Photo By Senior Airman Racheal Watson | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Saber Barrera, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness...... read more read more
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UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - When a person throws a stone into a pond, a splash and plinking sound resonate, causing a series of ripples. The stone may have frightened nearby wildlife, hit another rock and bounced off or scared fish as it sank. This one action had the potential to change so much through one a simple act.
A stone plunged into history in August 1920 when Harry T. Burn, a 24-year-old Tennessee representative, changed the course of history by casting the deciding vote on the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.
In 1971, Women’s Equality Day was designated as Aug. 26 and selected to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality.
Ninety-five years later, women across the nation continue to expand the ripples and show no signs of slowing down.
Esther Blake began the Air Force’s ripple by enlisting as the first woman on the first minute of the first hour on July 8, 1948, when women were authorized for duty.
Since Blake’s bold stance, women in the Air Force paved their way through history. Col. Martha McSally was the first American woman to fly in combat following the 1991 lifting of the prohibition of women in combat, flying the A-10 over Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Southern Watch. More recently, U.S. Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson became the first U.S. female four-star commander of an Air Force major component command, supporting more than 46,000 Airmen serving in Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam.
Women across U.S. military services are still adding to the ripple started by Burn.
Staff Sgt. Taiana Mitchell, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, works in a male-dominant career field.
“I have been watching the news and the first female Army rangers made it through the training,” said Mitchell. “I didn’t know what to say. I just looked around at the guys and I smiled, thinking ‘yeah, we can do that too. It may take us a little bit longer and we may have to work a bit harder, but we can do it.’ It’s a breath of fresh air to see how far we have come.”
Two women made history by becoming the first female soldiers to complete the Army’s Ranger School, proving regardless of gender the course could be completed.
Like the two females completing Ranger School, Mitchell understands the more demanding physical requirements asked from a male-oriented career. Regardless of the requirements, Mitchell did not see it as a barrier.
“In the Air Force there are roughly 3,000 fire fighters and approximately 60 are females,” said Mitchell. “I know we can do this job and all the rest of the jobs that are geared toward men and advertised toward men, but so far we’ve done a great job.”
Despite Mitchell’s gender, she felt a calling to become a firefighter after being a school teacher in California. She knew what she wanted and what it would take to reach her goals.
“Chief Linda Brown was one of the first females to go into the Air Force as a firefighter,” said Mitchell. “She is the one who paved the way for me. I am just filling in her shoes and keeping the torch lit for others to see and follow. She is the one who left the legacy as well as the ones prior to me. All I am trying to do is make it easier for the next female to come through and show everyone we can do this job. A guy may have more strength than a female, but as a female I rely on technique.”
Capt. Rachel Rupp, 386th CES Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight commander, spoke at a ceremony held at the Rock, honoring Women’s Equality Day.
“Fear not, the Air Force has great leaders, men and women,” said Rupp. “All of my role models have been men, as that is all I have ever worked for, and the large majority that work with me are men. In a marketable minority female career field, I feel my gender has received the least playtime than it ever has in my life. I do not feel that EOD techs have lesser expectations of me nor have they placed less stock in my involvement, my improvement or my direction.”
The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing held a ceremony, celebrating how far women have come through history and pushing towards equality alongside their male counterparts.
“We all serve as part of a team and we are all invested in that team’s success,” said Rupp.
| Date Taken: | 08.31.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.31.2015 08:46 |
| Story ID: | 174739 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 198 |
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This work, Women’s Equality Day: A ripple effect begins with one, by SrA Racheal Watson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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