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Altus’ Women’s Fly-In Inspire Aviators to “Fly Like a Girl” Lieutenants at DLIELC first women

by airman 1st Class
BREanna KlEMM in Chadian air force to become pilots
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
The U.S. Air Force’s Air Education and
Training Command welcomed rated of- by in the Chad army and are now retired. has a population of nearly 14 million.
ficers and career enlisted aviators to come annETTE CRaWFoRD “Our families are so proud of us,” said One of the biggest environmental dif-
together during the Women’s Fly-In event, 2nd Lt. Haoua. “They told us to work ferences the women have noted between
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 18-21, 2019. 37th Training Wing Public Affairs strong and do our best.” Texas and Chad is the weather.
For the first time, Mobility’s Hometown sent JoinT BaSE San anTonio- “The U.S. is the best country in the “Here, every hour the weather changes,”
an all-women aircrew to support and inspire laCKlanD, Texas — A journey begins world for pilot training,” said 2nd Lt. said 2nd Lt. Sadie. “About the coldest
others to “Fly Like a Girl.” Photos by Breanna Klemm with a single step, but for two lieutenants Sadie, who has been in the air force five it gets in Chad is 7 Celsius (44 degrees
This unique event was important for U.S. Air Force women aircrew from across Air Education and Training Command pose for a photo at the AETC Woman’s Fly-In, from the Republic of Chad Air Force, that years. “I tried to become a pilot even be- Fahrenheit). We have lots of deserts and
Airmen and future aviators because it Sept. 18, 2019, at Alliance Airfield, Fort Worth, Texas. During the four-day event, women had the chance to interact and connect first step was more than 7,100 miles from fore I joined the military, but was always mountains. In our country we don’t have
is the only occasion across the Air Force with their wingmen to solve the ongoing challenges of rated diversity throughout the military, while offering interactive opportuni- home. told no. I kept trying. Then I finally got a lot of natural catastrophes – no earth-
See GirL, Page 13
that brings hundreds of women warriors ties for young aviators to see what the Air Force can offer. While students from Chad have been a call in January 2020: ‘Are you still in- quakes, tornados, hurricanes, or floods.”
attending the Defense Language Institute terested in becoming a pilot or have you Since arriving at JBSA-Lackland, the
Capt. Rebecca Gooch (left), a KC-135 Stra- Master Sgt. Samantha Con- English Language Center here for several given up?’ I did not give up.” two women have used every available op-
totanker instructor pilot assigned to the verse, a KC-135 Stratotanker years, 2nd Lieutenants Ahmat Sadie and While COVID-19 delayed their travel portunity to enjoy the local area, visiting
54th Air Refueling Squadron at Altus Air instructor/evaluator boom Hissein Haoua are the first women in the and school plans by nearly six months, La Cantera, the historic missions and
Force Base, Okla., Master Sgt. Samantha operator assigned to the Chad air force to become pilots. They’re it hasn’t dimmed the enthusiasm of the Sea World. Second Lt. Sadie particularly
Converse, a KC-135 instructor/evaluator 54th Air Refueling Squad- presently assigned to the General Eng- two lieutenants. enjoyed pumpkin carving at Halloween, a
boom operator assigned to the 54th ARS ron at Altus Air Force Base, Annette Crawford lish Training (GET) course at DLIELC, Becoming a pilot “was my dream when cultural event that was totally new to her.
at Altus AFB, and Maj. Alexandra Traña, Okla., refuels a receiver jet, Second Lt. Ahmat Sadie of the Repub- which concludes in January. After that, I was a child, and it’s still my dream until Both officers want to make a career
a KC-135 instructor pilot assigned to the Sept. 21, 2019, over Fort lic of Chad air force is one of the first they’ll attend the Oral Proficiency Skills it’s true,” said 2nd Lt. Haoua. of the air force. They spoke of younger
54th ARS at Altus AFB, pose for a photo, Worth, Texas. As part of the two women in that service to become for Aviation (OPSAV) course and in July, The two women left Chad in September. siblings and cousins they have inspired
Sept. 18, 2019, at the Alliance Airfield, Fort Air Education and Training a pilot. She is now attending General it’s off to Spartan Aviation in Tulsa, Okla- They are both from N’Djamena, the capi- to follow in their footsteps.
Worth, Texas. For the first time, the Mighty Command Woman’s Fly-In, English Training at the Defense Lan- homa, to learn to fly. tal, but didn’t meet until they were in the “We want to serve our country,” said 2nd
97th sent its own all-women aircrew to the the aircrew from the Mighty guage Institute English Language Second Lt. Sadie is 26 and 2nd Lt. Ha- air force. Chad is a landlocked country in Lt. Haoua. “There are very few women
event to help represent and inspire other 97th offered incentive rides Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lack- oua is 20. They are both following family north-central Africa. The country’s official pilots in our country, mostly men. We need
women at the Air Education and Training on the KC-135 to 35 lucky land, Texas. military traditions, as their fathers served languages are Arabic and French, and it to open the door.”
Command Women’s Fly-In. ROTC cadets.

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