<p>Our daughter is a C4C at USAFA. I would like to hear from parents, cadets, or graduates about what to be aware of as a female cadet and/or officer to maximize their potential as a female cadet/officer in the USAF.</p>
<p>Thank you for taking the time to respond,
Joe</p>
<p>do your job, take the initiative, and take care of your people (and same goes for men)</p>
<p>Eagle36… I take it then that, in your opinion, there aren’t any considerations unique to being a woman at USAFA or the AF in general?</p>
<p>Why should there be? A leader is a leader, male or female. I’ve seen amazing male leaders and amazing female leaders. Same goes for horrible leaders. If you let being female define you as an officer, then it will, and that may not go so well. Define your officership as a good leader and your good. Doing the right thing isn’t dependent on one’s sex…</p>
<p>Agreed with both eagle and hornet.</p>
<p>Leadership. That’s what the Academy and the Service is all about. Male or female, your first priority should be your people. I don’t see that gender enters into it at all anymore. It’s not 1977.</p>
<p>I agree with Hornet, Eagle, Petko, and Fencersmother. I also share your perspective because our Cadet is a female. Their are always going to be special challenges faced because of gender, but it is how your cadet deals with them that will determine success.</p>
<p>From a spouse who’s DH had female and male commanders, everything everyone else said is true. Military members are equal opportunists when complaining about their commanders ;). They never complained about them anymore or any less due to their gender, they complained about them due to their leadership abilities.</p>
<p>The AF is not the same as it was 20 yrs ago when Jeannie Flynn got in, it is no longer a rarity to see female fighter pilots or squadron commanders. The AFA has had female cadets for a very long time, they have worked out the wrinkles.</p>
<p>Fencer is right sometimes they have special circumstances, like ds’s DD because she doesn’t make the weight limit, she has to be escorted on windy days to insure she doesn’t blow away :D</p>
<p>I do have a question, and maybe I am reading into this more than I should, but if she is a C4C is there an underlying issue that makes you pose this question now, compared to posing it last yr before she entered?</p>
<p>Off topic: Why are there so many SETS of twins at AFA? Now that’s some potential I’d like to maximize.</p>
<p>No issues. My D really likes it there and is excelling. In the top 100 of her class. </p>
<p>I realize the AF is an equal opportunity environment and has come a long way over the last two decades. I served in the AF myself. </p>
<p>However, reality is never as rosie as the PR likes us to believe. It was not that long ago that there were harassment scandals at the AFA and significant steps were taken to address the situation. And, it wouldn’t surprise me if there are still those who feel females have no place there although they are a growing minority. </p>
<p>Sounds like things have improved significantly. If I offended any for asking the question I apologize.</p>
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<p>Meant to say a DECLINING minority…</p>
<p>usafapadad I am certain things are not the same as when the Harrassment and Rape Scandals were at the fore-front. As I told you privately my daughter is a C2C and is her Squadron 1st Sgt this semester. Women have no problems rising to leadership positions at the Academy today, and there are many safeguards in place to protect them.</p>
<p>That said our daughters will set the tone themselves. They can be victims, survivors, or leaders. The choices they make when dealing with issues and conflicts will determine which one they own. They know when they are being dealt with improperly, and they know when they are exploiting their circumstances.</p>
<p>As a BS Major my daughters project last semester dealt with harrassment at the Academy and the perceptions of it today. I will tell you the results surprised her and many others. They (her group) may still have to brief the Academy leadership regarding their results. The bottom line was your perception of the issue had a lot to do with your gender.</p>
<p>for every girl who doesn’t deserve to be at this academy, i can show you several men who fit that billet as well.</p>
<p>are there people who don’t deserve to be here? definitely. some leave, some sadly get to graduate. but that’s based purely on their talents, actions, and philosophies about this institution, not about their sex or race.</p>
<p>Just to really drive this point home, I’ve got one more example. Lt Gen Gould announced the new promotions to SMSgt today, which is a very difficult promotion on the enlisted side. Four of the seven who made it are women.</p>
<p>this article, while not a positive, starts off with an interesting quote:</p>
<p>“Women are so common in the upper ranks of the U.S. military these days that it’s no longer news when they break through another barrier.”</p>
<p>Read more: [Holly</a> Graf: Navy Relieves Harsh Commander of USS Cowpens - TIME](<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1969602,00.html#ixzz0hFCWAYEN]Holly”>http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1969602,00.html#ixzz0hFCWAYEN)</p>
<p>I agree it is not a news flash anymore. I think the only barrier probably left would be to become the 1st female COS.</p>
<p>We have had the 1st female T-bird, the 1st female fighter squadron commander, the 1st female General, that the only thing I can think of is COS…that and the 1st female pilot with a kill to her credit.</p>
<p>This article seems pertinent to the conversation</p>
<p>[Dean</a> reflects on history of Cadet Wing women](<a href=“Air Force Academy News”>Air Force Academy News)</p>
<p>Dana is an incredible person too!</p>
<p>She was my lab partner in several classes and even “WAAAAAY BACK THEN…” you could tell she was someone special.</p>
<p>MADE OUR CLASSES DAY to see her get her star!!</p>
<p>Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83</p>
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<p>Dean reflects on history of Cadet Wing women
usafa2011dad is offline<<</p>
<p>Excellent article … I was just going to post the link… you beat me to it. Thanks for posting.</p>
<p>i know all three of the firstie girls interviewed. i didn’t realize Gen Born has been here since '04 though!</p>