USCG Auxiliary Diversity Moment
Shipmates, please take some time with this topic to start a discussion with your unit at your next meeting.
Utilizing these “Moments” fulfills Goal Category 1.3 in the NACO 3-Star Diversity application.
January 2024
The Test of Our Civilization
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“As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we’ll all be better off for it."
~ Sandra Day O'Connor
Just last month, the Coast Guard recognized the pivotal 1973 ruling ending the branch of the Reserves known as the SPARS, thus integrating women fully into the enlisted and officer corps. There was a time when women rarely worked outside the home, and if they did, most were not in leadership roles. Exceptions were made temporarily during the World Wars, and participation at those levels increased in World War II. Despite being scaled back immediately following, the idea took hold and we never looked back since.
Chief Warrant Officer Alice T. Jefferson became the first woman to be commissioned as an active-duty officer in the Coast Guard at the 1973 ceremony held at Coast Guard Headquarters. Vice-Admiral Vivien Crea was the first female to be a presidential aide. YN2 Olivia Hooker was the first Black woman to join the Coast Guard. Captain Beverly Kelley became the first Coast Guard woman to command a military vessel of any branch of the armed services. These Coast Guard leaders broke multiple barriers and shattered long-held stereotypes.
Women were put to the test and passed superbly. As of 2023, the Coast Guard stands at the forefront of this transformation, with a remarkable surge in the inclusion of women in our ranks. The statistics reveal a significant stride with the Auxiliary boasting three times more women compared to active-duty. A journey that began with women serving as lighthouse keepers and support staff 200+ years ago has culminated in an environment where women are now integral to every domain within the Coast Guard, including its highest echelons of leadership. Today, those leaders include our Commandant and our Auxiliary Vice-National Commodore.
As we look forward to the next 50 years, we can confidently say that they have more than just passed the test. The Coast Guard has set the stage for many firsts for all women as a powerful indicator of the level of civilization and progress our society has achieved: understanding the imperative of inclusivity. The journey, begun two generations ago, is now a legacy of progress and a blueprint for a more inclusive future. That was the true test all along. Let’s empower our shipmates to contribute fully to the collective advancement of our organization, country, and civilization. Certainly, we will all be better off for it.
Michael Brown, BC-DUP Outreach (Diversity & Inclusion Directorate)
Submitted by:
Thomas W. Bamford, ANACO-DVd
Assistant Nat’l Commodore – D&I-Directorate Deputy
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
“Enthusiasm, Encouragement, Empowerment”