Edition 98 | August 2024

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR U.S. ARMY WOMEN OLYMPIANS

(Photo: U.S. Army Photo by SFC Class Kulani Lakanaria)

Congratulations to U.S. Army Sergeant Sagen Maddalena who won a Silver Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women's 50-meter Rifle 3 Positions. Sergeant Maddalena, who hails from Groveland, California, is an instructor/shooter assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit International Team stationed at Fort Moore, GA. She enlisted in the Army in March 2019.

(Photo: Courtesy USA RUGBY

Congratulations to U.S. World Class Athlete Program. Soldier-Athlete Army Captain Sammy Sullivan, center, waves to the crowd during the medal ceremony on July 30 at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France. Sullivan and Team USA Rugby beat Australia to win the Olympic bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. CPT Sullivan is a 2020 graduate of West Point and is an Engineer Officer. PHOTO COURTESY USA RUGBY. Follow USA Rugby on Facebook, @usarugby on Instagram and @USARugby on X

U.S. Army Colonel Anne C. McClain Selected as Mission Commander of NASA SpaceX Crew-10 Mission

(Photo: NASA)

NASA announced the selection of U.S. Army Colonel Anne McClain as the mission commander for the highly anticipated SpaceX Crew-10 mission. The flight will be the 10th crew rotation with SpaceX to the station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Colonel McClain brings unparalleled expertise and dedication to this critical role.

While aboard, the international crew will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare humans for future missions and benefit people on Earth.

U.S. Army Veteran Lillian Pfluke Volunteers at the 2024 Paris Olympics

U.S. Veteran Lillian Pfluke oversees the challenging Giant Mikado Obstacle at the 2024 Olympic Mountain Biking Competition venue

Since the start of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, more than 45,000 volunteers from 155 countries have worked tirelessly to ensure an unforgettable experience for visitors. Out of over 30,000 applicants, only 15% were selected, including US Army veteran and world-class cyclist Lillian Pfluke.

Lillian, a member of the first gender-integrated class at West Point and a retired US Army officer, is no stranger to breaking barriers. Fluent in English and German, she also honed her French skills during her military service and further advanced them when she attended the prestigious Institut des Hautes Etudes de Défense Nationale at the Ecole Militaire in Paris as part of her War College level education.

Lillian has repeatedly showcased her athletic prowess by winning nine masters world champion titles in various cycling disciplines in mountain biking, cyclocross, and track cycling. She continues to compete internationally across Europe, Asia, and the United States in the 65-59 year old age group. 

When the opportunity arose to volunteer for the 2024 Olympic Games, Lillian’s leadership experience, multilingual proficiency, and elite athletic background made her an ideal candidate. She was assigned to lead efforts for the Olympic men’s and women’s mountain biking competitions.

Reflecting on her experience, Lillian described it as, “A great opportunity to give back and be part of something extraordinary.”

To read more about this remarkable officer, veteran, and elite athlete, visit news.va.gov/87234/lillian-pfluke-champion-cycling-service/

MAJ Zori Drew Honored as 2024 Women of Color STEM Technology Rising Star Award Winner

(Photo: Drew Family)

Congratulations to U.S. Army Major Zori Drew, who has been named a 2024 Women of Color STEM Technology Rising Star Award recipient. Major Drew will be honored during the 2024 Women of Color STEM DTX Conference on Friday, October 4, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan.

The Women of Color STEM DTX Conference is a prestigious event supporting the education and career advancement of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Each year, the conference honors a select group of outstanding individuals, including promising college students, new hires, mid-career professionals and managers, C-suite executives, innovators, inventors, and change agents. For nearly 30 years, the judges have administered the selection process with integrity and distinction.

Major Zori Drew is assigned as the Electromagnetic Warfare Officer, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. In addition to her military duties, she volunteers as the Female Mentoring and Morale Program (FMMP) Chapter Liaison on the Executive FMMP Board.

U.S. Army Officer Crowned Miss USA

(Photo: Elizabeth Woodruff West Point PAO and Getty Pictures)

Congratulations to U.S. Army Officer 2LT Alma Cooper on being crowned Miss USA 2024. 2LT Cooper is a 2023 West Point graduate and Military Intelligence officer.

2LT Alma Cooper graduated in the top five percent of her class from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She is a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, where she’s pursuing a master’s in data science.

Cadet Anna Robinson Named West Point's 2024-2025 First Captain

(Photo: West Point Public Affairs)

Cadet Anna Caroline Robinson of Birmingham, AL. has been selected as the First Captain of the Corps of Cadets for the 2024-2025 academic year at the United States Military Academy, achieving the highest position in the cadet chain of command.

Join Us - August 22, 2024 for the

Female Mentoring Morale Program

This month, the FMMP Executive Board is excited to host our next session on 22 Aug from 1800-1730 (EST) where we will introduce you to the TRADOC Women’s Initiative Team (WIT-T). TRADOC’s former CG and DCG, GEN Paul Funk and LTG Maria Gervais, chartered the WIT-T on 6 Sep 2022 after learning of the issues and concerns women in and out of uniform faced within the TRADOC community, Not only did they listen to the issues: THEY ACTED!

The WIT-T, led by Mr. Bryan Carroll and his awesome team of Heroes and Sheroes, has quickly become one of the Army’s premier platforms for researching issues and updating Army policies and procedures impacting women in and out of uniform. TRADOC designated the FMMP as one of the WIT-T Focus Areas, relying on the FMMP to provide feedback directly from the field, on changes needed to Army regulations and programs. Join us this month to learn how to contribute to the WIT-T and FMMP missions. 

FMMP August Executive Board Session

Session Title: “Introducing the TRADOC Women’s Initiative Team (WIT-T)”

Guest Speakers:

       Mr. Bryan E. T. Carroll 

• Director, TRADOC Women's Initiatives Team (WIT-T)
• TRADOC G-5 - Strategic Plans and Policy Analysis
• Infantry and Combat Veteran

       Dr. Joshua P. Eldridge:

• TRADOC Women's Initiatives Team (WIT-T) P3T Lead (Pregnancy Postpartum Physical Fitness Training – P3T)
• Board Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (DACBSP)

When: 22 Aug 2024 @ 1800-1930 (EST)

Where: ZOOM (Virtual)

• Registration Via the LINK below. See you there!

Women’s Equality Day, 26 August celebrates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees all American women the right to vote. Women’s Equality Day celebrates women’s resilience in the face of adversity as we strive toward the nation’s ideal that all people are created equal. The observance commemorates the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote.

On #WomensEqualityDay--and every day--the nation recognizes not only the significance of women's contributions but also the value of the diversity and inclusivity they bring to our fighting force.

Looking Ahead

Sept 6-7 - Total Army Career Fair Houston, Texas

What: The Total Army Career Fair is an Army-exclusive event open to the public, showcasing civilian job vacancies and opportunities within the Active, Guard, and Reserve components.

Who: The Fair aims to highlight the Army as THE employer of choice, offering attendees direct access to both military and civilian careers. It also seeks to define what it means to serve in the Houston community, with on-the-spot civilian hiring available. The target audience includes individuals interested in serving as Active Guard, Reserve, or Army civilians.

Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, 

           1 NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054

When: September 6-7, 2024

            Open to the public: 10 AM – 4 PM (both days)     

  https://apply.army.mil/Home/CareerFair

Sept 14 - Run for the Fallen Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia

Run in tribute to those who've made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation's freedom in the "Run for the Fallen" on Saturday, September 14th (Rain Date: September 21), 8:30 a.m. Run for the Fallen allows all of us to honor those who fell during service to their country while showing support for the families who’ve lost a loved one. This run features a one-mile and 5K course; both start off at Williams Stadium; check-in begins at 7 a.m

Sept 16 - National 6888th Central Postal Battalion Day

September 16 is designated as National 6888th Central Postal Battalion Day. The National 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day honors the all-female, multi-ethnic unit that was predominantly Black and included other women of color of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent. Please check our social media pages to see how we are recognizing this special day.

Oct 14-16 2024 AUSA Annual

Meeting and Exhibition

WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C.

October 14-16, 2024

SAVE THE DATE

AUSA | U.S. Army Women's Foundation Leadership Panel

"Empowering Her Future, Expanding Her Knowledge, and Enhancing Health for Women in Uniform"

Monday, 14 October | 1:00 - 2:45 | Room 202B

We would love to hear from you.

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