What do you think?
Rate this book
Changing the Rules the Engagement: Inspiring Stories of Courage and Leadership from Women in the Military
Changing the Rules of Engagement documents the lives of women who have shattered the glass ceiling and performed extraordinary feats while serving their country. By telling their stories about their remarkable careers in traditionally male-dominated environments, Martha LaGuardia-Kotite demonstrates how tenacious and courageous women can achieve the unimaginable.
Among the pioneering women profiled are Vice Adm. Vivien Crea, who as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard held the highest-ranking position of any woman in the history of the U.S. military; Capt. Tammy Duckworth, USA (Ret.), a Purple Heart recipient and triple amputee who was shot down in Iraq while piloting a Black Hawk helicopter; and Heather Wilson, an Air Force Academy graduate, Rhodes scholar, and the country’s only female veteran in Congress. Included are the inspirational stories of women Marines, one of the three female Shuttle commanders in the history of the NASA program, and the first female members of the military service academies’ gender-integrated classes, who recall the highs and lows of their trailblazing experiences.
These are only a few of the remarkable women who tell their own inspiring stories in Changing the Rules of Engagement. Representative of a widely diverse group of enlisted women and officers from different races and cultures, they have succeeded since the mid-1970s at combating prejudices and aiding change in the military with intelligence, passion, and honor while serving on the front lines.
Among the pioneering women profiled are Vice Adm. Vivien Crea, who as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard held the highest-ranking position of any woman in the history of the U.S. military; Capt. Tammy Duckworth, USA (Ret.), a Purple Heart recipient and triple amputee who was shot down in Iraq while piloting a Black Hawk helicopter; and Heather Wilson, an Air Force Academy graduate, Rhodes scholar, and the country’s only female veteran in Congress. Included are the inspirational stories of women Marines, one of the three female Shuttle commanders in the history of the NASA program, and the first female members of the military service academies’ gender-integrated classes, who recall the highs and lows of their trailblazing experiences.
These are only a few of the remarkable women who tell their own inspiring stories in Changing the Rules of Engagement. Representative of a widely diverse group of enlisted women and officers from different races and cultures, they have succeeded since the mid-1970s at combating prejudices and aiding change in the military with intelligence, passion, and honor while serving on the front lines.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 28, 2020
What makes Changing the Rules of Engagement worth reading is author Martha LaGuardia-Kotite's detailed skill in bringing to life the authentic, vivid stories of fifteen inspiring and adventurous members of the U.S. Military who also happen to be women.
From soaring into outer space with the second woman to command a space shuttle mission to plunging to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with a combat veteran special operations diver who salvaged the ironclad USS Monitor, each story is a portrait of physicality, mental toughness, technical prowess and
human emotion.
Not only have these women faced the traditional challenges of military service, but many of them also overcame female stereotypes and changed discrimination policies that paved the way for more women to succeed in the military.
You'll feel the tension facing the first female in the U.S. military to become a demonstration acrobatics pilot in the Thunderbirds. You'll feel the raw emotion of the first Navy nurse corps officer ever to be appointed as commanding officer of a medical surgical unit as she treated the severely wounded in Iraq. You'll admire one of the first women to attend the Naval Academy and then smile at discovering that her family became the first in America to send every member to the Naval Academy. After reading Changing the Rules of Engagement, you'll feel renewed pride and patriotism in the U.S. Military and the sacrifices of these women.
From soaring into outer space with the second woman to command a space shuttle mission to plunging to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with a combat veteran special operations diver who salvaged the ironclad USS Monitor, each story is a portrait of physicality, mental toughness, technical prowess and
human emotion.
Not only have these women faced the traditional challenges of military service, but many of them also overcame female stereotypes and changed discrimination policies that paved the way for more women to succeed in the military.
You'll feel the tension facing the first female in the U.S. military to become a demonstration acrobatics pilot in the Thunderbirds. You'll feel the raw emotion of the first Navy nurse corps officer ever to be appointed as commanding officer of a medical surgical unit as she treated the severely wounded in Iraq. You'll admire one of the first women to attend the Naval Academy and then smile at discovering that her family became the first in America to send every member to the Naval Academy. After reading Changing the Rules of Engagement, you'll feel renewed pride and patriotism in the U.S. Military and the sacrifices of these women.
September 26, 2021
I love this book because the stories feature women from all branches of the armed forces, and from all walks of life. Every reader will find a story she or he can relate to! These are all remarkable stories that need to be told, and Martha Kotite brings the heroines to life. Stories like the one featuring Command Master Chief Mattie Wells, US Navy, illustrate how serving in the armed forces can help an individual achieve her full potential. I love that Master Chief Wells got to the top through hard work and perseverance, that she credits men with mentoring her, and that she believes in reaching back to help junior officers succeed. If you're looking for inspiration, dive into "Changing the Rules of Engagement!"
September 27, 2021
If you like nail biting war stories, this is a must read! Kotite is at the forefront of capturing emerging women’s history serving in the military by engaging recent and currently serving members. Women have always served in the military in some capacity. As that service footprint and responsibility expands, Kotite is leading the way in accurately capturing their stories.
October 30, 2021
Personal stories of incredibly inspiring women - great read!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews