Posted on 09/28/2005 4:08:28 PM PDT by KeyLargo
First Female Fighter Squadron Commander Takes A-10 Unit Into Combat
Wed, 28 Sep '05 "I Am Humbled To Be The First"
The first female fighter squadron commander recently took her A-10 unit from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ, into combat.
Lt. Col. Martha McSally, 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, said she is privileged to serve in this role.
"I am honored, like anyone would to be entrusted to command a combat fighter squadron, regardless of my gender," Colonel McSally said. "I realize I'm the first female given that opportunity, but that is only because most of the female fighter pilots are still lieutenants, captains and majors since women have only been flying fighters since 1993."
Female squadron commanders in combat aviation will be commonplace in years to come, the colonel explained.
"There will be plenty more female squadron commanders in combat aviation in the future," she said. "That being said, I realize it is a milestone for our country and I am humbled to be the first."
A few years ago, women in Afghanistan couldn't show their faces in public. The rights women in Afghanistan now have compared to the time when the Taliban were in power have changed significantly since that time, the colonel explained.
"The heart of a democratic society is the principle that each person has fundamental freedoms, inherent value, and a voice despite their gender, race, color, religion, etc.," Colonel McSally said. "It's exciting to see the progress of women in Afghanistan since our troops freed them from the absolute oppression of the Taliban regime in 2001. I look forward to witnessing their participation in public policy and the future of Afghanistan."
On a similar note, the colonel said the women in today's U.S. Air Force are vital to the success of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
"We could not fight this war without them," Colonel McSally said. "Women make up more than 14 percent of the active-duty military, and in support of GWOT, women warriors of all services have been fighting and contributing bravely alongside their male teammates."
Colonel McSally accepted command of A-10 close-air support operations here from Lt. Col. Jeffrey Cowan, 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander at Pope Air Force Base, NC, during a symbolic change of command over the skies of Afghanistan Sept. 20th.
"The 74th Flying Tigers had an incredibly successful deployment with an outstanding commander and I am looking forward to continuing that record with the 354th FS," Colonel McSally said. "Davis-Monthan's 355th Wing Desert Lightning Team has proven itself to be ready to deploy and fight when called. We've been called to fight and I am confident my team will fly and fight honorably and professionally during this deployment."
Colonel McSally said she's honored to lead the "Bulldogs" into the fight during a time when national elections are bringing Afghanistan one step closer to democracy.
"We are trained and ready to protect the Coalition troops and Afghani civilians on the ground against attacks by insurgent thugs who are trying to thwart the democratic process in this country," she said.
Deterring enemy aggression and helping ensure voter safety through Oct. 22, when the winners will be announced, will be a key focal point for the Bulldogs.
"The people of Afghanistan have already demonstrated they will not be deterred from exercising their rights, and part of the 354th FS mission here is to ensure their votes are counted," Colonel McSally said.
(Aero-News salutes USAF Staff Sgt. Marcus McDonal, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs) http://www.af.mil/
This is one lady pilot I would love to meet, her and "Killer Chick!"
Oh I remember that one, all right. The support for her position was universally positive, in spite of the attempt to silence her under pretense of miltary discipline.
To me it was as degrading and humiliating as what the Saudis did to our president in this incident:
It is Thanksgiving 1990. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are spending it in Saudi Arabia, invited by its rulers to protect the country -- not against the infidel, but against a fellow Arab Muslim, Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Having raped Kuwait, Iraqi forces were poised to storm Saudi Arabia, a country unable to defend itself.
U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush arrived to share the Thanksgiving meal with the armed forces whose commander in chief he was. Upon arrival, the Saudi hosts informed him that the sight of a banquet connected in any way, shape or form with Christian traditions, giving thanks to God, was so hateful to Muslims that the president and his lot would have to repair to the high seas, far from the shores that would be soiled, defaced, desecrated by their act and presence.
And should have never, ever, been tolerated under any circumstances. Period.
The A-10's really proved themseves in the Iraq war. so, i guess they decided to keep them around. I also suppose that by retiring the older F-16's they'll have more justification for dropping those multi-millions on the F-22 and F-35 in the future.
The nice thing with the A-10 is you can shoot the thing all to hell and it'll just keep on smiling at you. It would seem to be a far more preferable aircraft for close air support than other more high tech (but also more fragile) aircraft.
What's BRAC?
There ya go. That ole "Warthog" will bring ya back every time!
Grrrrrrrrr!
Oops, sorry, we do love our acronyms. Base Realignment and Closure. It's the big plan that closes down bases and moves airplanes around to "save money". It was recently tweaked by a Government panel, approved by President Bush and sent to Congress. If they do nothing it will become law in a few weeks and start taking effect within the next 2 years.
wooooohoooo!!!!
If there isn't poetic justice. May many jihadis meet their fate under her squadron's guns!
BRAC is the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
You go girl.
And that's an awesome pic regardless.
McSally, wasn't that the female pilot from the "Boy From Syracuse" incident?
Indeed.
That was Jackie Parker. Confused her with McSally and earlier story about off-duty dress.
For once the higher-ups actually listened to the grunts on the ground. My2cents.
The grunts on the ground LOVE the A-10 and want it kept in the inventory for a good long time. So much so, that all the Wart Hogs stateside will be consolidated into one Active and three Reserve/Guard Units. To be upgraded when not being sent operationally outside the Continental US (CONUS)
I wish Lt. Col McNally all of the best. She has a fine, proven airframe to work with. Jack.
Let her be a beacon for young women everywhere who don't think this is possible.
A Vietnamese woman, called Apache because she was so cruel, tied naked U.S prisoners near U.S. lines so they could hear the screams, cut off the prisoner's eyelids and faced them into the sun. She then began skinning them alive. She then cut off their penis and turned them loose. They ran toward U.S. lines, but quickly fell, bleeding to death.
The famous sniper, Hathcock, gave her two shots.
Source -- book on Hathcock.
Navy Women Head to the Sick Bay Much More Than the Men
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