Photo By Maj. Alan Crouch | Gunnery Sgt. Tanya Fitch, staff non-commissioned officer in charge, Customer Service...... read more read more
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KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii - In 1995, when Gunnery Sgt. Tanya Fitch began her Marine Corps career, her very first job as a bulk fuel specialist had only recently opened up to female Marines.
Sixteen years later, female Marines are still restricted from certain military occupational specialties. Still, female Marines have made strides since Opha Mae Johnson, the first female Marine Corps reservist, enlisted on Aug. 13, 1918.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Fitch was the guest speaker at Anderson Hall Dining Facility, March 25.
“It’s a great honor for her,” said Fitch’s husband. “I’m just proud of her for the decisions she’s made and how far she’s made it in her career.”
Raised in the small town of Port Orchard, Wash., Fitch was looking to leave her small town and do something new. She now serves as the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of the Customer Support Branch, Installation Personnel Administration Center, has one Iraq deployment under her belt, was named Instructor of the Quarter at Personnel Administration School, and has been awarded among others a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Since her first MOS, Fitch has made a lateral move to be a Marine Corps Exchange Manager, and in 2003 moved to the administration field.
In her experience, she has had to work in environments with few female Marines. Fitch said she worked much harder to show her colleagues that she was just as capable as male Marines.
“They have that perceived notion that we should be treated different than a male,” Fitch said. “But we don’t need to be. We should be looked at the same way as a male Marine.”
Today, Fitch oversees numerous junior Marines working at IPAC here.
“I’m not surprised they would pick her [to speak],” said Lance Cpl. Nicole Rodriguez, personnel clerk, Customer Service Branch, IPAC. “She has done a lot in her career."
Rodriguez, 20, has known Fitch for about a year. She describes her as “very knowledgeable.” Fitch’s experience as a teacher at the Personnel Administration School enabled her to share insightful information with her fellow Marines about administrative tasks, Rodriguez said.
Lance Cpl. Geomary Diaznegron, personnel clerk, Customer Service
Branch, IPAC, said as a leader, Fitch motivates her to be a better Marine. Fitch showed Diaznegron that “to be a leader you just got to have the leadership traits.”
“She’s a female and that doesn’t stop her from being the best,” Diaznegron said.
Both Diaznegron and Rodriguez agree Fitch is a good person to talk to for personal issues.
“You can’t really go to a male to talk about your personal problems as a female,” Rodriguez said. “When you have a female’s point of view, it’s the best of both worlds.”
Fitch’s supervisors also speak highly of her performance.
“She’s always positive, upbeat, and has lot of energy [and] enthusiasm,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kenneth Honeywood, director, IPAC.
Master Sgt. Mark Wagner, senior enlisted advisor, Headquarters Branch, IPAC, called Fitch “energetic” but also “informative” and “opinionated.”
“She’s not afraid to let you know her thought process,” Wagner said. “If something is being done incorrectly then she will [make sure it is accomplished correctly].”
Fitch will soon deploy to the Philippines for an individual augmentee
billet. She plans to retire from the service and perhaps work for the government.
At the luncheon, Fitch shared her experiences as a Marine. As she reflects on Women’s History Month, Fitch said she has noticed numerous changes for women in the Marine Corps.
“It’s important to remember how we got to where we are today,” Fitch said. “We have come a long way.”
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2011 20:29 |
| Story ID: | 67894 |
| Location: | KANEOHE BAY, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 323 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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