Page 5 - Women's History Month 2022 - Combined Special Edition of Luke AFB Thunderbolt - Davis-Monthan AFB Desert Lightning News

4 February 25, 2022 Aerotech News
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The fight continues…

Groups work to find and eliminate

barriers to women’s military service

By every walk of life in this country,” Secretary
JiM GArAMONe of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said on CNN
last year. “As long as you’re fit and you can
DOD News
qualify, there’s a place for you on this team.”
Women make up roughly 20% of the Air But simply changing the policy is not
Force, 19% of the Navy, 15% of the Army and the end of the process, and that is where
9% of the Marine Corps. Tens of thousands programs like the Air Mobility Command’s
of women contribute every day to defend- Reach Athena and the Department of the
ing the nation. Their differences and needs Air Force Women’s Initiative Team come in. Senior Airman Madeline Herzog
must be considered for the United States These groups look at the totality of women’s An all-woman F-15E Strike Eagle aircrew steps to the flightline in observation of
military to function. service to find and eliminate barriers to Women’s History Month at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, March 22, 2021.
This is especially true since 2013, when ensure all can serve to their full potential.
then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Air Force Maj. Jennifer N. Walters, who the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare at women’s initiatives to decrease or remove
Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, then-chairman co-founded Reach Athena when she was — began in 2020 and is headquartered barriers impacting women’s service in the
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, repealed the stationed at Travis Air Force Base along at Scott Air Force Base. The Air Combat Department of the Air Force in order to
combat exclusion policy. From privates to with Major Kelsey Payton, said the program Command has Sword Athena looking at increase force-wide effectiveness,” Air Force
four-star generals, women serve in every does build diversity in the military, but that barriers in that Air Force major command. Maj. Megan Biles said. “We look at existing
rank and can serve in any specialty in the is not the primary aim. “What it’s for, is to The Women’s Initiative Team is at the De- policy which impacts women’s propensity to
military. identify policies that — intentional or not partment of the Air Force level and began serve and elevate solutions to senior leaders.”
“I think we’re doing a great job in terms — are driving our talent away, or repelling in 2008. All work together. The idea is to identify anything that is
of recruiting the right kinds of people, pro- them from the Air Force,” she said in an The WIT is part of a seven-team barrier-
viding access to people from every corner, interview. Reach Athena — named after analysis working group. It “specifically looks See FigHt, Page 12

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