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MEET THE MEMBER
YNC Joanne Elliott, NERA National
President
NERA is proud to feature YNC Joanne Elliott, joined he would make sure I was attached to a unit that
NERA’S National President in this issue’s went to Bermuda every year for two weeks. I
Meet the Member. Joanne was kind enough then said “Where do I sign”?
to detail her fascinating life story. NERA is
proud of her leadership and strength. Joanne He was right on all counts. I made friends
details her life and career below in her own that have remained with me since the day I
words: signed up. e people I have met along the
way while in the Navy are now my family and
I was born in 1946 in Philadelphia, PA. My dearest part of me. I did earn extra income
mother and father had met in the Army. I and got to travel all over the world. e abil-
still have a newspaper picture of my mother ity to earn my Bachelor’s Degree made a huge
being sworn in at Ft. Ogelthorpe, Georgia. di erence in my life. e Navy also taught
Growing up, my father was an Explorer Post me to be self-con dent and self-supporting.
leader (Boy Scouts) at St. Adalbert’s Church It made me a stronger individual and gave
in Philadelphia. He had started as a Boy me the opportunity to achieve more than I
Scout when he was young and was their had ever dreamed.
Post leader for over 35 years. My mom
drove a 7 ½ ton truck in the Army and I guess my most rewarding experience
she was only 5’3”. I found it amazing was being recalled in 1999 for Kosovo.
that such a tiny person could drive this I was assigned as the Joint Universal
huge vehicle (bear in mind – no power Lessons Learned Coordinator for
steering!) Kosovo. My assignment was to gather
information from the Army, Air Force,
I used to go camping with my dad Navy and Marines and compile it into
and when I was 12, I entered the Girl an After Action Report for the Joint
Scouts. I started at the Intermediate Chiefs of Sta . is was my rst time
Level and went onto Senior Scouting. I being recalled to active duty; my rst
also did Site Directing, Camp Director, time working a joint exercise and my
and eventually was a leader of a troop in rst time assigned to a task that I had
Levittown, PA for many years. no idea where to begin. I did enlist the
Joanne during 1999 recall for Kosovo help of a Commander who has stayed in
In 1978, I was riding the train to touch over the years. We worked
work and one of my fellow trav- together and got the job done! I
elers started to talk to me about also met for the rst time General
the Navy Reserves. At the time, Amos (then a 1 star) who later
I was divorced and had a 9 year became the Commandant of the
old son. He rst told me that I Marine Corps. It was de nitely
would make a lot of friends if I an honor to have served under
joined the Navy. I gured that him.
I could make friends without
the Navy. He then said I could I really don’t think I had a “worst”
make $75 a weekend but that experience during my time in
didn’t sway me either. en he the Navy. I never witnessed or
came back and said that if I experienced the harassment and
12 The Mariner • 2020 SUMMER Edition • Volume 63 • Issue 2
