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Dec. 4, 2015 SPOTLIGHT Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
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Female Army CST-2 members share stories
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GRACE LEE
Tech. Sgt. Dwight Parrish Jr. 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Courtesy photo
56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Today, less than half a percent of :HDULQJDEODFNKHDGFRYHU&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5DTXHO3DWULFN$UP\
Americans serve in the U.S. military Ordnance Training Detachment-Fort Gordon division deputy chief and Cul-
F-35 Structural Maintenance Craftsman and of that number, 14 percent are tural Support Team-2 member, is shown asking an Afghan child in Novem-
women. Commonly, war stories are ber 2011 if she was enrolled in school, and if not, would she like to go. Many
Hometown: Jacksonville, North Carolina told through the eyes of men, and they female CST-2 members like Patrick were deployed to Afghanistan and were
Years in service: 14 are rarely shared from a woman’s given the primary duty of engaging the female population of Afghanistan.
Family::LIHDQGIRXUÀYHE\'HFFKLOGUHQ perspective. This is because in the Afghan culture, it is inappropriate for male military
(GXFDWLRQ Pursuing a Community College of the members to engage with female Afghans.
Air Force through Rio Salado College 7KDWLVZK\ÀYHIHPDOH$UP\YHWHU-
Previous assignments: Whiteman Air Force Base, ans who were deployed to Afghanistan Fort Gordon division deputy chief and by all these women, who were very
Missouri; and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska during Operation Enduring Freedom, CST-2 member. “We went to training driven and positive, made the situation
,QVSLUDWLRQV My father, Dwight Parrish Sr. July 2011 through March 2012, came WR VSHFLÀFDOO\ VXSSRUW WKH VSHFLDO RS- bearable.”
Goals: Attain a bachelor’s degree in business together to share their stories during erations forces. Overall, I thought the
Greatest feat: Raising soon-to-EH ÀYH ZRQGHUIXO a presentation Nov. 16 at Scottsdale training was a lot of fun, but it was The women also shared the chal-
kids with my wife, Jennifer Community College. challenging.” lenges of being a CST-2 member.
6HOIGHVFULSWLRQ Mission and personnel-minded
“The purpose of this presentation For one CST-2 member, the attitude ´7KHPLVVLRQVZHUHGLIÀFXOWEHFDXVH
Famous last words: “We’ll make it is to let students ask questions and of her fellow soldiers is what pushed it wasn’t really cut and dry,” Stagnaro
work.” become familiar with and educated by her through. said. “It was whatever the team needed
Off-duty interests:%RZOLQJÀVK- these incredible women,” said Joseph us to do depending on their area of
ing and wood working Brett, Veterans Heritage Project vice “I think physically they push you to responsibility, and all the areas were
Commander’s comments: “Ser- president. “The Veterans Heritage your limits, as far as how they didn’t let very different.”
geant Parrish has helped our unit Project’s mission is to connect students you sleep,” said Capt. Serena Stagnaro,
WR PDNH D SUHWW\ VLJQLÀFDQW OHDS ZLWKYHWHUDQV7RGD\ZHDUHXVLQJÀOP Army Reserve engineer and CST-2 Patrick then chimed in and explained
forward in the way we maintain to let veterans tell their stories.” member. “But for me, being surrounded the rewards of the job.
F-35s,” said Lt. Col. Scott Hall,
56th EMS commander. “Up The presentation was on behalf of See CST, Page 17
to this point, stab restora- the Veterans Heritage Project and a
tions were a major collaborative effort with the Scottsdale
maintenance driver School of Film. Film students had the
that could keep an opportunity to record and capture the
aircraft grounded event.
for up WRÀYHGD\V
3DUULVKOHGÀYHORZ During the presentation, the women
observable techni- were asked several questions and each
cians in the completion had a chance to share their story.
of an F-35 horizontal stab
restoration and slashed The questions varied from why they
the completion time by 88 decided to join the military to what
hours taking the previous training for special operations was like
repair timeline from 168 for women at the time.
hours to 80.”
“First, we were assessed, and then
we were selected to be trained,” said
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Army Ordnance Training Detachment-
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