VOA慢速英语2014 美国海军第一位四星女将军

 

AS IT IS 2014-07-05 US Navy Promotes First Woman to 4-Star Admiral 美国海军第一位四星女将军

The U.S. Navy now has a woman as its second-highest ranking officer for the first time in its 236-year history.  Michelle Howard was promoted Tuesday to the level of four-star admiral.  Michelle Howard received her fourth star at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery¹ with her family and other service members looking on. 

"If you don't believe today was the first - when I called to order, a four-star shoulder board for women - they didn't exist.  [A] special contract was let and you folks are seeing the first set in the history of the United States Navy.

Admiral Michelle Howard is beginning her new duties as vice² chief of naval³ operations.  Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus was the one who promoted Ms. Howard.

"The Navy picked the best officer to be the VCNO (vice chief of naval operations).  That's the only thing that happened here today."

The promotion⁴ of Ms. Howard to four-star admiral is historic.  It is a promising⁵ sign for military women hoping to move up in a career traditionally dominated, or controlled, by men. 

But making history is something Admiral Howard has done all during her military career.  

Michelle Howard graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982.  And since then, she has won many historic "firsts" in her career.  She is the first African-American woman to gain three-star rank in the U.S. Armed Forces.  She also is the first African-American woman to command a naval ship.  And now, she is the first woman to become an admiral in the Navy. 

Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert says the honor of being the Navy’s  first 4-star woman admiral means something else for Ms. Howard.  He says that she is ready to set an example for many young women, or as he puts it “bear the burden of a role model.” 

“She will bear the burden of a role model, and she is ready to bear that very well, and I am very excited about that because we need lots more women in the Navy.”

In her career, Ms. Howard has been a part of several important events in U.S. history.  She was in the Pentagon, the Defense⁶ Department headquarters, on September 11, 2001 when terrorists crashed a plane into that building. 

And in 2009, Ms. Howard was part of the naval force sent to rescue the merchant ship Maersk Alabama and its captain Richard Phillips.  Somali pirates had kidnapped Captain Phillips from the ship, which carries the American flag.  She says she was very new to her job when the incident took place.   

"I was just three days in the job when we got word that Captain Phillips had been kidnapped."

American women serving in the military have broken many barriers in recent years.  They can compete these days for positions that once were closed to them.  Ms. Howard says her promotion can encourage, or help, other women gain their career goals in the military.

Admiral Howard is the third woman in the U.S. military to gain four-star rank.  One is in the Army and the other in the Air Force.

Officials from all military services have announced plans to open combat positions to women who meet physical or performance requirements by 2016.

1 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

4 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。