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This Veteran's Day, I am thinking about the incredible women in the military that inspire me. Admiral Michelle Howard, the highest-ranking woman in Naval history. Maj. M.J. Hegar, a commander of an Air National Guard helicopter who completed over a hundred search-and-rescue missions in Afghanistan. But most of all, it is the women in my unit who show me what females in the military can achieve.
Historically, war was what defined manhood. But when I look around every day, I see something different. In 2014, we have women becoming Marine Generals. We have female pilots, translators, and Commandants. These are women who know how to take the lead.
The women who truly opened my eyes to what is achievable are the ones I serve with, and they make me so proud. Less than 1% of Americans are in the military, and women are only 14-18% (depending on the branch) of that 1%. So I feel an obligation - and an exciting opportunity - to reach out to these women.
That is why, along with four other "Founding Mothers," I started a Lean In Circle for women in the military. Circles are small peer groups who meet in order to learn and grow together, and that is exactly what we do. We work together to empower the military's female leaders of tomorrow. We guide and mentor junior women and encourage them to embrace leadership in a field long dominated by men. For example, my fellow Circle member and I went to the University of Minnesota to participate in a panel on Non-Traditional Career Paths For Women. We were proud to stand beside female firefighters and police officers to show female students that there is no job they can't do, and no place they can't go.
We also work to strengthen the ties of military women across the globe. We formed the Lean In Military Network - a group to get women stationed around the world connected and talking. There are so many ways we are building a community, whether it's chatting on Facebook or finding each other through RallyPoint - the military network that is a powerful new tool for active service members and veterans alike. Whether it's sharing advice or trading stories about what it's like to go to your son's parent-teacher conference in uniform, I feel more bonded with these women than ever, and I’m proud of the ways my Circle is bringing them together.
This Veteran's Day, I am celebrating the women whose service makes our military and our country a better place. I hope you'll join me.
Comment below or start the conversation here and connect within the military community.
Erika Cashin is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force and the founder of the Lean In Northern Lights Circle in Minneapolis, MN. To learn more about how you can join a Lean In Circle, go to leanin.org/circles.
*These opinions belong to the writer and in no way reflect the views of the DoD or other departments of the US government.
Historically, war was what defined manhood. But when I look around every day, I see something different. In 2014, we have women becoming Marine Generals. We have female pilots, translators, and Commandants. These are women who know how to take the lead.
The women who truly opened my eyes to what is achievable are the ones I serve with, and they make me so proud. Less than 1% of Americans are in the military, and women are only 14-18% (depending on the branch) of that 1%. So I feel an obligation - and an exciting opportunity - to reach out to these women.
That is why, along with four other "Founding Mothers," I started a Lean In Circle for women in the military. Circles are small peer groups who meet in order to learn and grow together, and that is exactly what we do. We work together to empower the military's female leaders of tomorrow. We guide and mentor junior women and encourage them to embrace leadership in a field long dominated by men. For example, my fellow Circle member and I went to the University of Minnesota to participate in a panel on Non-Traditional Career Paths For Women. We were proud to stand beside female firefighters and police officers to show female students that there is no job they can't do, and no place they can't go.
We also work to strengthen the ties of military women across the globe. We formed the Lean In Military Network - a group to get women stationed around the world connected and talking. There are so many ways we are building a community, whether it's chatting on Facebook or finding each other through RallyPoint - the military network that is a powerful new tool for active service members and veterans alike. Whether it's sharing advice or trading stories about what it's like to go to your son's parent-teacher conference in uniform, I feel more bonded with these women than ever, and I’m proud of the ways my Circle is bringing them together.
This Veteran's Day, I am celebrating the women whose service makes our military and our country a better place. I hope you'll join me.
Comment below or start the conversation here and connect within the military community.
Erika Cashin is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force and the founder of the Lean In Northern Lights Circle in Minneapolis, MN. To learn more about how you can join a Lean In Circle, go to leanin.org/circles.
*These opinions belong to the writer and in no way reflect the views of the DoD or other departments of the US government.
Veterans Day
Women in the Military
Command Post
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 46
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When my husband and I first moved to this town, one of the first American Legion members we met was a WWII female Marine. She proudly states that she was in the only female Marine Corps band during WWII and played the euphonium. This birthday, I got her a T-shirt and 2 coins.
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Sgt Samantha Jee
Thank you! I'll take a better picture today, since she's always been a part of our ceremonies. I tried to convince her to ride in the parade, but she wants to sell poppies instead.
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If you are ever in the DC area j would encourage everyone to visit the Women in Military Service Memorial. It's a great place to get a lot of history as discussed here and see true stories of women who served. Their exhibit on Nurses in Vietnsm I thought was amazing
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Suspended Profile
LTC Richard Wasserman. I have come such a very long way from living outside the wire of Soviet Uranium Mines in Czechslovakia . . . through so many conflicts and disasters . . . to finally consider coming to rest on Ventura Beach between Malibu and Santa Barbara. But, I worry about the many good people still in harm's way . . . it is very hard to even consider settling down to a much more peaceful, secure, and quieter life. Warmest Regards, Sandy
We should all be thankful to be so blessed we can make a difference in the lives of many others.
We should all be thankful to be so blessed we can make a difference in the lives of many others.
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LTJG Sandra Smith
My Mom was a WW II Navy nurse & sent photos & such from her time in NewGuinea to that memorial.
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LTJG Sandra Smith
SSG Maurice P. Excuse me??? My Mom was a WW II Navy nurse & I served during the Vietnam/ Cold War era, also as a Navy nurse! There were a lot of us. In fact women began serving quite early in the LAST century. Just a month ago the Navy Nurse Corps celebrated its113th anniversary, & the Army Nurse Corps is a couple or so yrs older. My Aunt was a woman Marine during WW II also. We galshave been serving far longer than you seem to think...
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Lt Col (Join to see), I don't personally know this woman, but I wish I did! U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (representing Hawai'i's second U.S. Congressional District) will be sworn in to her second term when Congress reconvenes on January 6, 2015. She is also a captain in the Hawai'i Army National Guard and should be celebrated.
We went to the same OCS, just 34 years apart!
FYI, SSG Gerhard S. Col Rebecca Lorraine
1LT Sandy Annala and PV2 (Join to see) and Capt (Join to see) and CPT Carrie P. COL Kelly Zachgo SPC Nancy Greene SPC Diana D. PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
CPT (Join to see) (CPT Gabbard is AMA 51A) Maj Kim Patterson GySgt Melissa Gravila
We went to the same OCS, just 34 years apart!
FYI, SSG Gerhard S. Col Rebecca Lorraine
1LT Sandy Annala and PV2 (Join to see) and Capt (Join to see) and CPT Carrie P. COL Kelly Zachgo SPC Nancy Greene SPC Diana D. PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
CPT (Join to see) (CPT Gabbard is AMA 51A) Maj Kim Patterson GySgt Melissa Gravila
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SGT Robert Pryor
LTC Stephen C.. MAJ (Join to see) is a member of Rally Point. I wish I knew her too. And I wish she were the Democratic nominee for POTUS.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
actually Tulsi Gabbard was a Major in the National Guard. Prior to becoming an Officer She also had held all the enlisted rank from E1 up to SP4. She recently has changed from the Hawaii Guard to Army Reserve as a Major. She has served two tours also in the Mid East with the Army. She had already held a number of elected offices within the State of Hawaii before being elected to the US Congress. She is very Patriotic and I feel someone that may well have a great Political future in store for Her. She does think for Herself and if something is wrong has no hesitation exposing it and that included some major problems in the Democratic party of which She is a member. I do have a very positive impression of Her including something rarely found in politics, honesty !
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LTC Stephen C.
I actually met LTC Tulsi Gabbbard recently. She was the keynote speaker at the 200th Regiment Regional Training Institute military ball on 26AUG23 at Fort McClellan, AL. The 200th was her source of commission in 2007 and mine in 1973, although then it was known as the Alabama Military Academy.
She's an incredibly principled woman and soldier, and gave an inspiring message to the recently commissioned second lieutenants!
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SGT Robert Pryor GySgt Melissa Gravila SSgt (Join to see)
She's an incredibly principled woman and soldier, and gave an inspiring message to the recently commissioned second lieutenants!
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SGT Robert Pryor GySgt Melissa Gravila SSgt (Join to see)
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Lt Col (Join to see), I think the first females to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point should be celebrated also. I was privileged to serve briefly with COL Kelly Zachgo at the 95th Division (TNG) in Oklahoma City, OK in 1990, and she was one of the 62 women who were members of the graduating class of 1980. She's in this photo somewhere! Go Army, Beat Navy (and Air Force)!
1LT Sandy Annala and PV2 (Join to see) and Capt (Join to see) and CPT Carrie P. and CPT (Join to see) and LTC Stephen F. and Col Rebecca Lorraine Maj Kim Patterson GySgt Melissa Gravila SPC Nancy Greene SPC Diana D. PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
MAJ Keira Brennan and PO1 (Join to see), I thought you might enjoy this post about "female firsts", based on your comments in "Can we finally end the horrible social experiment of women in direct combat units now?"
1LT Sandy Annala and PV2 (Join to see) and Capt (Join to see) and CPT Carrie P. and CPT (Join to see) and LTC Stephen F. and Col Rebecca Lorraine Maj Kim Patterson GySgt Melissa Gravila SPC Nancy Greene SPC Diana D. PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
MAJ Keira Brennan and PO1 (Join to see), I thought you might enjoy this post about "female firsts", based on your comments in "Can we finally end the horrible social experiment of women in direct combat units now?"
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LTC Stephen F.
Well, Lt Col (Join to see), LTC Stephen C. and LTC Richard Wasserman, I am a member of USMA Class of 1980. Each woman in that picture is a classmate of mine.
We graduated over 35 years ago from our former rockbound highland home. As is typical with large scale social changes designed by government, engineered by government, and implemented by government officials many things were thought thru well; but, others were discovered through the school of hard knocks. In many cases the women of the class of 1980 were human guinea pigs whose individual and collective experiences laid the groundwork for greater success of the future classes of USMA cadets and graduates. Being a part of the class of 1980 was challenging for all who took part both men and women; however, in general I think was harder on the women who went through than the men.
We graduated over 35 years ago from our former rockbound highland home. As is typical with large scale social changes designed by government, engineered by government, and implemented by government officials many things were thought thru well; but, others were discovered through the school of hard knocks. In many cases the women of the class of 1980 were human guinea pigs whose individual and collective experiences laid the groundwork for greater success of the future classes of USMA cadets and graduates. Being a part of the class of 1980 was challenging for all who took part both men and women; however, in general I think was harder on the women who went through than the men.
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COL Kelly Zachgo
LTC Stephen C. - I'm just now seeing some old posts. Yes, I am in this photo! Standing and 3rd from the top right. Teamwork made it possible to complete and a challenge for everyone!
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SGT Robert Pryor
LTC Stephen C. - I am definitely tired of lame, made up, excuses about why certain classes of our citizens should be excluded from any part of society. They have yet to create a perfect human being and I'm living proof of that. But at least I was allowed to contribute and feel I carried my own weight. Everyone should have that same opportunity.
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Ma'am,
Great post! Let's also not forget about Admiral Grace Hopper, a leader in the computers, and came up with the term "computer bug".
I have served with many female Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Soldiers that are just exceptional, bust their ass day in and day out, do great work, and I know that they have my back. I can not always say that about their male counterparts.
Happy Veterans Day and thank you for your service.
Great post! Let's also not forget about Admiral Grace Hopper, a leader in the computers, and came up with the term "computer bug".
I have served with many female Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Soldiers that are just exceptional, bust their ass day in and day out, do great work, and I know that they have my back. I can not always say that about their male counterparts.
Happy Veterans Day and thank you for your service.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Yes, definitely Admiral Hopper. The list is actually pretty long, and that's a very good thing.
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Sending along another cheers to this post with a photo of the first all female C-130 combat flight crew. From left to right: SSgt Josie E. Harshe, flight engineer; Capt Anita T. Mack, navigator; 1st Lt Siobhan Couturier, pilot; Capt Carol J. Mitchell, aircraft commander; and loadmasters TSgt Sigrid M. Carrero-Perez & Senior Airman Ci Ci Alonzo.
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Well said, LT Col. You should include yourself as someone who inspires, it was not that long ago that a females weren't able to achieve that kind of rank. I'm proud to have served in a male dominated service, women have to prove themselves every day in the military. Its good to know that not only do we have a place in the military but that we our achievements are broader/higher than they used to be.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Thank you SSgt Claeys. I didn't set out to be inspirational however. I just had few opportunities to develop a good monitorship relationship with a senior woman early in my career. I'm just trying to get out the message that we should all encourage all kinds of support.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
WHen I was a Chief in the ITB in Great Lakes I was the COmpany Commander of a Female Company. My Assistant Company Commander was a female Second Class Petty Officer; she retired from the Navy as a Senior Chief at 20 years.
I wished her a Happy Birthday a few days ago and was very proud when she said that I was the best Mentor she ever had. How much more praise could anyone ever get?
I wished her a Happy Birthday a few days ago and was very proud when she said that I was the best Mentor she ever had. How much more praise could anyone ever get?
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Well, Lt Col (Join to see), here's another good friend of mine (I promise I'm not name dropping) that I thought might be of interest to you. Recently retired Major General Sheryl Speed Gordon, was the Assistant Adjutant General of the Alabama Army National Guard prior to retirement. General Gordon is most notable in that she was the first female general officer (and later the first major general) in the history of the Alabama National Guard.
At her retirement ceremony she was asked if she was treated differently as a leader and commander because she was a woman. She said, "Whenever I would go into a new job, at first they would respond to me as a woman. Later they would respond to me as a soldier. They mostly wanted to know if I was competent." Col Rebecca Lorraine Maj Kim Patterson GySgt Melissa Gravila SPC Nancy Greene SPC Diana D. PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
1LT Sandy Annala and PV2 (Join to see) and Capt (Join to see) and CPT Carrie P. COL Kelly Zachgo
CPT (Join to see) (MG Gordon was AMA 26)
MAJ Keira Brennan and PO1 (Join to see), I thought you might enjoy this post about "female firsts", based on your comments in "Can we finally end the horrible social experiment of women in direct combat units now?"
At her retirement ceremony she was asked if she was treated differently as a leader and commander because she was a woman. She said, "Whenever I would go into a new job, at first they would respond to me as a woman. Later they would respond to me as a soldier. They mostly wanted to know if I was competent." Col Rebecca Lorraine Maj Kim Patterson GySgt Melissa Gravila SPC Nancy Greene SPC Diana D. PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
1LT Sandy Annala and PV2 (Join to see) and Capt (Join to see) and CPT Carrie P. COL Kelly Zachgo
CPT (Join to see) (MG Gordon was AMA 26)
MAJ Keira Brennan and PO1 (Join to see), I thought you might enjoy this post about "female firsts", based on your comments in "Can we finally end the horrible social experiment of women in direct combat units now?"
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LTC Stephen C.
Lt Col (Join to see), MG Sheryl Gordon was called out of retirement and is now serving as the Adjutant General of the State of Alabama!
COL Kelly Zachgo SPC Diana D. PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
COL Kelly Zachgo SPC Diana D. PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
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Lt Col (Join to see), here's a good friend of mine I thought you might like to know about. Major General (retired) N. Lee S. Price's last duty assignment prior to retirement was Program Executive Officer for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Her appointment to this position was historic in that she was the first female to ever be appointed as a Program Executive Officer.
The reason she did so well is that I was her Tactical (training) Officer at Officer Candidate School (just kidding)! We've kept in communication over the years.
If you wish to read more about her, MG Price maintains a public figure FB page at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maj-Gen-Retired-N-Lee-S-Price/ [login to see] 6626?sk=timeline
CWO2 Shannon Reck 1LT Sandy Annala and PV2 (Join to see) and Capt (Join to see) and CPT Carrie P. COL Jean (John) F. B.
CPT (Join to see) (MG Price was AMA 21) Col Rebecca Lorraine Maj Kim Patterson GySgt Melissa Gravila COL Kelly Zachgo SPC Nancy Greene PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
SPC Diana D. MAJ Keira Brennan and PO1 (Join to see), I thought you might enjoy this post about "female firsts", based on your comments in "Can we finally end the horrible social experiment of women in direct combat units now?"
The reason she did so well is that I was her Tactical (training) Officer at Officer Candidate School (just kidding)! We've kept in communication over the years.
If you wish to read more about her, MG Price maintains a public figure FB page at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maj-Gen-Retired-N-Lee-S-Price/ [login to see] 6626?sk=timeline
CWO2 Shannon Reck 1LT Sandy Annala and PV2 (Join to see) and Capt (Join to see) and CPT Carrie P. COL Jean (John) F. B.
CPT (Join to see) (MG Price was AMA 21) Col Rebecca Lorraine Maj Kim Patterson GySgt Melissa Gravila COL Kelly Zachgo SPC Nancy Greene PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor
SPC Diana D. MAJ Keira Brennan and PO1 (Join to see), I thought you might enjoy this post about "female firsts", based on your comments in "Can we finally end the horrible social experiment of women in direct combat units now?"
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LTC Stephen C.
COL Jean (John) F. B., I like to think so! But as we discussed on the other thread, it's the character and integrity of the person, and she had that when she got to OCS!
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I know I am reaching back...but that is the curse in having a degree in history. Artemisia I of Caria, the greatest of Xerxes naval commanders...or at least one of them...when the other commanders told Xerxes what they though he wanted to hear, she provided good counsel...even if she was ignored. When her counsel was ignored she led her people because she was aware of the danger they were facing. When the other commanders ran, she fought and saved her crews. After watching his male captains fleeing from the Greeks, Xerxes is quoted as saying: "My men have become women, and my women men.".
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