WOMEN IN THE MILITARY by Sharon McKniff

WOMEN IN THE MILITARY

   Rotarians heard from Master Chief Sergeant Anne Reddish, US Air Force from David Monthan Air Force Base on March 28, 2013.  Chief Reddish shared her own experiences and opinions about the experiences many women have in the US military.  She expressed her appreciation for the positive affect that Rotary has on our community, and said that it was “an honor to be here.”   

 Chief Reddish entered the military in February 1988, and has served in many varied positions, including Distribution Operator, Fuels Controller, Hydrants and Bulk Storage Operator, Environmental, Compliance and Fuels Laboratory NCOIC, and Fuels Support.    She recently completed a one-year remote tour to Al Udeid AB, Qatar, as Fuels Manager, leading the DOD’s busiest refuel operation.  She shared that the military “basically saved me”, as she tried a variety of jobs and felt “lost” when her parents divorced. 

  Chief Reddish experienced an episode of sexual harassment during her early years in the military, and said that the Air Force was a different culture for women when she first entered the military.  One of her early stories concerned an assignment at Howard Air Force Base in Panama, where she complained about a Master Sergeant’s unacceptable comments and behavior, but was told that “he’s harmless.”  The consequences were unpleasant, as Social Actions Dept. came and interviewed her entire group, resulting in no one talking to her for a long time.  The matter was swept under the rug.  She said this made her “mad and more resilient.” 

 After a tour to Desert Storm, she found the love of her life, married, and had three children.  She learned that parenting is a tough job when both parents are in the military.

Chief Reddish shared that the culture for women in the military is changing, and getting better.  Women now go into combat assignments; women are often promoted; and “political correctness” makes everyone more aware of the effect of their comments and actions.

  Now Chief Reddish serves as a mentor to many women in the military, and teaches them to “do it yourself” and to be strong.  She feels that women are being treated equally now, and that women need to continue to step up to their assignments to the absolute best of their ability. 

  A Rotarian asked her about her next personal challenge.  She said it will be to decide what she wants to do with her life after she retires (perhaps in two years).  Right now, she is not sure about it.  She maintains an interest in science and teaching, so perhaps working with the STAR program may be of interest to her.  She even said that maybe she’d come back to our Rotary Club as a guest, and perhaps become a future Rotarian because she loves to volunteer and stay busy.

She was an excellent speaker, and moved precisely from point to point.  We all wish her the best of luck in her future.