Navy Week: Meet Johanna Mudge

The last featured sailor on our Navy Week series is Johanna Mudge, who is the only female in this collection.  It made me wonder how many women were active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.  Here is what I found.

Based on this, showcasing 1 woman out of 5 sailors in this week’s feature is a very realistic sample from the U.S. Navy, where approximately 15% of active duty personnel is female.

Happy Navy Week, New Orleans!

Petty Officer Third Class Johanna M. Mudge

(Unfortunately, no photo was readily available for this officer.)

As an air traffic controller for the Navy, Petty Officer Mudge guides planes and helicopters to safety on the runway. A native of Belle Chasse, La., she’s proud to be helping celebrate Navy Week in her hometown of New Orleans from November 2-7. Here are some of her thoughts on being a Sailor and what Navy Week means to her:

Where it all began:

“ I joined the Navy to see the world.  I also felt the need to do my time and serve my country.  I’m proud of the United States of America.  We live in the best country there is!”

Most memorable experience in uniform:

“At the 2009 N’awlins air show a small boy approached me and we talked about planes and what his favorites were. Near the end of the conversation, I asked him if he wanted to meet the Blue Angels. I introduced him to pilot #7, and he lit up like a Christmas tree. This small moment made my 10-hour day enjoyable and worth it.”

Personal definition of “Navy Week”:

“For me, Navy Week is more than just a few days, it’s a 24/7 job. My Shipmates are like family to me, and I look out for them as if they were my own. Navy week is every week in that sense.”

For more information on Navy Week, and to learn about events where you can meet Sailors like Petty Officer Mudge, visit: www.navyweek.org/neworleans. You can also become a Navy Weeks fan on Facebook. Just search “Navy Weeks” or follow this link.

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