Women in the Military

[Nubian]

I would appreciate any input you all may have.
I attend an HBCU, where I am a member of the Naval ROTC unit. This program allows college graduates to become commissioned officers upon graduation. I love this program, it's physically and mentally challenging, it allows me the oppurtunity to see the WORLD when I graduate, and it requires huge amounts of discipline.
This is my dilema. I am 1 of only 2 females in my class, and to add to that I am the only female who actively participates in class, attends regularly, and does her work. For the longest time everyone, and I mean EVERYONE (including my best friend in the program) expected me to quit. Why? Because I am female, or as they put it too feminine. (As though I'm supposed to give up my womanhood and become G.I. Jane to please them ). To make matters worse, whenever the professor tells us stories about Naval life he always refers to men, then pauses, looks at me and goes "oh yeah and women". Like I am the downfall of the Navy or something. I don't want to be singled out, I have met (and in most cases exceeded) all of the qualifications to be in this program. Do any of you have any suggestions on how to change the sexist atmosphere in such a structured environment? Do you know of anyone who has experienced this?

Thanks in Advance,

Me

[This message has been edited by Nubian (edited November 23, 2000).]

[Teresa2000]

Nubian,
I know of a Navy program that will pay you $1,600 per month (plus active duty benefits) while you are an undergrad. You do not have to do NROTC or join a reserve unit. After you graduate, you will go to OCS and be commissioned as an O-1 in the U.S.N. I don't know what state you are in but you can find out more by e-mailing this person...Lt. Arthur A. Requina, Assistant BDCP Manager at RequinA@cnrc.navy.mil. Tell him that you are interested in the BDCP and he can direct you to your local recruiter. You can also call him at (901)874-9313. Let me know how it all works out.

-Teresa

[Teresa2000]

Nubian,

Did the information that I gave you help any?

-Teresa

[ZetaAce]

Nubian-Two of my line sisters were in the Core of Cadets at VA Tech. (If you don't know what the core is, it is kind of a military school within the university. Only two of these cadet programs exist in the US, one at VA Tech and the other at Texas A&M (I think. They follow the same kinds of programs as VMI or the Citadel they are just part of a larger college). Anyway, although there were a lot more women in the program than what you deal with (not a lot by any means, but more) they dealt with the same types of situations, and one of them was actually the highest ranking person/commanding officer in the core her senior year! Anyway, she went on to the Navy as an officer and said she doesn't face the same kind of bias that she did when she was at school. She says that, in general, she has noticed that the older the teachers/officers are the more they show those biases toward women. Anyway, hope that helps some!!

ZetaAce

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FinerWomanhood: Learn it, Live it, Love it!

[RENEEDST_22]

Nubian,

I was in the Navy for 6 years, 4 sea duty with two tours and 2 years of shore duty. There are horror stories from both woman and men, he is being the typically "Real Navy", man don't let his ignorance because he is intimadated by you stop you from doing your best to exceed in life. A lot of older espically White men are intimadated by women and espically a Black woman trying to achieve what he has....Good Luck...I have some good and bad "SEA" stories if you want to hear them!

Rene'e

[Nubian]

Thank you so much Renee, it's good to know that someone knows where I am coming from, please feel free to email me anytime.