep you focused and on track.

1.

Set Goals.

– Goal #1: “I will succeed in this course.”

– At the beginning of a new course, look through the materials. Break the lessons/assignments into manageable chunks. You might not have time to do a full lesson in one night, so plan for how much you can do and stick to it until you’re done.

2. Establish a regular study/learning schedule.

– Keep a calendar or journal with your study goals and important dates clearly marked.

– Determine what time is best for you to study.

– Take breaks-walk around and stretch. Drink some water or have a light snack.

– Have a dedicated study place with all the supplies you might need (computer, paper, pens, calculator, etc.)

– Pace yourself. Don’t over extend yourself. There’s a reason it takes several years to graduate from a traditional university. You’re in this to learn, not just to get a certificate, so make sure you’re learning, not just racing through the materials.

3. Talk about it!

– Tell people what you’re doing. You’re more likely to stick to a course if your co-worker knows you’re doing it. If you are studying high-tech or internet development, the person might just know a programmer he can hook you up with for tutoring.

– Ask a friend to check up on you.

– Ask someone to proof your work before you submit it.

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4. Join a study group – this doesn’t have to be stuffy!

– Join a club. Aspiring financial planners could join a local investing club.

– Get a mentor. If you’re taking a course related to health or medicine, ask a nurse or pharmacist if you can take them for coffee once a month.

– Search the Internet for bulletin boards or chat rooms related to your topic.

5. Know your learning style, and use it!

– Look for real-world situations and examples of what you’re learning about. If you’re studying about civil engineering, pay attention to bridges.

– You’ll be much more interested if you’re involved, not just reading about a topic.

– Put things into practice as early as possible.

– If you’re studying accounting, practice by balancing your checkbook.

6. Celebrate Successes!

– Reward yourself with whatever works for you. Remember, you chose to do this. Be proud of your accomplishments!

7.

Ask Questions – If you don’t understand something, ASK. It’s been said a zillion times: the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask. H

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COURAGE AND HONOR

From Honorable Service to Career Success

The Military Student Center (MSC) helps active duty

COL Dawn Dunlop, USAF Fighter Pilot to Commander

personnel, veterans, and families maximize their military educational benefits‌and jump on the fast-track to exciting new careers.

Improved Healthcare for Female Servicemembers MSC services are free to all military without obligation.

prepare you for high-demand career fields like medical,

M I L I TA R Y S T U D E N T C E N T E R

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Toll free 1-877-VC GI BILL (1-877-824-4245)

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classes on campus and online.

MAY 2011

Our colleges are nationally accredited, with flexible

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salute to freedom •

30,000 graduates and offer more than 60 programs to

Times Are Changing: Women Serving on Submarines Combat Ready Female Forces May 2011 National Military Appreciation Month Making the Most of Military Friendly Colleges and Servicemember Opportunity Colleges

T Sp op ea B k ra O ss u t

We can help you. Our affiliated colleges have over