Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class VICTORIA SENGELMAN | YOKOSUKA, Japan (November 1, 2019) Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Donald...... read more read more
By Chief Information Systems Technician Thomas Skoff, Navy Information Operations Command Yokosuka Public Affairs
Yokosuka, Japan (NNS) - Sailors at Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Yokosuka held the inaugural meeting of the command’s Gay, Lesbian, and Supportive Sailors (GLASS) organization Nov. 1.
GLASS was established to provide an open forum for all Sailors to discuss matters that impact the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. The goal of the organization is to increase understanding of the LGBTQ issues and promote the Navy’s commitment that all Sailors are treated with dignity, respect, and professionalism.
The effort to start GLASS at NIOC Yokosuka was led by Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 3rd Class Rachel Buchberger, who learned about the organization while she was deployed aboard the guided-missile destroyers USS Benfold (DDG 65) and USS Milius (DDG 69).
“I wanted to create an environment where sailors could have an open discussion, regardless of rank or sexual identity, about LGBTQ issues,” said Buchberger. “It’s an opportunity to talk and share experiences while educating Sailors on the different groups within the LGBTQ community. We want to be a resource for people who want to be LGBTQ allies.”
During the meeting, Buchberger and Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Donald Dahlem discussed the importance of understanding the different sexual orientations and addressed some common misconceptions about the LGBTQ community.
Dahlem said his goal for GLASS is to keep sailors apprised of current Department of Defense (DoD) policies that directly affect LGBTQ Service members.
“There have been multiple changes in policy regarding LGBTQ matters over the past few years,” said Dahlem. “One of my goals for this organization is to ensure that Sailors understand the current policies and how they impact members of the military.”
Buchberger hopes that GLASS will ultimately evolve from a command organization to a community organization supported by Sailors across Yokosuka.
“We would eventually like to grow GLASS to include other commands in Yokosuka,” said Buchberger. “The goal is to have a community outreach so that we can positively impact Sailors, family members, and the local community.”
NIOC Yokosuka welcomes the addition of GLASS as a Sailor-focused association supporting the Navy's focus on building Sailor resiliency, promoting equal opportunity, and encouraging command and community involvement. GLASS is one of several organizations at NIOC Yokosuka which represent the Command's focus on developing resilience-building habits, creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace, and creating opportunities for Sailor involvement in their command and community.
NIOC Yokosuka, a subordinate command of FCC/C10F, deploys expertly trained information warfare officers and enlisted information warfare specialists, and equipment to conduct signals intelligence, electronic warfare and cyber operations in support of forces operating in the Pacific theater and U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
For more information on Navy Information Operations Command Yokosuka visit the command’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/niocyokosuka/, or the command's official web site at http://www.nioc-yokosuka.navy.mil/.
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2019 21:47 |
| Story ID: | 351006 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 425 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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