Jeannie Deakyne

The University of Texas at Arlington offers the "Maverick Speakers Series", a free to the public opportunity to listen to (and dialog with) some of the most influential voices in politics, science, art, and business today.  I often encourage my cadets to attend these events, especially the speakers that have something to say about the future of today's American military.

Last night, I attended the sold out lecture by David Gergen, CNN's Political Analyst.  Gergen has been an observer, analyst, and participant in American politics for more than 30 years. Though he's perhaps best known for his insightful commentary on CNN, he formerly served as director of communications for President Reagan and held positions in the administrations of Presidents Nixon and Ford. He counseled President Clinton on foreign policy and domestic affairs and was special international adviser to the president and to Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

Besides his work on CNN, Gergen is a professor of public service and the director of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and is also editor-at-large at U.S. News & World Report. He also authored the best-selling Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton.
 

More than his impressive resume, he was simply a great speaker.  I enjoyed his description of the "WWII Presidents" (Presidents Eisenhower through Bush Sr.) who had grown up/come of age during WWII.  All except for Carter (who was still a midshipman at the US Naval Academy at the conclusion of WWII) had been influenced significantly through their military service during the war.  This shared sacrifice and service to an objective larger than themselves couldn't help but shape their administrations.

As a member of a generation that is decades removed from the experiences of these "WWII Presidents", I wonder what our experiences in shared sacrifice and service to something bigger than ourselves might be.

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Here is an article that the University of Texas at Arlington student newspaper wrote regarding higher than avergae female enrollment in the UT Arlington Corps of Cadets.  Interesting read.

Women enrollment in ROTC exceeds brigade average (Written by Lataisha Jackson, The Shorthorn staff)
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 07:07 PM

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and Maverick Battalion has more women enrolled this semester than the brigade average.

Women make up 55 of 166 ROTC cadets at the university. The 33 percent enrollment rate places the program above the 5th brigade average of 21.9 percent. The 5th brigade covers programs in Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arizona and Missouri. Texas Christian University is part of the 5th brigade with a women’s enrollment rate at 33 percent.

Women’s military involvement is increasing, but women are the minority in the ROTC program and the Army. The U.S. Army active duty recruitment is up to 16.28 percent, Lt. Col. Tom Matchin, Jr. said.

Senior cadet Jaime Sale said women are becoming a more dominant in the culture than in the past.

ROTC has allowed women since 1976, the same year West Point started admitting women. Before this time, women were only affiliated with the ROTC program as ROTC Sweethearts, the official hostesses of the cadet core. Entering in 1976, Susan Tillotson became the first female battalion commander. She is actively engaged with the ROTC program as a member of the Cadet Corps Alumni Council.

The Army ROTC program does not have strategies or quotas for targeting specific recruits based on ethnicity or gender, said Lt. Col. Albert Alba.

“We want to have a diverse school by recruiting,” he said. “The Army does the same thing.”

According to the Demographic Trends spreadsheet, for the past four years women have comprised more than 51 percent of the university’s enrollment. This year’s demographics have not been compiled yet, said Terri Day, Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness assistant director.

Sophomore cadet Melanie Vega said many women are in the program, but it will not affect her Army experience.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with male or female,” Vega said. “Being around different cultures and different perspectives is what’s going to make the difference.”

Other cadets said it is beneficial to have a higher percentage of women in Army ROTC for Army experience.

“It adds to the training here because it is not an all-male army,” senior cadet Erik McCaffrey said. “We learn how to interact and effectively lead females.”

There are different physical training standards for males and females, according to the Army Physical Fitness Test Standards Web site .

Despite these standards, McCaffrey said the women are at par with the men and mentioned Sale, a top performing female cadet.

“She gives me a run for my money in physical training,” McCaffrey said.

The cadets are held to the same standards in their class work.

“We are all expected to learn the same amount of knowledge because we are all preparing to be officers in the army,” Vega said.

Cadets graduating from the Army ROTC program enter the Army as second lieutenants and get an automatic promotion in 18 months to first lieutenant, said alumna and 2nd Lt. Bethany Nord.

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I had the opportunity to go TDY to Fort Lee, Virginia for the opening of the US Army Women's Museum's "Kevlar and Crowns" exhibit.  What a pleasure it was to meet 4 of the other subjects of this story of "Soldier Beauty Queens".  Robynne Dexter, archivist for the museum, was the master mind behind the exhibit - she did a phenomenal job of capturing us as we really are: American Soldiers who are complicated women.  I could not be more proud than to be a part of this exhibit with these incredible women!

For more details on the exhibit, check out the following links:

http://www.fortleetraveller.com/articles/2009/07/30/news/top_stories/top06.txt

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/WOME01_20090731-215404/283415/

http://www.progress-index.com/articles/2009/08/04/news/military/pi_progindex.20090804.b.pg1.pi0804milexhibit_s1.2707310_mil.txt

Libby, me, and Athene at the entrance of the US Army Women's Museum at Fort Lee, VA

My OIF 06-08 uniform (in the front) and my OIF II uniform (to the right)

Some of the exhibit's subjects

My gold spurs and a bottle of "Revlon Red" nail polish

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About 5 months ago, I was asked to contribute to an exhibit opening at the US Army Women's Museum this August.  It profiles 7 Army Soldiers who have held pageant titles during their service.  I had never given much thought to the uniqueness of a "Soldier/Beauty Queen", but am humbled to be counted in their ranks. (I was Mrs. Texas International 2005 and Mrs. U.S. Beauties 2008)

If you are in the Fort Lee, Virginia area, please feel free to stop on in and see the exhibit.

Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: US Army Women's Museum
Street: 2100 A Avenue
City/Town: Fort Lee, VA

For more information, contact Robynne Dexter at: 804-734-4456 or Email: robyn.k.dexter@us.army.mil

Here are some of the other women who will be profiled in the exhibit:

SPC Gaulke                          Jessica Gaulke- Miss Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes 2007

MAJ Keravuori                              Rose Keravuori-Mrs. Virginia America 2005

 MAJ Goodwin's Cadets                               Joelle Rankin Goodwin-Mrs Oregon America 2009

SGT Stevens                                                        Jill Stevens-Miss Utah America 2007

Theresa Flannery (Miss Teen Madison County 1991)

Evie Alexopoulos Chitty (Mrs. Florida America 2006)

Here is the official release on the exhibit:

As women bridged the gap from the Women's Army Corps (WAC) to the integrated Army, they faced incredible sexism. As a result, many did anything they could to eliminate all traces of femininity, in an effort to prove they were just as capable of doing the job. This was a drastic change from the first WAAC/WACs, who worked hard to assure the country that their women would not lose their femininity the moment they put on a uniform, going so far as to teach hairdressing and makeup application in basic training. As time passes, through changes in policy and the needs of the Army, women are proving themselves on the battlefield. At the same time, the femininity is returning.

The US Army Women's Museum is mounting a 6 week exhibit that will highlight the fact that some of the most capable soldiers in today's great Army wear high heels and combat boots. The seven women come from ethnically diverse backgrounds, all age ranges, and all ranks. Some have multiple deployments with combat action, some have a list of decorations an arms' length long. Others have been in for only a few years but have made the most of that time. But they have one thing in common--they are beauty queens. This exhibit will not mimic the vapid portrayals of years gone by, it will showcase the fact that these women are smart, capable, hard-working soldiers that also publicly embrace their femininity, often using the pageant vehicle to promote military ideals. Among these women, there is a purple heart winner, four combat action badges, a combat medic badge, more than 13 college degrees, six bronze stars, approximately eleven Meritorious Service Medals, with many other honors and awards down the line, multiple deployments from the Cold War to GWOT, and thousands of volunteer hours. Their pageant titles are equally impressive. Whether in a beaded gown, or Army ACUs, these women are truly Army Strong.

On 1 Aug, please join us for the opening of the exhibit. It is free, open the public (Please have ID, car registration and insurance for the Gate Guards.) and several of the women are flying in for the opening of the event.
 

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Though US Independence Day is a national celebration, nobody does it up quite like Texans do.  As long as I can remember, my family has attended the Arlington, Texas 4th of July Parade.  It is the largest parade of its kind in Texas and is the anchor to our Independence Day weekend celebration.

In 2001, my husband and I were married in Arlington on the 4th of July.  His wedding gift to me was a float that morning in the parade.  Since then, my family has sponsored an entry in the parade - we turned the float planning/building over to UT Arlington in 2004.  With deployments almost every year since then, it has proven easier to be the "silent backer" versus a float-builder.

2001 Wedding Float

This year, my husband's entire family came to visit us for the weekend.  15 Ohio-ans braved the Texas heat in order to share this special 8th wedding anniversary with us.

I am truly reminded of the importance of family, tradition, and independence on days like this!

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Another great benefit of being associated with the Department of Military Science is being able to maintain a connection to the University and experiencing some pretty rare treats.  Last night, my husband and I were on hand for The University of Texas at Arlington's Gala Reception for the 1895 and Carlisle Societies.  UT Arlington started out as a military school for boys in 1895; its "military founding father" was James McCoy Carlisle.  The event honored annual donors to the University and offered the unique opportunity to view the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. 

We were able to tour all of the behind the scenes areas, to include the world's largest jumbo-tron, the Cowboy's locker room, and even walked out on to the unfinished field. 

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Here is my 30 second Army "Elevator Speech" (you know, the hypothetical "Here's what's important about me" pitch you would give to a stranger in the time it took you to get to where you were going on an elevator...): 

I'm an Army officer, a new mom, and come from a proud/humble family of patriots.  I earned my commission through Army ROTC at The University of Texas at Arlington in 1998 and was commissioned as an Adjutant General Corps officer.  Since then, I've served in such exotic locations as Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Hood, Texas; and all over Iraq.  I have truly learned that it doesn't matter where you are, but who you're with; I've been able to serve with some of the Army's best, which has made the journey all the better. 

My two younger brothers are also military officers: Brad is a Major in the Air Force, and Dave is a Lieutenant in the Navy.  My husband recently left the Army as a Major and now works as an Engineer.  My grandfather served as a Combat Engineer with the First Cavalry Division in the South Pacific during WWII.  Nothing made me more proud than to serve my company command time in the First Cavalry Division as well. 

I am currently the Battalion Executive Officer and Assistant Professor of Military Science back at my alma mater - I teach the Freshman Cadets and couldn't ask for a better job.  My husband and I recently welcomed our first child in May.  Being a leader of Soldiers has definitely prepared me for the challenges of motherhood.

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