Kosrae Celebrates First Female KIRMA Officer to Earn Scuba Certification

Kosrae, FSM – September 2026 – In a significant milestone for local resource protection and technical field operations, the Kosrae Island Resource Management Authority (KIRMA) has celebrated its first female officer to earn certified scuba diver credentials.

The achievement marks meaningful progress for gender inclusion within Kosrae's environmental enforcement and conservation workforce, demonstrating that technical marine operations and scientific field assessments are open to anyone dedicated to the work.

"Earning my scuba certification as a woman in field conservation feels like a major personal victory, but more importantly, it shows our young women that our ocean and its management belong to us, too," Millie shared.

Mastering the technical demands of buoyancy control, regulator safety, and deep-water drills required intense discipline. While Millie admitted there were moments of hesitation during offshore exercises, determination carried her through: "The second you take that calm breath underwater and realize you are safe, the fear completely turns into awe."

Looking ahead, Millie plans to use her certification directly on the front lines to conduct reef surveys, monitor coastal health, and lead marine resource assessments across Kosrae’s waters.

"I don't want to be a one-time headline," she emphasized. "I want to see more women alongside me in the water, monitoring our reefs and protecting our resources."

The milestone was achieved through capacity-building initiatives supported by the Federated States of Micronesia Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program – Second Phase for Economic Resilience (FSM PROPER), funded by the World Bank. The training equips local government conservation personnel with the hands-on technical skills required to conduct critical underwater field assessments independently. Similar training initiatives were also conducted across Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Yap [Read more here]

(The training was proposed and prioritized by the Kosrae State Working Group to strengthen local capacity for long-term ocean stewardship.)

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