Rodolfo Mena on LinkedIn: FY24 APPROVED SELECTIONS TO GUNNERY SERGEANT (2024)

The USMMA stands alone as the only federal academy to be authorized to fly a battle standard as part of its color guard…Why?“During times of war, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard engage in combat, but the students at their respective service academies do not. However, the students of the USMMA receive an integral part of their training at sea, and in the Second World War often found their lives in peril as they sailed through enemy-controlled waters or unloaded precious cargo in overseas combat areas. In all, 142 such cadet/midshipmen never returned to home port.In their memory, the battle standard bears the number "142" on its field of red, white and blue. In its center is the eagle of the Academy's seal in blue and gray, the school colors, and the anchor of the merchant marine in gold. From its top hang the ribbons which represent the various combat zones in which the Academy's cadet/midshipmen served.”- USMMA Alumni Association and FoundationSource: https://lnkd.in/dJJVMDpi

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The upcoming Dreadnought Class subs are being built in 16 groups, grouped into three 'mega units' - aft, mid and forward - to optimise the overall build timeframe.#marine #maritime #submarine #manufacturing #engineering #dreadnought

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Navy Chiefs really are the backbone of the Navy. Junior enlisted rely on their technical expertise and guidance for professional development, but many don't realize officers require those same things from the Chief's Mess even more.The Chief's Mess is absolutely necessary for the continuity of a strong, resilient Naval force - no successful chief, junior enlisted, or officer exists today without the influence and guidance of the Chief's Mess.

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From Enlisted to Officer: Gaining Perspective & Credibility in the MilitaryDiscover the importance of prior enlisted experience in the officer corps and how it provides valuable insight into the challenges of military life. Join us as we share personal stories and discuss the impact of boot camp on building credibility and understanding. #EnlistedToOfficer #MilitaryPerspective #BootcampExperience #BuildingCredibility #PriorEnlisted #MilitaryLife #OfficerCorps #MilitaryTraining #InsiderInsights #BootcampJourney

Hello Radio Reconnaissance PlatoonI see a lot of posts on military recruitment and quality of life for Marines and sometimes wonder if HQMC or the public at large understand a different aspect of Marines not often discussed, and likely not popular unless you've experienced how what many call a better quality of life (QOL) negatively impacts camaraderie.I was honored in the 90's as a 2nd Lieutenant to be the Platoon Commander for 1st Radio Reconnaissance Platoon at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. RRP was the last of our Battalion to live in open squad bays, which meant a couple dozen Marines from Lance Corporal to Sergeant living in one very large room. There were no private showers or heads (bathrooms). Every day, I watched a half dozen or more RRT Marines pile into a Corporals jeep and head to the beach or a bar or whatever. On Field day, every Marine in the platoon, whether they lived in the squad bay or not, had to field day the barracks.When we finally were forced to move the platoon into two-man rooms, I seldom again saw more than a couple Marines in that beautiful red Jeep Wrangler. You could feel the difference in camaraderie within the platoon as they began to become less cohesive with all the Marines that once shared one large room. I don't think young people join the Marine Corps because they are looking for comfort or want to live the campus life. Their is an intersection where QOL and camaraderie intersect, and I realize it's too late to rewind the clock, but the two man barracks campus life was the first time I felt a disconnect between what Marines were really looking for as Marines, and what the Generals were giving them as a QOL. #radioreconnaissance #veterans #leadership #veteranshelpingveterans #marines

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US Navy Chief Yeoman Jasmine LaRue, from Mobile, Alabama, has been serving for 12 years and is currently with . We asked about her #CallToService, career progression, and how time in uniform has changed her. "My call to service is being a servant leader and making sure our #Sailors have all the support they need to support and complete the mission. When I joined back in 2012, I had no real goals or aspirations and made that decision because I did not want to go to college and did not want to stay in my hometown."#ForgedByTheSea"I have a goal I would like to reach before retiring and that’s to become a Command Senior Chief or a Command Master Chief, because in the current climate, it is getting harder for Sailors to continue in service and persevere through, in many cases at no fault of their own, in many cases it’s the leadership." #WhyIServe"I believe I can use my call to service to show Sailors there is leadership out there that cares and that they are not just a quota to meet or a billet to fill. I feel I can best do that as a Command Senior Chief or Master Chief." #Transform"I have changed in so many ways that even I still cannot believe it. I’m a college graduate now and I have been able to come out of my comfort zone and have many exuberating experiences. I have also become a person that strives to do and be more and I would describe myself as ambitious now compared to my past self." #People"Something I would like to share with anyone interested in joining the forces is to form your own opinions off your personal experiences. Negativity can spread like wildfire when you surround yourself with the wrong crowd. Surround yourself with personnel who have good character and have your best interest in mind. Remember we are a fighting force and completing the mission is important to sustaining our way of life in our country. It may not feel like it at times but remember that what you do is important no matter how minute you may think it is, because we each are a small piece of the bigger puzzle and working together is what will help complete the mission. Most importantly, stay true to yourself and your personal values as a human, and always make time to take of your mind, body, and soul."

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Enlisted Professional Military Education Instructor Course (EPMEIC) is in session. Our Enlisted education is not just professional education, it is MILITARY education and requires standards and discipline and fitness. Taking what we learn here back to our installations to instill not only standards & discipline but, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and warrior mindset. Excited to be apart of the changes surrounding the Enlisted Airmanship Continuum that are happening and will continue to happen. #development #learninganddevelopment #militaryeducation #militaryleadership

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Today's Friday College Feature is on 2 military schools. The expert on this specific niche is really Lisa (Bachman) Rielage, but I will attempt to do my best.When we think of a military school, we usually think of the United States Military Academy at West Point and rightly so. ➡️ The post itself is the oldest continuously occupied regular army post in the United States.➡️ Thomas Jefferson created the academy. ➡️ The first West Point superintendent actually had no military experience.➡️ Now, about 10,000 apply to West Point, but only 1,000 are admitted.Another military school is the United States Merchant Marine Academy.➡️ It began in 1943.➡️ It now serves as a training center for midshipmen to serve as officers in the United States Merchant Marine, branches of the United States Armed Forces and in the transportation industry.➡️ It also enrolls about 1,000 undergrads and has a graduation rate of 81%.Are there other schools you would add? #collegesanduniversities #military #education

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Naval Postgraduate School, particularly the non-resident program, is a drastically underutilized program. I was intimidated by the idea of pursuing my MS while on active duty. This is a school designed specifically for us with programs which make us more successful in both our current AND future careers.1) The faculty are mostly active, former, and retired military and GS. They know what it means to serve and are personally motivated to support us. Their first job is to teach. From the application process to the class structure and schedule, everything is designed to help us succeed, even if it has been a minute since we have been in a professional academic setting.2) The curriculum is designed for military personnel and the work we do. It is directly applicable to the work we do. Even our Capstone/Thesis directly support the operating forces. Examples:- My probability and statistics class was taught by an Army LTC who showed us how he used those fundamentals to build a predictive model to assist TMCC/UMCC in Afghanistan to predict high IED risk routes and keep convoys safe.- My modeling and simulation class had us building models that simulated complex attacks against surface action groups to estimate ASCM salvo requirements and predict survivability for the SAG.- My Capstone was building an architecture for a detect and avoid capability for Group 4/5 UAS. I worked alongside students whose day job was at NAVAIR developing UAS programs of record. That project has helped me on my current job developing an operational test plan for ground vehicles with automated driving capabilities. The project was submitted by one of my classmates’ supervisors for an existing program of record.

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Reflecting on two decades in uniform: Commitment is the cornerstone of victory. As a Navy veteran, this principle has not only shaped me in service but also transformed my approach in the civilian sector. What enduring lesson has your profession taught you? Join the conversation. #MilitaryToCivilian #CommitmentIsKey #ProfessionalGrowth

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