Sailors Talk to Girl Scouts About Careers in Science and Technology

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christine Hannon, Navy Public Affairs Support Element – East

TAMPA, Fla. (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Constitution, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and several other local commands spoke with the Girls Scouts of West Florida Jan. 23, about some of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers that are available in the Navy.

This event, part of the Girl Scout Career Expo, was one of many scheduled during Navy Week Tampa Bay 2011, and it allowed Sailors to talk about the Navy and the things that the Navy does.

"Our main focus is STEM: science, technology, engineering and math," said Denise Dixon, Girls Scouts of West Central Florida events pathway manager. "Trying to get the girls exposed to engineering and not to be afraid of it, we thought this [Expo] would be a good kind of flavor with them within STEP. We're really big with STEM."

Talking about STEM with the Girl Scouts also provided the Sailors an avenue to show that the Navy has opportunities for women.

"Our older girls have been asking for more focused, career action fun," said Dixon. "I loved that the girls were able to get exposure from various career paths within the U.S. Navy and then see that it's not just males, but their female presence. And just listening to various women talk about their career paths puts in the girls' mind, 'Hey that could be me one day.'"

Six Navy divers and nine Sailors from USS Constitution, Reservist from the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Tampa, Navy Recruiting District Miami, and U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) provided a snapshot of their lives before they joined the Navy, their current jobs and responsibilities, and what achievements a Navy career has yielded each of them to date.

"I'm a boatswain's mate," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Jeaniel Image, a Reservist from NOSC Tampa Navy Cargo Handling Battalion. She explained to the Girl Scouts that a boatswain's mate is a, "Jack of all trades and master of none."

One job she had out of high school was a big hit with the group.

"I've driven the aircraft carrier as a deck seaman," said Image. "Coming out of high school I never thought in my life I would be holding onto the wheel that steers the ship with 3,000 people on board and tons of jets."

She thanked the Navy for giving her opportunities to work in stressful environments.

"I'm a lot more composed person," she said. "I feel the Navy gave me that confidence."

"I volunteered for something different; I never worked with the Girl Scouts," said Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Veronica Burrell, USCENTCOM. "I'm glad I got to let other people know about the military and what I do."

Sometimes it is difficult for an intelligence specialist to answer questions about their jobs.

"They asked what we do," said Burrell. "In the intel field it's kinda hard to tell what we actually do. They thought that was the coolest part because we couldn't tell them what we do."

Sailors from several commands are participating in Tampa Bay Navy Week, the first of 21 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2011. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

For more news from Navy Office of Community Outreach, visit www.navy.mil/local/navco/.