Navy chief becomes first woman to earn silver submarine pin

[Onkel Neal]

Navy chief becomes first woman to earn silver submarine pin (http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2016/08/03/navy-chief-becomes-first-woman-earn-silver-submarine-pin/88030104/)

For the first time, a woman has earned the silver dolphin pin that distinguishes a fully trained submariner.

Chief Culinary Specialist Dominique Saavedra's personal achievement made history as she became the first woman to don the enlisted submarine qualification insignia during a Tuesday ceremony at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state.

Saavedra, who is getting ready to deploy with the crew of the guided-missile submarine Michigan, had to lean in to get her quals done, embarking on the deployed guided-missile sub Ohio to get signed off.

"I couldn't be more proud to wear the 'dolphins,'" Saavedra said in a Navy release. "To have earned the respect of my fellow submariners is more rewarding than expected. I am honored to serve as a qualified member in such a prestigious community."

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f5165edfa19bcf273643df7b3770f5690bca06dd/r=x404&c=534x401/http/cdn.tegna-tv.com/-mm-/29d04540a2341e9dd54a7049c84059c6122ad635/c=0-142-5877-4561/local/-/media/2016/08/03/GGM/NavyTimes/636058420235874563-pin.JPG

[Commander Wallace]

Congratulations to Dominique Saavedra's on earning her Dolphins. :salute:

[Aktungbby]

"An army marches on its stomach"- Napoleon Bonaparte & Frederick the Great... Saavedra’s skipper said the pinning ceremony showed that women were going to be key to the success of submarines in the future. Chief Culinary Specialist Dominique Saavedra's accomplishment is the more remarkable as the only real limit to today's nuke subs deployment is the food supply....The goal is to have enlisted women make up about 20 percent of each crew. For the guided missile boats, that means a goal 27 E-6 and below, and two chiefs. Aboard any vessel, especially a submarine, dining is the very 'heart of morale'. http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted/community/supply/Documents/CS_ADV_ED_May_2013.pdf (http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted/community/supply/Documents/CS_ADV_ED_May_2013.pdf)
Aboard the Catalina: Woolly Bully I serve up the Togo's and the Beringer's Chardonnay... always the high point of the excusion; but now I'll be 'more' inspired!:salute:

[Jimbuna]

Congratulations Ma'am :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Way to go, Chief! :salute:

[Osmium Steele]

BZ chief!:Kaleun_Cheers: