(U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)
Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio recently conducted its All-Female Delayed Entry Program (DEP) and Key Influencer Meeting at the Rosenberg Sky Room on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word.
More than 80 female future Sailors, parents and supporters attended the event where they heard from a panel of Sailors ranging from a yeoman second class to a commander regarding life as a woman in America’s Navy.
“I love this aspect of recruiting,” said Chief Navy Counselor Isabel Guerrero of San Antonio, the division leading chief petty officer for Division 6. “Providing mentorship, leadership, and preparing these young women to be Sailors is very important.”
According to Lt. Amy Zabel of Island Pond, VT, Division 6 officer, this type of event not only provides future Sailors the opportunity to ask questions but also their parents.
“These ladies are our future leaders of tomorrow,” Zabel said. “They have joined our family and that includes their families as well.”
Future Sailor Audrey Moreno of Pleasanton, TX, attended the DEP meeting along with her mother, Nancy.
“It was empowering to hear from the panel of Sailors,” said Moreno who graduated from Pleasanton High School and will serve as a master-at-arms.
,“It made me feel like I was not alone in this process and made me feel less nervous, too. The event provided information that let me know what to expect in boot camp and throughout my career with the Navy.”
According to her mother, attending meetings such as these provided her with peace of mind. “It’s a proud moment for me that my daughter is joining the Navy,” Nancy said. “I’m sad that she will be leaving, but I support her decision to serve the nation. It was inspiring to hear from the panel of Sailors who answered my questions directly and honestly.”
Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician Julie Pierre-Louis of Miami assigned to Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Texas served as a panelist.
“I think it is absolutely important for these young ladies and their parents to hear our perspectives as women in the Navy,” said Pierre-Louis, who is originally from Haiti. “We were able to provide tangible ideas on what they can accomplish with a career with the Navy.”
The Navy’s recruiting force totals over 6,100 personnel in more than 1,000 recruiting stations around the globe. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.
