Honoring CTICM Jacqueline F. Hughes, USN

"I first joined the Navy in 1992 as an Aviation Structural Mechanic (Structures) (AMS) because I wasn’t ready for college but didn’t want to “take a break”. I’m from Detroit and too many people I knew took a break and stalled. When I think back on those early days, being a woman in the military isn’t what jumps to mind because I felt welcome by the other Sailors and I didn’t think much of it. Giving it more thought, I remember being frustrated that even though I was the top of my ‘A’ School class and should have had #1 pick of orders, I had to pick from the “female orders” list, which was much shorter. I didn’t even realize until decades later that combat ships weren’t open to women when I joined".