Air Force working to open last 7 jobs to women

AirForce Times — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 09:38:25 -0500

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/

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Nov 18 at 2014 9:47 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 09:47:27 -0500

Guess combat controller is one that is closed.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 9:49 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 09:49:39 -0500

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!

Response by SGT James Hastings made Nov 18 at 2014 10:28 AM

SGT James Hastings — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:28:23 -0500

The best qualified person should be hired, there is no doubt about that. Sometimes, qualifications can be unnecessarily restrictive. Sometimes, they are justified. Striking that balance is tricky but is well worth the effort.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 18 at 2014 10:33 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:33:51 -0500

"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

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 11:29 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:29:12 -0500

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.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 4:19 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 16:19:21 -0500

As others have said, if anyone male/female can do those jobs to the standards that are expected more power to them. I know a lot of men that cannot achieve those standards but I am sure there are some women that can!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 8:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:50:44 -0500

I saw this article linked from military.com on Facebook. When I first saw the headline I, again, thought it was a duffleblog article. I said to myself "I didn't even know the Air Force had A combat job, let alone 7." Then I read the article and what the jobs were and I laughed... and then I died a little inside because of titles like "special tactics officer" and "special operation weather officer/enlisted". Those sound like people that sit in dark rooms with big monitors..

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 11:43 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 23:43:21 -0500

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/marine-corps-study-may-help-shape-future-for-women-in-combat-roles-2014-11-10

Let us embark to level the field. The Marines study shall cement this issue for decades to come.

Marine Corps study may help shape future for women in combat roles

Large-scale Marine Corps experiment is intended to settle the question once and for all: Can women fight in ground-combat units alongside men?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 8:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:39:14 -0500

I'm all about equlaity. But when it comes to policy changes like this nobody asks why make the change. Why open up combat jobs for females? Is there a large percentage of female troops that want to fill these jobs? If/when thes jobs do open up for female applicants will there be enough that want to apply to justify the change in policy? What will the pass/fail rate look like? Will the standards for completion/graduation from the various courses have to be changed? Again, I'm not saying that the jobs or opportunities shouldn't be made available. But why make the change, and what impact will it have on the military in the future? JUst some food for throught.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 19 at 2014 8:51 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:51:04 -0500

I think the biggest part of this news story is the revelation that the Air Force has "combat jobs."

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 22 at 2015 12:13 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:13:50 -0400

Like in the Army, if women can make it into those specialities, under the same EXACT standards men currently have to endure and meet, then have at it... and good luck.