Month: June 2023

Source: United States Navy

This landmark legislation, signed into law by President Harry Truman on June 12, 1948, granted women the right to serve as regular, permanent members of the armed services.

Prior to the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, women had played crucial roles in the U.S. Navy during World War II as nurses or members of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) under the provisions of the Naval Reserve Act of 1938. However, these acts did not provide for women’s service during peacetime. It was the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act that shattered this barrier, opening the door for women to serve their country alongside men in the armed forces.

Under the provisions of the act, the number of women who could serve was initially capped at 2% of all personnel, and they were prohibited from participating fully in combat units. Nonetheless, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act marked a significant turning point in the fight for women’s rights and equality, setting the stage for further progress.

Captain Joy Bright Hancock, the director of WAVES, played a pivotal role in advocating for the passage of this act. Her dedication and efforts were instrumental in breaking down barriers and ensuring that women had the opportunity to serve their country in a more comprehensive and permanent capacity.

On July 7, 1948, the first six enlisted Navy women were discharged from the Naval Reserve and immediately reenlisted in the regular Navy. These trailblazers included Chief Yeoman Wilma J. Marchal, Yeoman Second Class Edna E. Young, Hospital Corpsman First Class Ruth Flora, Aviation Storekeeper First Class Kay L. Langen, Storekeeper Second Class Frances T. Devaney, and Teleman Doris R. Robertson.

Following this historic moment, on Oct. 15, 1948, Captain Hancock and seven other women were sworn in as the first female officers in the regular Navy. Lieutenant Commanders Winifred Quick Collins, Ann King, and Frances Willoughby, Lieutenants Ellen Ford and Doris Cranmore, and Lieutenants (junior grade) Doris Defenderfer and Betty Rae Tennant represented the pioneering group of 288 women selected for commissions.

Dr. Heather Haley, a historian with Naval History and Heritage Command, delivered a presentation titled “Finding a Permanent Place: Demobilization, Suburbia, Motherhood, and Women in the Navy,” June 6. The presentation delved into the historical context surrounding the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, exploring the challenges and achievements of women in the Navy during that era and can be viewed online: https://youtu.be/pHtpvpWaFDs.

In recognition of this milestone, the Naval History and Heritage Command offers web-based resources to highlight the stories of some of the first female officers in the regular Navy, honoring their commitment and the progress made since the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act.

• Women’s Armed Services Integration Act: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/diversity/women-in-the-navy/WASIA.html
• 75th Anniversary of Women’s Armed Services Integration Act: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/diversity/women-in-the-navy/WASIA/WASIA-at-75.html

This 75th anniversary observance recognizes the courage and resilience of the women who blazed the trail and paved the way for the more than 120,000 women currently serving in the Navy. Their service and dedication contribute to the strength and success of our armed forces and our nation as a whole.

NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC comprises many activities, including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, USS Constitution repair facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.

Source: United States Navy

NEW ORLEANS——U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (Naval Oceanography) was featured at the grand re-opening of the Audubon Aquarium for World Oceans Day, June 8.
 
The New Orleans Audubon Aquarium re-opened for business after a long shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
As an invited guest to the World Oceans Day event, Naval Oceanography was able to showcase its mission and the personnel who make it happen.
 
Participating Naval Oceanography representatives were: Emily Bodin, Oceanographer at Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO); Lieutenant Jai Chappell, Meteorology and Oceanography Officer at Naval Oceanography; Aerographer’s (AG) Mate Second Class Petty Officer Eric Corkern, Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center (NOMWC); and Aerographer’s Mate Third Class Petty Officer Lars Cheatham, NOMWC.
 
“I was amazed at the level of interest from both children and adults…the crowd was certainly familiar with the Navy, which allowed us [Naval Oceanography] to easily expound upon the mission we conduct in the ocean, considering it was World Oceans Day,” said Chappell.
 
Inside the New Orleans Aquarium, Naval Oceanography featured: two unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV); informational content; mission accomplishments; damaged UUV nosecones attacked by sharks; and ocean floor samples/artifacts.
 
The two UUVs present at the event—utilized by Naval Oceanography—were the Slocum Glider, an autonomous UUV used to collect a variety of oceanographic data to understand ocean water columns around the globe; and the Mk 18 Mod 1 Swordfish UUV, capable of performing low-visible exploration and reconnaissance, and hydrographic mapping.
 
The attending audience quickly gravitated to Naval Oceanography Sailors in uniform, but it was NAVO’s Bodin as its civilian component—with compelling, hands-on artifacts from her Geology Lab—that garnered significant attention to the Naval Oceanography exhibit. 
 
“Ocean floor samples from our [NAVO] Geology Lab are always captivating to people when they realize the depths of the ocean which they were collected, and the valuable information seafloor sediments can provide to the Fleet,” said Bodin.
 
As a U.S. Navy Civilian, Bodin—not only—clearly understands her agency’s mission within the Department of Defense and Navy, but also challenges faced in hiring the necessary civilian talent to continue the important work in maintaining National Security and Interests.     
 
Bodin spoke with a local New Orleans all-news radio station, WWL FM 105.3, and did not hesitate to promote the U.S. Navy as a viable employer for civilian work.
 
“I wanted to emphasize the importance of the METOC community’s efforts not only presently, but in years to come, by highlighting the work of Federal-Civilian employees and how we play a vital role in the continuity of mission readiness and execution,” said Bodin.
 
Naval Oceanography is co-located in the Gulf Coast region with the Audubon Aquarium, with New Orleans-native AG2 Corkern supporting also making connection more personal as guests realized the hometown commonality.
 
“I never thought after joining the Navy I would be home [ New Orleans], inside of place I visited several times as a kid, and sharing valuable experiences I have had thus far in my careers as a Sailor. . .it was truly an honor!,” said Corkern.
 
Naval Oceanography has approximately 2,500 globally distributed military and civilian personnel, who collect, process and exploit environmental information to assist Fleet and Joint Commanders in all warfare areas to guarantee the U.S. Navy’s freedom of action in the physical battlespace from the depths of the ocean to the stars.
 

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Source: United States Navy

A communications exercise taught Sailors how to use cutting-edge technology that enhances Navy EOD’s ability to support Distributed Maritime Operations and Expeditionary Advanced Basing Operations.

“This is how we need to communicate as part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force. The technology is designed to operate in austere operational environments while being more resilient to disruption and exploitation by adversaries,” said Cmdr. Philip Ibbitson, the command, control, communications and computers, and intelligence (C4I) officer at EODGRU-1.

Teams of Sailors used the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite waveform, Mesh Networking Protocols, and Team Awareness Kit (TAK) applications, which are better suited for expeditionary operations due to their increased mobility, capabilities, and decreased power requirements.

“We created a more resilient, robust mesh communications network with teams located throughout a 15-mile area full of obstructions,” said Ibbitson about using the elevated line-of-sight technology, which provides continuous communications if one or more nodes goes down.

Teams were located aboard small boats transiting San Diego Bay, and on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, and Naval Base San Diego. They shared voice, data, and precision location information using a Mobile Adhoc Network (MANET) that runs TAK software on Android tablets and Windows workstations.

“We pushed the limit of the mesh network as it dynamically adapted to find the best route to direct information so communications were not lost,” said Information System Technician 1st Class Jose Reyna, who was aboard a small boat that transited past all the teams while heading to Point Loma.

Depending on available satellite resources, TAK allows Sailors to text, stream videos and send pictures to a group chat everyone with access can view. The MUOS waveform and PRC-117G radio provided teams advanced mobile communications capabilities that included secure and unsecure phone calls, and access to the Navy’s Secure Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet).

“Legacy technology doesn’t have the smarts to do that,” said Reyna, a Sailor in EODGRU-1’s C4I Department. “This gives us secure communications, constant integrity and the ability to have real-time tracking of our forces.”

Ibbitson added that this technology is essential to overcoming potential adversary advantages by improving Navy EOD’s ability to maneuver and help the fleet and Joint Forces control key maritime terrain.

“It gives commanders unparalleled geospatial awareness of their units’ locations while allowing units, and eventually unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to be tracked and retasked,” said Ibbitson.

EODGRU-1 is a critical part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command that clears explosive hazards to provide access to denied areas, employs advanced tactics and technologies to exploit and secure the undersea domain for freedom of maneuver, builds and fosters relationships with trusted partners, and protects the nation.

Source: United States Navy

PUTLOS, Germany – Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) divers and technicians from Belgium, Denmark, France, Norway and the United States, assigned to NATO Task Unit 30, are participating in exercise Baltic Operations 2023 (BALTOPS 23) in Germany, Poland, and in the Baltic Sea, from June 5-16.