A SALUTE TO THE WOMEN IN THE
AIRCREW LIFE SUPPORT CAREER FIELD
Women In The USAF 1970 thru
1994
We
all know how women have proved that they can perform the same work as men. This
was proved during World War 11, in the factories which churned out war material.
Aircraft were many of these materials, and woman toiled night and day in the
production effort. Women built, repaired, and ferried aircraft to operational
bases to the men who would employ these aircraft in the war effort. Men
employees of these companies who were not able to serve in the war, trained
these women in building and maintaining the aircraft. Women constituted the
bulk of the workforce and concentrated training processes were utilized. The
abilities of these women are recorded in history. I'm sure many of us have
heard of 'Rosey the Riveter' who was just one of the thousands of women
employed in the aircraft manufacturing business. When the war ended and the men
were mustered out of the services, women gave up many of their jobs to the returning
men. Women then returned to more domestic jobs of homemaking and child caring.
During those times it was considered proper for women to be in the home and the
men were the major bread winners. All was well with the money coming in from
old "Dad", but then came the sixties.
As
we entered the sixties, it became more and more difficult for a family to
survive on just the income of the man of the house. Because of this, women, in
increasing numbers, entered the workforce in search of additional income to
support their families. Many of those who returned home after work found their
domestic duties unsatisfying. When 'mom' had her fill of these unsatisfying
domestic duties, the children were given the chance to learn new skills around
the house. This chance to acquire new skills was received by the kids with
mixed emotions. The sixties also brought with it the "me" generation;
young adults who were now doing things their way.
Young
women began to realize they could no longer depend solely upon a husband's
income. Some were finding themselves the sole breadwinner due to failed
marriages and other circumstances. Women were now becoming more career minded
in order to survive. They advised their daughters and other young women to
acquire college degrees or technical skills. This would better prepare them to
support themselves and their children. A college degree was not obtainable for
many young women so they searched for and acquired both professional and
technical skills as women became a formidable part of the civilian workforce.
As
we entered the seventies and the era of the all volunteer force, the military
suffered somewhat in its recruiting of able bodied men. Let's face it. As a
young boy growing up in the sixties, with the morbid news from Vietnam on our
nightly news program, the military didn't hold much promise for a successful
future. In 1970, women comprised 1.4 percent of the military force. The Air
Force was leading in these numbers slightly. The military saw women as an
untapped resource. They opened up career fields which were previously closed to
women, increased recruitment efforts and significantly changed personnel
policies. Young women took advantage of what an enlistment offered in
education, technical skills, and travel opportunities. The door was now open
and increasing numbers of women enlisted and pursued commissions within officer
ranks.
Associated
career fields in aircraft maintenance were opened and women began to appear on
the flight line, hangars and back shops. Still vastly outnumbered by men, these
women encountered many obstacles. Some women were placed in administration
positions within the work center. These positions were not authorized, but
supervisors shuffled them into these duties due to outdated views of women's
capabilities in a predominantly male environment. Their training and skill’s
development within the AFSC suffered because they were expected to stay in the
office and handle the typing and filing duties. Although they completed their 5
level training, this consisted mainly of book knowledge without benefit of on‑the‑job
experience. The results of these actions produced technicians who couldn't
perform the task. A PCS or a change of supervisors frequently would correct
this deficiency. Of the women who were actually placed in maintenance jobs,
some encountered men trainers who would shield them from obtaining experience
by not actually letting them perform certain tasks. Although the women were
trying, they only aided the men and were never allowed to actually complete
jobs. The result of this type of inadequate training was an individual who
could not perform unless being closely supervised by other personnel. Some of
the men coworkers around these women actually went out of their way to make
things hard on them. When women technicians required some help in maintenance
tasks, some men refused. These were the same jobs where they would gladly
assist their male counterparts. These men wanted the women to fail. But some
women were lucky enough to be assigned a trainer who instructed and motivated
them to achieve. These women were observed and, through their demonstrated
ability to perform, quickly became
proficient and qualified in their AFSC. They gained the respect and admiration
of their coworkers who accepted them as part of the team. They proved that they
could be counted on to pull their weight and get the job done. This validated
that woman, with the proper training and motivating environment, could perform
athe proper training and motivating environment, could perform
aprise due to
the fact that training men requires the same efforts. Although some women
emerged from training unqualified, it is important to point out, that this
problem also applied to some men. Young
recruits, both men and women, were coaxed into some jobs that they really knew
nothing about and were dissatisfied with the work requirements and conditions
the career field demanded.
Not only did women encounter obstacles to
their careers from men, the Department of Defense provided some too. In 1973, the Supreme Court dictated that the
Department of Defense (DOD) had to pay a female the same as a male in regards
to dependents. Women, up until then,
had to prove they provided over fifty percent to their dependent support before
they were given allowances for dependents.
These allowances included BAQ, Dependent travel allowance (PCS),
dislocation allowance, over‑sea station allowance, family separation
allowances and medical benefits. The
DOD implemented the change in entitlements only for woman with civilian
husbands. The impact of the Supreme
Court decision on military women married to military members was still being
reviewed by DOD at the same time. Women
even had to get parental consent prior to enlistment if they were less than 21
years of age. Also In 1973, a Federal
Court ruling said that a woman could not be involuntarily discharged if she
became pregnant or if she had dependents less that 18 years old. As women prevailed in these rulings the
reenlistment rate correspondingly climbed. There were 15,023 enlisted women in
the Air Force on 30 June 1973, representing 2.6% of the total Air Force
enlisted strength. Women reenlistment
rates for 1973 were impressive. 47.9%
of first term women reenlisted compared to a first term male reenlistment of
19.9%. Second term women reenlisted at
a rate of 77.4% as compared to a 72.4% of second term males.
Women's performance, in 1970, is worthy of
mention. Commanders of remote sites in the Alaskan Air Command reported to
command headquarters that:
v
They had encountered no personnel problem with newly
assigned women.
v
The women were good workers.
- The
presence of women were a great morale booster.
Women have risen in the ranks of their
profession, have held positions of authority and continue to do so. There are
more and more in supervisory positions. With these women in supervisory
positions, they will be able to provide role models for young ladies choosing
the Air Force as a career. This may be a factor in increasing the number of
women enlistees, which will provide a better workforce for the Air Force in the
future.
In
March of 1994, women comprised 15% of the total Air Force active duty force.
Their numbers have more than doubled since 1975. There are more than 20,000
military couples in the Air Force. We have greatly benefited from the vision
that the Air Force had back in the early seventies. We have a more capable Air
Force now than we have ever had and much of this can be contributed to our
women members. The future holds much promise.
**********
Now let me introduce to you one of the first
young ladies in life support. She
encountered much of what I just related to you. Please welcome Nancy Smith. Nancy entered the Air force in 1973 and is
one of the first females in the career field.
I would also like to introduce you to the
first female CMS in life support, Gena
Noland. (Gena did not attend, but her name was mentioned)
I now invite all the female life supporters
in the audience to join these two ladies on stage as I offer a salute to them,
and all the past and present female
life supporters, for their perseverance in overcoming the early challenges and
their dedication to the life support career field.
Ready, Salute!
Thank You,
Bob McElwain
BIBLIOORAPHY
1. Air Force
Update: Air Force Demographics. *Air Force News*. June 1994
2. Alaskan Air Command History. Air
Force Historical Research Agency. 1 January 1976 ‑ 31 December 1976
3. Bobbitt, B. History of the Women in the
Air Force. Historical Summary, Office of the Director, Women in the Air
Force. Headquarters, United States Air Force. Wasihington, D.C. 1 January 1973 ‑
30 June 1973
4. Campbell, Ann. Women in the Military. 'Choice'.
September 1993
5. Devilbiss, M. C. Women and Military
Service: A History, Analysis, and Overview of Key Issues. Air University
Press. Maxwll Air Fore Base, Alabama. November 1990
6. Griffin, Rodman. Woman in the Military.
'CQ Researcher'. 25 September 1992. Val. 2. Issue 36
7. Historical Summary: Office of the
Director, Woman In the Air Force. Headquarters, United States Air Force.
Washington D.C. 1 January 1973 ‑ 30 June 1973.
8. Kitfield, J. Women
Warriors. 'Government Executive Magazine'. March 1994
9. Vaught, Wilma. In Defense of America: Women
who serve. 'USA Today: The Magazine of the American Scene'. March 1994
