USS RUSHMORE MAGAZINE | VOL. 1 ISS. 2 RUSHWOMEN’S EQUALITY EDITION THE HONORING CNO EVOLUTION ARLENE SELECTS OF FET DUERKE 15TH MPCON PAGE 4 PAGE 14 PAGE 16 USS RUSHMORE IF YOU’RE ON ANOTHER SHIP, I FEEL BAD FOR YOU, SON. There are 99 women on the RUSHMORE crew, and I am one. August has been a phenomenal month for RUSHMORE, and I couldn’t be prouder of how well our first COMMANDING OFFICER CONTENTS month of deployment has gone. In CDR Robert C. Tryon honor of Women’s Equality Day, EXECUTIVE OFFICER this issue of RUSH magazine CDR Robin Marling highlights some of the great COMMAND MASTER CHIEF events the women on board CMDCM Joseph Silveira RUSHMORE have participated in that PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER have contributed to our success. These ENS James Callahan Sailors and Marines work every day to EDITOR/DESIGNER 4 forge teamwork and toughness, readiness MC3 Reymundo A. Villegas III and responsibility, and maintain CONTRIBUTORS our safety and standards. CPL Danny Gonzalez Nobility Power! “RUSH,” The USS Rushmore (LSD 47) magazine, accepts submissions. All submissions are subject to review and editing. “RUSH” is an authorized publication for members of military services and their families. Its content Executive Officer does not necessarily reflect the 14 16 CDR Robin Marling official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the THE EVOLUTION OF THE Marine Corps and does not imply 4 endorsement thereby. FEMALE ENGAGEMENT TEAM BY MC3 REYMUNDO A. VILLEGAS III THESE SAILORS U.S. MARINE CORPS FEMALE ENGAGEMENT TEAM INTEGRATES ADDS SOME BLUE TO THE TEAM. AND“ MARINES WORK 14 HONORING ALENE B. DUERK EVERY DAY TO BY MC3 REYMUNDO A. VILLEGAS III THE NAVY'S FIRST FEMALE ADMIRAL PASSES AWAY. FORGE TEAMWORK 16 CNO SELECTS 15TH MCPON FROM CHIEF OF NAVAL INFORMATION AND TOUGHNESS, FLEET MASTER CHIEF SMITH IS SELECTED AS NAVY'S NEW MCPON. READINESS AND 17 BLUE-GREEN SPOTLIGHT RESPONSIBILITY, AND “ FROM USS RUSHMORE | 13TH MEU SEE WHICH SAILOR AND MARINE ARE HIGHLIGHTED MAINTAIN OUR SAFETY IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE. AND STANDARDS. ON THE COVER: PACIFIC OCEAN (JULY 31, 2018) - MACHINIST’S MATE 3RD CLASS ASHLEY LEROY POSES FOR A PORTRAIT IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN FLAG. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MC3 REYMUNDO A. VILLEGAS III 3 U.S. NAVY STORY BY MC3 REYMUNDO VILLEGAS III PACIFIC OCEAN - U.S. MARINES WITH COMBAT LOGISTICS BATTALION 13, 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (MEU), PERFORM SCISSOR KICKS IN A GROUP DURING A REGULARLY SCHEDULED DEPLOYMENT OF ESSEX AMPHIBIOUS READY GROUP (ARG) AND 13TH MEU. THE ESSEX ARG/MEU TEAM IS A STRONG, FLEXIBLE, RESPONSIVE, AND CONSISTENT FORCE CAPABLE OF MANEUVER WARFARE ACROSS ALL DOMAINS; IT IS EQUIPPED AND SCALABLE TO RESPOND TO ANY CRISIS FROM HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF TO CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. DANNY GONZALEZ) The Evolution of the FEMALE ENGAGEMENT 4 AVA SEA -- Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Mejia when searching female Iraqis for concealed wiped the sweat off her brow as she weapons during missions. It was appropriate leaned in to inspect a vehicle. Mejia’s to have a woman searching other women— Jsweating because she’s in Fallujah, Iraq and having this capability opened the door to during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. other opportunities. Suddenly, there is incoming fire. “We couldn’t do that without having “I thought ‘This is it,’” said Mejia, the staff female engagement teams to interact with non-commissioned officer of the female the female population,” said Glatt. “We engagement team (FET). “’This is finally saw that could have more of an impact happening. What do we do now?’” rather than just storming in with men and With all the training Mejia and the FET weaponry.” had, the team reacted in second nature. They FET has three main missions. One being located the enemy. They sighted in and on subject matter expertise exchange and command they engaged fire. theater support cooperation, another “FET started in Afghanistan and Iraq being evacuation operations, tactical site during Operation Iraqi Freedom and exploitation, search and seizure, and another Operation Enduring Freedom,” said 1st Lt. being cultural host nation integration. Riacca Glatt, the officer in charge of the FET. FET has not only evolved into winning hearts PACIFIC OCEAN (AUG. 6, 2018)- U.S. MARINES AND SAILORS ABOARD THE WHIDBEY ISLAND-CLASS DOCK LANDING SHIP “We were losing when it came to interacting and minds but has now incorporated the USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47) GATHER FOR A PRESENTATION with the female Muslim population. It was concept of the Navy-Marine Corps team. CENTERED ON WOMEN IN THE MILITARY DURING A REGULARLY SCHEDULED DEPLOYMENT OF ESSEX AMPHIBIOUS not appropriate for males to address the The Whidbey Island-class dock landing READY GROUP (ARG) AND 13TH MEU. women, to look at them, to be around them. ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) and the (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. DANNY GONZALEZ) The Marine Corps saw this need to be able to embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary The integrated FET had the opportunity experiences and challenges as women in the interact with everyone.” Unit (MEU) are currently on a regularly to execute their first mission at the first military. The diversity of women on the FET Glatt said the FET was primarily started to scheduled deployment to the 7th fleet area Women’s Symposium held in Jakarta, allowed for each woman to provide different be culturally sensitive to local social norms of operations and are putting the blue-green Indonesia. insight. FET integration to work. “This symposium brought two groups of “Being part of this event made me feel “Our deployment is all about the women together,” said Glatt. “In our culture, like a part of a bigger picture for women in amphibious ready group (ARG) and MEU women have been in the military for quite the military everywhere,” said Leroy. “All integration,” said Glatt. “We wanted the some time, and we of us on the FET female engagement team to be about that as merged that with a dedicated ourselves well. It’s not a Marine Corps only idea, and it culture where women “IT’S ALLOWED FET to being a part of shouldn’t be. The blue side brings different in the military is a very the one percent that perspectives, capabilities and experiences to new concept.” TO BECOME EVEN serves in the military, the table.” “We were able to but there is an even Rushmore’s FET consists of three Sailors work hand-in-hand BETTER THAN IT WAS smaller percentage and nine U.S. Marines. with women in the of females who serve. “This deployment is a perfect time for Indonesian navy,” INTENDED TO BE.” This experience the female engagement team,” said Glatt. said Machinist’s Mate -STAFF SGT. JACQUELINE allowed me to “Sailors and Marines will be together for 3rd Class Ashley MEJIA be involved with PACIFIC OCEAN (JULY 18, 2018) - U.S. MARINE SGT. JOHANNA months and have the opportunity to interact Leroy, a Sailor on the something bigger AMAYA, A DATA NETWORK SPECIALIST WITH COMBAT LOGISTICS BATTALION 13, 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY together and work with each other during FET. “We were able than myself. It UNIT (MEU), COUNTS THE REPETITIONS AS MARINES AND SAILORS EXERCISE FOR COMBAT CONDITIONING WHILE our missions. It is going to give us the to share our experiences of what life in the empowered me and reassured me that ABOARD THE WHIDBEY ISLAND-CLASS DOCK LANDING SHIP opportunity to showcase a side of the military USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47) DURING A REGULARLY SCHEDULED military has been like for us. We learned from women’s presence in the military is important DEPLOYMENT OF ESSEX AMPHIBIOUS READY GROUP (ARG) that isn’t typically showcased.” them, and they learned from us.” and will be known.” AND 13TH MEU. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. DANNY GONZALEZ) The FET shared their capabilities, Although FET has evolved from it’s inception, they continue to train to stay prepared for any situation that may arise. “We do a lot of physical training,” said Mejia “We also do training on weapons handling and on-ground training. We have to make sure we are always mission ready.” FEMALEENGAGEMENTTEAM Glatt said that FET also participates in STAFF SGT. JACQUELINE MEJIA, THEN CORPORAL, discussion groups. flashbackPICTURED IN IRAQ, APRIL 12, WHEN SHE WAS A MEMBER OF 2ND BATTALION 3RD MARINE “We discuss what kind of topics to share, REGIMENT, I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IRAQI questions to ask, or how we might be able to WOMEN'S ENGAGEMENT TEAM. get someone else to share their experience with us,” said Glatt. Mejia, Glatt and Leroy all expressed that they have learned from the blue-green team integration. “Working with the Navy has opened my eyes to a different world,” said Mejia. “It has given me the opportunity to learn from the blue side and given us all an opportunity to put our heads together and work as one. It’s allowed FET to become even better than it was intended to be in the first place.” For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy or www.twitter. com/usnavy. For more news from USS Rushmore (LSD 47), visit http://www.rushmore.navy.mil and https://www.facebook.com/USSRushmore. For more news from 13th MEU, visit http:// www.13thmeu.marines.mil and https://www. facebook.com/13thMEUview. PACIFIC OCEAN (AUG. 6, 2018) - U.S. MARINE CORPS SGT. MARGARET CLARK, A FIELD RADIO OPERATOR WITH COMBAT LOGISTICS BATTALION 13, 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (MEU), LISTENS DURING HER PRESENTATION WHILE ABOARD THE WHIDBEY ISLAND-CLASS DOCK LANDING SHIP USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47) DURING A REGULARLY SCHEDULED DEPLOYMENT OF ESSEX AMPHIBIOUS READY GROUP (ARG) AND 13TH MEU.