Honor, confidence and commitment symbolize military officers

Black Collegian, Feb 2001 by Boyd, Charles E

While men remain the majority in the military, women too are serving with distinction. The successes of female officers like Admirals Jean Fishburne, USN, and Evelyn Fields, NOAA; Colonel Arlene Beatty, USA; Colonel Gilda Jackson, USMC; Lt. Col. Chiquita English, USAF; and Capt. Xzana Tellis, USN, have paved the way for younger women to follow in their footsteps. Lt. Commander Tina Caston, USN, joined the Navy after working as a school teacher. She counsels new officer candidates telling them the military offers graduates key long-term opportunities. She says that while many young people today join the services for the pay and attractive benefits, "many fail to see the long-term benefits that staying in generates for their families."

Lt. Cecile Daniels of the NOAA Commissioned Corps says she always had a strong interest in science and was introduced to NOAA at an early age by reading scientific journals, and watching television specials on the environment. After she received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, and worked during college as a co-op student with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, she was commissioned an ensign, and has served aboard two ships and been promoted twice. Her advice to students and graduates is "create your own opportunities, take advantage of co-operative education programs, internships, and any volunteer opportunities."

If students join the military and subsequently leave, employers in private industry are more than willing to snap them up. "I hire people for my company based on their abilities: dependability, responsibility and accountability," says John A. Clendenin, president and chief executive officer of Inner Circle Logistics, Inc., a high-tech firm.

"I also look for forward-thinkers and results' producers. I have found that those with military experience, regardless of their particular service, or specific job, have [key) abilities," Clendenin adds.

Leaders, whether on campus, in corporate America or in the military, seek challenges and find ways to succeed. Lt. Russell C. Jones, NOAA, and Lt. Jesse Stevenson, Coast Guard, offer poignant examples. In addition to being an officer in NOAA, Jones has been an officer in the Navy, a deputy sheriff in Portsmouth, Va., and a maximum-security correctional officer in Greenville, N.C. Today he represents NOAA in dayto-day operations with the University of Hawaii Marine Center in Hawaii while pursuing a master's degree. Jones' goal is to get a "command at sea." He moves closer to his goal when this October he becomes the executive officer on the NOAA ship Townsend Cromwell. "Giving back to one's community means everything to me, especially when it amounts to helping others overcome challenges in their lives, just as I have overcome many in mine," He adds.

Stevenson's military career has allowed him to excel in fellowship and mentorship. He received the prestigious "Role Model" award from the city of St. Louis - his name permanently inscribed on a brass plate affixed on a tree in the city's City Park. And he instituted a mentor program at his church. In considering the military or private industry to begin a career, observers say it most likely it will come down to the graduate's understanding of the "uniqueness" between the Armed Forces and corporate America,as determined by their roles and missions. Graduates must view the military on a global scale regarding opportunities, according to Stevenson.