Photo By 1st Lt. Christi Richter | Airman 1st Class Sophia Marshall poses for a portrait after being interviewed for...... read more read more
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MANSFIELD, Ohio – March is observed nationally as Women’s History Month. One way to highlight the history of women in the Air National Guard is to observe them making history today in the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio.
Women at the 179th AW are outnumbered by male Airmen, currently the unit is under 25% female, and that statistic is not unusual for any military installation. The goal is to raise that number to 30% by 2026. As the unit approaches its 70th anniversary it strives to reach further milestones of empowering female Airmen.
Recently, the unit has made history appointing Col. Allison C. Miller as the first female wing commander in the Ohio Air National Guard. Last year, Col. Patricia L. Barr became the Mission Support Group Commander and a female from the unit Chief Master Sgt. Heidi A. Bunker, was selected to be the Command Chief for the 178th Wing. The 179th AW currently has two female Chief Master Sergeants, Chief Dana M. Togliatti and Chief April R. Gunnoe.
Leadership roles are an important step to acknowledging that although they are still outnumbered, they are valued for the diversity they bring to the unit and equal in their ability to get the mission accomplished.
For some of the youngest Airmen, these changes are happening while they are still trying to figure out their roles and career ambitions. Some of the women have been around long enough to personally feel the climate change and can remember a time when they personally felt limited by traditional gender roles.
“Joining a male dominated career field, you’re kind of the punching bag at first,” said Marshall. “But really that’s anybody that joins. Eventually they get used to you and start trusting you more. What I’m doing is no different from what the men are doing. We’re treated just as equally as men, you just have to pull your own weight.”
Marshall has big plans for her Air Force career and hopes to eventually become a pilot. She was very excited about the idea of the 179th having its first female commander, especially with Col. Miller’s background in aviation.
“Col Allison Miller has definitively made a pathway for me,” said Marshall. “Knowing that I can be a pilot. I can be a commander. She’s made it possible and I thank her for that.”
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2018 16:06 |
| Story ID: | 268045 |
| Location: | MANSFIELD, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 329 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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