Women’s Equality Day
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samantha P. Montenegro
| August 29, 2018
MANAMA, Bahrain --
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain service members, their families and civilians gathered in the base gym to celebrate Women’s Equality Day, Aug. 26.
Established by Congress in 1971, Women's Equality Day was designed to commemorate the long struggle of women to gain the right to vote.
The celebration used poetry, live-music, and a women’s history presentation to honor and celebrate women’s equality.
“The spirit and energy to rise up is what makes Americans so great and it’s no secret that America has made great strides in women’s equality,” said Capt. Pamela Dozier, deputy commodore of Task Force (TF) 53. “We’re truly at the forefront of firsts. Today, we celebrate all women who are pioneers in their field.”
Dozier then asked the audience to reflect on the progress of the women in the room.
“Today, here at NSA Bahrain, we showcase how the Department of Defense and its affiliates lead the way in women’s equality,” said Dozier. “This room is packed with groundbreaking women. There is no gender in our business. What we celebrate today is women of every talent and discipline associated with the Department of Defense, and the environment we allow that sets no limits.”
The ceremony continued with a presentation of women’s firsts in American and military history.
Rear Adm. Michelle Skubic, commander, Naval Supply Systems Command and Chief of the Supply Corps spoke to the audience about opportunities to mentor and grow as women in the service and of the growth mentors and mentorship bring.
Skubic and the Bahrain chapter of Girl Scouts of America then approached a cake decorated for the occasion, posed for a photograph and cut cake to conclude the celebration.
U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse is comprised of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.