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From: Air Force Times
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — The Air Force's top boss said Monday she hopes to make all jobs in the service open to qualified women in the next year and a half.
Seven jobs in the service are closed to women, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James told reporters during a visit to Hawaii on Monday.
James said the Air Force is working on establishing gender-neutral standards for the positions and opening them to whoever is qualified.
"That is to say, whatever the standard is, it would be the same for men and women," she said.
An April 2013 Air Force memo says there were 4,600 people in the seven jobs, which include combat rescue officer and enlisted combat controller.
In January 2013, then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta lifted a ban on women in special operations and long-range reconnaissance units and told the armed forces to come up with detailed plans to open closed jobs.
The Air Force already has more jobs open to women than any of the services, James said. Most jobs closed to women are in the Army.
James, who became secretary in December 2013, said she also wants to boost the Air Force's retention of women, noting women at mid-career leave the service at twice the rate of their male counterparts.
"So we need to bore down and figure out why that is happening and how we can turn that around," she said.
James stopped in Hawaii as part of an 11-day tour of Air Force bases in the Asia-Pacific region. She's expected to go to Guam, Japan, South Korea and Alaska. It's her first trip to the region since becoming head of the Air Force.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/11/17/last-7-air-force-jobs-women/19199087/
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — The Air Force's top boss said Monday she hopes to make all jobs in the service open to qualified women in the next year and a half.
Seven jobs in the service are closed to women, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James told reporters during a visit to Hawaii on Monday.
James said the Air Force is working on establishing gender-neutral standards for the positions and opening them to whoever is qualified.
"That is to say, whatever the standard is, it would be the same for men and women," she said.
An April 2013 Air Force memo says there were 4,600 people in the seven jobs, which include combat rescue officer and enlisted combat controller.
In January 2013, then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta lifted a ban on women in special operations and long-range reconnaissance units and told the armed forces to come up with detailed plans to open closed jobs.
The Air Force already has more jobs open to women than any of the services, James said. Most jobs closed to women are in the Army.
James, who became secretary in December 2013, said she also wants to boost the Air Force's retention of women, noting women at mid-career leave the service at twice the rate of their male counterparts.
"So we need to bore down and figure out why that is happening and how we can turn that around," she said.
James stopped in Hawaii as part of an 11-day tour of Air Force bases in the Asia-Pacific region. She's expected to go to Guam, Japan, South Korea and Alaska. It's her first trip to the region since becoming head of the Air Force.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/11/17/last-7-air-force-jobs-women/19199087/
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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I read that article, it just seemed like a continuation of current AF policy.
The seven jobs currently closed are all special forces jobs with ridiculously high washout rates already, but if a woman can make it through the school then she deserves to be in that career field.
Plus it will give us an excuse to get someone to make a movie about the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of the first female PJ.
It'll be an Air Force version of Men of Honor, but about gender equality and with PJs! Everyone loves PJs! It'll be a hit.
The seven jobs currently closed are all special forces jobs with ridiculously high washout rates already, but if a woman can make it through the school then she deserves to be in that career field.
Plus it will give us an excuse to get someone to make a movie about the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of the first female PJ.
It'll be an Air Force version of Men of Honor, but about gender equality and with PJs! Everyone loves PJs! It'll be a hit.
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PO3 (Join to see)
Wouldn't it really be an Air Force version of G.I. Jane? Men of Honor was about a whole segment of society that would have a good chance of meeting the standards but were just kept out because of their skin color, whereas, G.I. Jane is about a situation where a very small segment of society can actually achieve the standards and highlights the first female to meet them...that's just my take on it anyway.
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MSgt (Join to see)
I quit in Indoc. Anyone who goes a day past my 3 weeks 3 days is badass in my book.
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TSgt (Join to see)
PO3 (Join to see)
You do have a point but I think the key ingredient is that Men of Honor is based upon real events, G.I. Jane was based on fiction; and the reality of issues of equality can never be adequately substituted by a work of fiction.
You do have a point but I think the key ingredient is that Men of Honor is based upon real events, G.I. Jane was based on fiction; and the reality of issues of equality can never be adequately substituted by a work of fiction.
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PO3 (Join to see)
TSgt (Join to see) I see what you are saying. However I wasn't talking about the fact versus fiction element at all but the circumstances depicted. No matter.
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Bravo and good for the Air Force. There seems to be a trend here (Secretary Panetta lifts the ban; Army Ranger school open to women; now Air Force opening all jobs to women). And a female Secretary of the Air Force.
I think it's great. If a person can meet the standards - regardless of gender (and all the other standard "discriminators") - that person should be able to get the job.
Maybe the military is leading the way for society as a whole in this regard? Super!
I think it's great. If a person can meet the standards - regardless of gender (and all the other standard "discriminators") - that person should be able to get the job.
Maybe the military is leading the way for society as a whole in this regard? Super!
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"The Air Force already has more jobs open to women than any of the services"...ummm, maybe this was why the Army cut sling in 1947
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TSgt Kevin Buccola
That's funny - I think its great - Put the right person in the position no matter male or female. Hopefully other departments follow the Air Force's lead!
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MSG Brad Sand
TSgt Kevin Buccola
I am glad you found it funny, it was intended as a joke, but it is true that the USAF does have vastly less direct combat jobs than any other service...even the Navy...so that it only does make sense they have more jobs open to women. In truth, it took me a second to figure out what job in the Air Force were not open to women?
I am glad you found it funny, it was intended as a joke, but it is true that the USAF does have vastly less direct combat jobs than any other service...even the Navy...so that it only does make sense they have more jobs open to women. In truth, it took me a second to figure out what job in the Air Force were not open to women?
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