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Thunderbolt NEWS Dec. 11, 2015
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All Air Force occupations open to women CARDIOLOGIST (from Page 4)
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary specialties in our Air Force. As with any fact that some surveys suggest that some “As a cardiologist and electrophysiologist, Dr.
Ash Carter announced all occupations new policy, implementation will take service members, men and women, will Beshai brings unique skills and knowledge that
in the U.S. military will be open to men time and will be done in a deliberate and perceive that integration could damage will enhance our education and training mission
and women alike during a press confer- responsible manner. “ combat effectiveness. to better prepare us for medical contingencies.”
ence Dec. 3.
Carter said Deputy Defense Secretary 6. Particularly in the specialties that It is common for health professional to receive
The announcement came after a Bob Work and Gen. Paul Selva, the vice are newly open to women, survey data monetary incentives for joining, but Beshai is
thorough review of findings from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the judgment of service leaders joining without receiving anything based on
last three years of studies, and the will oversee the decision’s short-term indicate that the performance of small the fact he is going into an overage slot. In fact,
subsequent recommendation of service implementation, ensure there are no teams is important. he originally thought his commitment to the
secretaries and the chairman of the Joint unintended consequences to the joint AFRC would be volunteer work and he would
Chiefs of Staff. force, and periodically update Carter and 7. The United States and some of its not be paid.
Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chair- closest friends and allies are committed
“This decision means that we will be man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. to having militaries that include men His unselfish desire to care for the men
able to maximize our military effective- and women, but not all nations share and women in uniform and use his skills and
ness because we’ll be able to draw from Women will be fully integrated into this perspective. expertise to train and mentor his fellow medi-
a larger pool of skilled and qualified combat roles deliberately and methodi- cal professionals has finally happened. He has
individuals,” said Air Force Secretary cally, Carter said, using seven guidelines. Integrating women in all military achieved yet another personal goal, to wear the
Deborah Lee James. “The bottom line is jobs U.S. Air Force uniform.
to ensure the force’s future success based Seven guidelines
on validated, gender neutral standards.” 1. Implementation will be pursued Implementation won’t happen over- “When there is a calling far greater than what
with the objective of improved force ef- night, Carter said. you do every day and you have a passion and
According to Carter, within 30 days fectiveness. desire to do something [serving the country]
all currently closed occupations will be 2. Leaders must assign tasks and jobs “Fully integrating women into all mili- you have to follow that at any cost,” Beshai said.
open and available for the assignment throughout the force based on ability, tary positions will make the U.S. armed “The fact that our service men and women are
of women or men. The services will begin not gender. forces better and stronger but there will going abroad to fight that fight for our people,
implementing their current plans for 3. Equal opportunity likely will not be problems to fix and challenges to I can’t sit back and watch, I have to be a part of
recruiting, accessing and initial training mean equal participation by men and overcome,” he said. “We shouldn’t dimin- that, I have to be able to help them.”
of women in these occupations. women in all specialties, and there will ish that.”
be no quotas. Beshai will be filling a flight surgeon billet
“Our Air Force is more effective when 4. Studies conducted by the services The military has long prided itself and is scheduled to report for his first unit
success is based on ability, qualifica- and U.S. Special Operations Command on being a meritocracy, where those training assembly in January.
tions, and mission performance,” said indicate that on average there are physi- who serve are judged only on what they
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. cal and other differences between men have to offer to help defend the country, “His strong commitment to serve has put the
Welsh III. “While not everyone aspires and women, and implementation will Carter said. needs of the Air Force Reserve before himself
to be a Battlefield Airman, those who take this into account. and his family,” Cross said. “Hopefully, this
have the desire and are qualified will be 5. The department will address the “That’s why we have the finest fighting sends a message to other potential recruits
afforded an opportunity to serve in those force the world has ever known,” he said, that while there are many benefits to being
“and it’s one other way we will strive to a member of the Air Force Reserve, you must
ensure that the force of the future re- have the desire to be part of something bigger
mains so, long into the future.” than yourself.”
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