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Women vets hailed during Women’s History Month

by Alisha Semchuk Flores provided more statistics, say- incidents among a civilian population.
staff writer ing that these days more than 700,000 “We responded to calls, protected and
women have served in the military after served the military personnel on base.”
Some listened as bombs exploded the World Trade Center attack on 9/11. Jones said the military experience
not too far from camp sites overseas, AV College President Ed Knudson “gave me a level of discipline. It taught
while others carried out their duties at stopped by to thank the veterans for me about the importance of integrity
military bases situated on home turf, but their service and mention that he, too, and self-less service — doing some-
the group of women veterans living in is a veteran who served in the 1st Infan- thing for others without any expecta-
the Antelope Valley shared one com- try Division and then the 4th Infantry tions. Doing something just because
mon bond: a dedication to serving their Division. He encouraged the veterans you love to do it.”
country in war and peace. to utilize the campus Resource Center. Army veteran Michele Schottelkorb
Their ages varied from young adults De’Nean Coleman-Carew, PhD., is signed up for eight years, but was on
to those approaching menopause. The a counselor who works with veterans active duty from 1992 through 1998,
military branches where they enlist- at AV College. Like the speakers be- and went inactive her last two years.
ed were just as widespread — some fore her, she also has veteran status. She worked as a network systems
Army, others Air Force. They enjoyed She spent 3 ½ years on active duty as a switching operator at Fort Gordon in
a camaraderie, a comfort zone, during a member of the Air Force, stationed at Georgia. “It taught me about broth-
luncheon in their honor March 25 at the March Air Force Base, Calif. She en- erhood and sisterhood, our bond. It
Antelope Valley College boardroom, tered in 1983 working in administra- doesn’t matter where you served or
where they spoke with great pride about tion, then signed on for four years in how long you served. We are family,
their military experiences and how their the Reserves as a mental health techni- especially in the Antelope Valley.”
personal worlds expanded through ser- Photograph by Alisha Semchuk cian. While in the Reserves, she was Schottelkorb said that frame of mind
vice to others. Michele Schottelkorb (left) and Tamiqua Jones attended the March 25 Women’s called back into active duty for Desert began in the military, “but transitioned
Ashley Johnson, the new program History Luncheon honoring female veterans at Antelope Valley College. Storm, again stationed at March. into the rest of our lives.”
Schottelkorb entered the military in 1992 and was stated at Fort Gordon, Ga.,
coordinator for the Veterans Resource while Jones joined in 2010 and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Veteran Louie Borrayo is part of Army veteran Caitlin Murphy now
Center at AV College, greeted the crowd the Outreach Team at Mental Health
of 49 attendees, a mix of veterans and operating under the direction of the handling positions like military intel- America of Los Angeles in the Palm- lives in the Antelope Valley with her
their supporters. Johnson said she, too, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. ligence, cryptography and parachute dale office. He said his work focuses husband Derick Goebel, also a veteran
is a veteran who served in the Army. on helping the homeless or those at risk and an Antelope Valley native. Mur-
“It is my passion, my true calling,” “Women veterans make history,” rigging. More than 1,000 women flew of becoming homeless. He said he en- phy hails from Dallas, Texas, where
Johnson said. She asked the female Flores said. “The important contribu- aircraft for the Women’s Airforce Ser- gages with the Valley’s homeless pop- she travels to visit her family. Murphy
veterans in the room to stand. “These tions of women in our nation’s defense vice Pilots. ulation daily. The goal is to get those served in the military from 2011 to
are your battle buddies, ladies, just the and as part of the veteran population In 1948, Congress passed the Wom- people, many of whom are veterans, 2014. That’s where she met her husband
women veterans on campus.” cannot be overstated.” en’s Armed Services Integration Act, into a dwelling they can call home. at Fort Bragg, N.C. She worked as a hu-
Johnson also emphasized that the Flores said women served in Amer- granting women permanent status in The agency provides the first month’s man intelligence collector.
campus Resource Center was a place ica’s wars and conflicts throughout the the military and entitling them to vet- rent and in certain instances, as much “I’m the first female in my family to
meant to help all veterans, both women nation’s history beginning with the erans’ benefits. as three month’s rent. The agency also join (the military). I was trained to get
and men, folks whom she described as Revolutionary War, although they were During the Vietnam War, 7,000 mili- assists with the start-up costs for utili- information from sources. I can talk to
“a population that is underserved.” not formally under military command tary women served in Southeast Asia. ties — gas and electric — plus other anybody. I used tactics to get informa-
Aside from paying tribute to the until the early 20th century. During In 1976, the first women were admitted basics like dishes, etc. tion that I wanted. I just asked the ques-
vets, Johnson said the point of the lun- the Civil War more than 400 women to America’s service academies — the “The VA has given me the ability tions. You have to be in-tune with your-
cheon was to “let people network and fought in the Union and Confederate Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., to be compensated for the stuff I’ve self enough to be in-tune with people.”
build a community among female vet- armies, according to Flores. the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., done,” Borrayo said. In 2012 she was deployed to Afghan-
erans and those who support us.” During World War I, roughly 35,000 and the Air Force Academy in Colo- Tamiqua Jones, an army veteran, istan for 7 ½ months, where she heard
“Women veterans are trail blazers,” women served as nurses and support rado Springs, Colo. During Operation served from 2010 to 2013 as a military the sounds of warfare.
said Krishna Flores, a veteran and the staff. During World War II, some Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991, police officer, stationed at Fort Leon- When Murphy reflects on her military
outreach specialist at the Antelope Val- 140,000 women served in the U.S. more than 41,000 women were de- ard Wood, Mo. She likened the posi- experience, she said, “It made me grow
ley Vet Center in Palmdale, a facility Army and the Women’s Army Corps ployed to the combat zone. tion to sheriff’s deputies dealing with up. It gave me a sense of work ethic.”
MENTOR, from 1
Force, I met amazing women who also became do the pull-up,” she said. “Improving our pull-ups sacrificed so much. I couldn’t get through any It is an extreme honor to work with the men and
my role models. I am encouraged that today there became a challenge for my freshman roommates of life’s daily challenges without my faith, my women of the Air Force Test Center with their
are mentoring groups and forums like Academy and me, and all of us practiced at the pull-up bar in family, and my friends. I would ask all men and relentless focus on the warfighter every day,” she
Women and the Officer Women Leadership our squadron before taps a couple times a week.” women alike to encourage one another in the Air said. “I can’t think of anything better than to able
Symposium that are helping women share their She also would encourage young people to Force — build each other up. Sometimes all you
military experiences and achieve their goals.” explore the field of Science, Technology, Engi- need is one person to believe in you and that to end my career at one of my favorite bases,
A lesson she learned and wishes to impart to neering and Mathematics (STEM) and to also changes the course of your life.” with amazing people, and where my test career
a new generation would be to set goals and also consider the Air Force as career choice. Later this year, Suplisson is set to retire and started at the Test Pilot School 24 years ago.”
to ask for help. “We need your talent and innovation! I prom- bid farewell to her Air Force family after almost “As I prepare to retire in a few months, the
“I would like every boy and girl to know that ise, it will be the most rewarding experience of 30 years of service. She said her final assignment most important thing to me is inspire and mo-
their future has no limits. If they work hard, they your life. We need you to take the reins and lead as the AFCT vice commander at Edwards was tivate the next generation of Airmen who will
can achieve their dreams, any dream that they our Air Force to keep our nation secure into the be leading our Air Force,” Suplisson said. “I am
set their minds to. Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer future,” she said. “The Air Force and our sister fitting, considering it had been a launching pad confident that the next generation is better pre-
and continue to seek out people as role models services are phenomenal opportunities for young for her career into the testing world.
who can help you get to a ‘yes,’” Suplisson said. men and women to learn discipline, service, “This assignment as the vice commander of pared than we were to lead our Air Force and
“If you want to join the military, set a goal and leadership, and a new career field. The cama- the Air Force Test Center has been exceptional. nation, and that is a legacy I am proud of.”
work hard towards it. Ask for help and seek out raderie in the military is the best you can find Photograph courtesy of Juan Blanco
mentors who have already achieved what you anywhere. You will be part of a family.” Col. Angela Suplisson, Air Force
want to do. When you reach your goal, continue Suplisson is thankful for her Air Force fam- Test Center vice commander
to set goals that will challenge you.” ily, and especially for her own family. Family (left), speaks to military
Early in her career, Suplisson had set a goal has been one of her priorities, along with faith veterans at a monthly meeting
to enter the Air Force Academy, then to become and friends. Her priorities have kept her resilient of Coffee4Vets, a non-profit
an engineer, be commissioned as a lieutenant, throughout her career during many challenges. veterans support organization.
graduate Test Pilot School and eventually be- “I would like to say thank you to all the people The weekly meetings are held
come a squadron commander. However, before that believed in me and supported me — my fam- Tuesday mornings, at Crazy
Otto’s restaurant in Lancaster,
she could take off on her journey, she faced tur- ily, friends, supervisors and teammates through- Calif.
bulence early on when she failed the Air Force out the years. I could not have accomplished any-
Academy candidate fitness test, specifically the thing I have in the Air Force without the tremen-
pull-up. dous support of my parents, brother and sister,
“I was not going to let a pull-up stop me from and my husband and sons. Thank you especially
achieving my dream. So I worked hard with a train- to my awesome husband and amazing sons who
er for a couple months, retook it and was able to have given me their constant support and have
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