One Woman in Today's Navy

One Woman in Today’s Navy:
A Sailor’s Personal Account

By DCFN Ashley Marie XXXXXXXXXX

Remembering that some women might have a different opinion, due to how long they themselves have been in, where as I have been in only a little over a year. To me it seems, because I am a woman in a man’s job (engineer/damage controller) we have to mold ourselves as much as the men of the navy do. There is the obvious, that most women can not physically compete with most men in the work that we do, but most men can not compete with what most women excel in. Women have better organizational skills (are more detail oriented, and read instructions first) than men which is important in any job in or out of the Navy. Then there is the argument of men being able to adapt to organizational skills easier than women can adapt to gaining physical strength. As the Navy’s philosophy has changed these days, they now see that every sailor is a contribution of their own abilities in their own rate, man or woman.

Quote me when I say that when there was a fear that women would not be a contribution to the navy, but a liability; it has been proved wrong. We are a contribution we are equal and we do make a difference. There is and will always be sexism in the navy and everywhere else in the world, along with everybody disliking somebody for something. There are some women in the navy that think that, reasonable and unavoidable decisions made are sexist. For example; a male and a female can not be behind locked doors with out a third party. It goes both ways it’s not sexist. The NAVY is not sexist. In my case there are some higher ups whose eyes are only opened to women being equals if they prove so. Not that we should have to prove it, but in my case I had to prove that I could do my job as an engineer/damage controller, pull my self out of a stereotype. Yes, I know what the difference between a monkey wrench and an adjustable wrench is, yes I can lift as much as the other males my size, no, and I don’t mind getting greasy. There will always be the hard headed that you deal with just as you would in the outside world. At least now days, in the Navy we are aloud to prove ourselves.

My main job is to train shipboard readiness for any damage control needs; flooding, fire, de-smoking, deep void rescue, etc. We as an engineering rate have maintenance on all damage control equipment on a daily basis. Firefighting being the rate itself is of course, our main priority over everything if and when it happens. The women in our damage control rate right now on this ship the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON proved, not just to everyone in our rate, but this whole ship that we are a big part of this firefighting team. I am proud to say that I am a damage control (woman). I am a fire fighter!

Us women, all we wanted was a chance to prove ourselves. And we did! I am very successful in a man’s world in a man’s job