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R 061726Z MAR 23 MID200080785564U 
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SUBJ/DEPARTMENT OF NAVY 2023 WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH// 
 
RMKS/1.  During the month of March, the Department of the Navy (DON) 
celebrates Women's History Month to commemorate the contributions of military 
and civilian women to the DON.  Women have shown extraordinary grit, 
determination and adaptability throughout history, often in the face of 
adversity and bias, to shape the future of our Nation.  In "Celebrating Women 
Who Tell Our Stories," we pay tribute to the dedication of those courageous 
individuals who have shared their multifaceted stories, giving a voice to 
those from all backgrounds.  It is because of their endurance, tenacity, and 
resilience that the number of women among our ranks has continued to increase 
since my time as a service member many years ago. 
For centuries, countless women have played a critical role in ensuring the 
safety and security of our Nation, even though it was not until the 1948 
Women's Armed Services Integration Act that women were allowed to serve as 
full and permanent members of all Armed Forces branches.  For instance, Ms. 
Juliet Beyler, Executive Director for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, 
was one of the first Marine Corps women to become a combat engineer officer, 
while airman Roseann Roberts, became the first Navy woman Helicopter Plane 
Captain, attached to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Three, paving the way 
for female enlisted Sailors in the aviation community.  We remember Captain 
Rosemary B. Mariner, one of the first women to enter Navy flight school in 
1973, earning her Wings of Gold a year later, becoming one of the Navy's 
first female jet pilots and Anna Der-Varanian, the first woman promoted to 
the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer.  In 2021, the first woman graduated 
from a Naval Special Warfare assessment and the selection pipeline to become 
a Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewman and support the SEALs.  Last month 
I also celebrated the renaming of John Lewis-class replenishment oiler T-AO 
212 in honor of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with her family and other members 
of the Supreme Court. 
These trailblazers built bridges and shattered glass ceilings for the true 
equality of every woman that would selflessly choose to serve their country.   
Sheryl Sandberg, former COO at Facebook, describes it best.  "The 
word 'female', when inserted in front of something, is always with a note of 
surprise.  Female COO, female pilot, female surgeon-as if the gender implies 
surprise.  One day there won't be female leaders.  There will just be 
leaders." 
The DON's total force consists of more than 180,000 women serving in every 
grade and rank in commands across the fleet and on the front lines of our 
force.  It is vitally important to our Nation that we remind every generation 
of women that there are extraordinary opportunities available at the highest 
levels of service in the Navy, Marine Corps, and the civil service.  I remain 
committed to ensuring gender equity is achieved at all levels of the DON and 
that every Sailor, Marine, and civilian is provided the opportunity and 
support to thrive in their profession with the respect that they deserve.  I 
am truly grateful for every Sailor, Marine and civil servant who serves our 
Nation. 
 
2.  Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// 
 
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