Photo By Master Sgt. Joseph Harwood | Staff Sgt. Vanessa Oswalt, Personnel Specialist, stands proud in her office at the...... 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.
Staff Sgt. Vanessa Oswalt first joined the National Guard eight years ago as an Army National Guardsman serving in Human Resources Department of the Colorado Army National Guard and also in the Army World Class Athlete Program. She joined the Ohio Air National Guard last year, is currently working full time at the 179th Airlift Wing in the Comptroller Flight and holds a traditional position in the Force Support Squadron.
The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program is a military unit whose primary mission is to support nationally and internationally ranked soldiers in participating on the U.S. Olympic team. The program is headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado. Oswalt wrestled all over the world and trained with partner nations during her time with the program.
“I’m very comfortable being in the military.” Oswalt said, “Growing up around the military in my family and being a part of the wrestling team has helped me adapt being around all these males.”
Oswalt returned to her home and family in Ohio and has spent the past year coaching her alma matter, the Mount Vernon Wrestling team.
The Oswalt family is very familiar with being a female in the military. Oswalt’s mother, Tracey Oswalt, retired as a Senior Master Sgt. In the Logistics Readiness Squadron and her sister, Tech. Sgt. Breanna Oswalt, works full time in the Force Support Squadron.
Oswalt says she has been influenced and inspired by her mother, “My mom served 38 years in the military, she’s currently retired. She has been an inspiration throughout my career and as a child as well. I always knew that I wanted to join the military from hearing about her experiences here and then my sister joined and I fell in love with the 179th. It was really neat that when I first joined the unit, all three of us served in the unit together.”
Rather it be helping mentor the kids on the wrestling team or an airman with their next promotion, Oswalt says that she is fulfilled by helping others. “Being a part of this mission is fulfilling, It was fulfilling to be able to play a part in this units recent hurricane relief efforts.”
The women of the 179th are collectively making history and Oswalt says that she feels good about being a part of that, “It’s inspiring and encouraging to see females taking leadership roles such as the first female commander. It shows that we can achieve that as well.”
There is no doubt in Oswalt’s mind that she is treated equally and has every opportunity to succeed in her career, “I’m such a go-getter that the thought of being held back by being female doesn’t even cross my mind. It’s taken time but it’s evolving and people recognize hard work and that’s what they are looking for, not seeing females and males but hard working people.”
Stereotypes can drive public perceptions, Oswalt says that out of uniform, people have been very surprised to hear that she serves and that she is a successful wrestler.
“I’m a girly-girl so people are very surprised to hear that I’m in the military and then I say that I’m in wrestling and they are even more surprised. In the military they might envision short hair or that we are all very hard or others might think that we can’t hang with the guys, but I feel like knowing them I can say that the females here are not weak and I can’t think of one that doesn’t deserve to be here.”
Oswalt is as tough as they come. As a former soldier and world class athlete and currently as an Airman she represents the best of the best and is an inspirational person for males and females.
“When we see women in command or leadership roles it inspires others to meet their goals or exceed those goals as well, it’s a good thing when people are recognized for doing well.”
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2018 17:14 |
| Story ID: | 269659 |
| Location: | MANSFIELD, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 877 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Women Making History, Oswalt’s Story, by MSgt Joseph Harwood, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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