Photo By Senior Airman Megan Myhre | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julie Breault, 97th Security Forces Squadron response...... read more read more
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. - For women like Senior Airman Julie Breault, the desire to serve was instilled in her from a young age.
“I wanted to be security forces. I know a lot of people go into the Air Force and get weeded into security forces, but I chose it because I feel like as security forces, I can truly make a difference,” said Breault, who is a fourth generation service member.
While the career field of security forces has traditionally been male oriented, Breault remains undeterred and unaffected by gender-role stereotypes.
“Being in a career field that is primarily male dominated feels relatively normal to me. I understand women are outnumbered in security forces, but the guys do a really good job of treating me equally. When stuff hits the fan, it doesn’t matter the gender of the person to the left or right of you. We’re Defenders. That’s the label I’d prefer,” she said.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kevin Smith, Breault’s supervisor at the 97th Security Forces Squadron, noted that Breault’s performance is exemplary and said that she performs her duties just as well if not better than many of the males in the same career field.
“I wish more Airmen would try to emulate her. She does things the best way she can and learns how to do things properly so she doesn’t have to do them again,” he said. “She’s a very hard worker. She’s one of the best that I’ve had work for me.”
She has often been questioned about why she chose to serve, instead of joining a more traditionally female-dominated career field.
“Nobody has blatantly come up to me and said I shouldn’t be in the military because I’m a woman, but I have had people question why I wouldn’t want to do something else instead, like teach, or stay home with the kids,” she said. “I don’t have children currently, but I’ve seen many strong women who make it to the ranks of chief master sergeant or general. Many of them are mothers and wives and they do just fine. Someday I want to be a strong role model for my children as a woman in the military.”
In addition to these inquiries, Breault also expressed frustration at a belief held by some that women are recognized either through promotion or awards simply for being female.
“I’ve seen when women are recognized for doing a good job, there are often whispers and murmurs that she was only recognized because she was a woman and not for her hard work. I would like to break that stereotype,” she said. “Women should be able to get excited about their accomplishments without having to hear, ‘You got it because you’re a girl.’”
Women have played a crucial role in the military for hundreds of years and continue to prove their worth in the armed forces today, working alongside their male counterparts and even making significant strides into being accepted for combat roles.
Smith said that Breault is ambitious and that he respects her as an Airman. He agrees that if women can meet the requirements a combat position demands, they should be allowed to do the job.
Breault expressed excitement and admiration for the women now being accepted into these positions, happy to see women progress in the traditionally male career fields.
“I want people to know that we’re strong. We’re just as strong mentally and physically as the guys. Women are being accepted into Army ranger school and they’re going to be held to the same standards as the men.”
Breault summed up her experiences and expectations as promising and sees a bright future for herself in the Air Force and joked that she plans on staying in the service until she has to be wheeled out as an old lady.
“I could see her being a chief someday,” said Smith. “She has that type of drive and motivation. You don’t have to give her a task if she knows something needs to be done. She’ll just go ahead, take the lead and knock it out. She’s top notch.”
Proving her supervisor’s words true, Breault said she aspires to reach the top of the enlisted ranks.
“I have a huge plan. I not only want to make chief, but if no one beats me to it in the near future, I would like to be the first female Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force,” she said. “I know I have what it takes.”
Regardless of the positions they hold or the reasons they serve, women are an integrated part of America’s fighting force, and continue to make vital contributions to mission success.
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.31.2015 14:09 |
| Story ID: | 158677 |
| Location: | ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 121 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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