by Shannon Murphy, 86th Airlift Wing Historian
and Dr. Jordan Malfoy, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing Historian April 5, 2024
Team Ramstein members pose for a photo after hosting the annual Fly Like a Girl event, Ramstein Air Base, March 20. The 37th Airlift Squadron hosted the event with 15 units from Ramstein AB to provide demonstrations, displays and a formation of four C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for students, celebrating women in various Air Force career fields. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Megan M. Beatty
On March 20, I had the privilege of participating in Ramstein Air Base’s annual Fly Like a Girl event, where local missions are planned, flown, executed, and displayed by women, for women. This event showcases women working in roles normally seen as male-dominated, hoping to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
Observers witnessed the planning, organizing, preparing, executing, de-briefing, and analysis of the mission and flights, commonly referred to as sorties. The mission commander illustrated the tactical picture and the observers saw the operational picture come together, as a variety of functions collaborated to make the mission possible with our mission and joint partners.
To fly like a girl, the Air Force meets operations where they occur and executes the directed mission regardless of circumstances, cultural or societal expectations, or false assumptions.
Women work HARD. Not because the job is challenging (though it can be, at times), but to prove our value, worthiness, knowledge, and experience to others.
The diversity and equal rights arguments levied are tiresome, and old. This is not about taking a stand for or against diversity or equal rights. It is setting an example, expanding the possibilities of what we can do, and what we will continue to pursue. Highlighting what women can and choose to do shows this generation — and the next — what is possible.
To see someone who looks like you, doing something you want to do, and maybe did not think was possible, stays with a person. In today’s world of influencers and online pressure, girls and women come away from social media with distorted beliefs and assumptions. Events like Fly Like a Girl provide them an opportunity to see women in action who contribute to something greater than themselves.
From maintaining aircraft, safely pumping clean fuel, managing the airfield and controlling the air space, to medical teams ready to respond, loadmasters handling cargo and passengers, pilots who fly, jumpers who drop, and so many more — Fly Like a Girl shows the world that women play essential roles with heavy responsibilities in every capacity.
Women have been a part of history just as much as men have, from life-changing inventions, to revolutions, to combat environments — just with less coverage and less credit. We have advocated for ourselves, by ourselves, and in the 300,000 years of humanity. Only in the last 100 years (give or take a few) have laws and recognition started to change.
All of us have stories to tell, but the women on my flight have amazing stories. Women who, in a career shift, enlisted months before the cut-off age of 40 to serve — because why not? Women who wanted out of their small towns and discover who they could become. Women who, heartbroken, enlisted on a whim and changed the trajectory of their planned future. Women who fought against height standards to serve, who worked to physically stretch themselves out to qualify. Women who joined to serve, to help, and to push themselves.
These women, and so many others like them, embody Mary Oliver’s famous quote: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
History and the public like to label and point out women’s firsts, women’s accomplishments. But, instead of categories like a female pilot, a female maintainer, a female historian. We prefer the descriptions of a skilled pilot, an expert maintainer, a fantastic historian to focus on greatness earned, not bestowed or granted because of gender. We are great Air Force members who just happen to be female.
Editor’s Note: This article was written from Shannon Murphy’s, 86th Airlift Wing historian, point of view.
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On March 20, I had the privilege of participating in Ramstein Air Base’s annual Fly Like a Girl event, where local missions are planned, flown, executed, and displayed by women, for women. This event showcases women working in roles normally seen as male-dominated, hoping to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
Observers witnessed the planning, organizing, preparing, executing, de-briefing, and analysis of the mission and flights, commonly referred to as sorties. The mission commander illustrated the tactical picture and the observers saw the operational picture come together, as a variety of functions collaborated to make the mission possible with our mission and joint partners.
To fly like a girl, the Air Force meets operations where they occur and executes the directed mission regardless of circumstances, cultural or societal expectations, or false assumptions.
Women work HARD. Not because the job is challenging (though it can be, at times), but to prove our value, worthiness, knowledge, and experience to others.
The diversity and equal rights arguments levied are tiresome, and old. This is not about taking a stand for or against diversity or equal rights. It is setting an example, expanding the possibilities of what we can do, and what we will continue to pursue. Highlighting what women can and choose to do shows this generation — and the next — what is possible.
To see someone who looks like you, doing something you want to do, and maybe did not think was possible, stays with a person. In today’s world of influencers and online pressure, girls and women come away from social media with distorted beliefs and assumptions. Events like Fly Like a Girl provide them an opportunity to see women in action who contribute to something greater than themselves.
From maintaining aircraft, safely pumping clean fuel, managing the airfield and controlling the air space, to medical teams ready to respond, loadmasters handling cargo and passengers, pilots who fly, jumpers who drop, and so many more — Fly Like a Girl shows the world that women play essential roles with heavy responsibilities in every capacity.
Women have been a part of history just as much as men have, from life-changing inventions, to revolutions, to combat environments — just with less coverage and less credit. We have advocated for ourselves, by ourselves, and in the 300,000 years of humanity. Only in the last 100 years (give or take a few) have laws and recognition started to change.
All of us have stories to tell, but the women on my flight have amazing stories. Women who, in a career shift, enlisted months before the cut-off age of 40 to serve — because why not? Women who wanted out of their small towns and discover who they could become. Women who, heartbroken, enlisted on a whim and changed the trajectory of their planned future. Women who fought against height standards to serve, who worked to physically stretch themselves out to qualify. Women who joined to serve, to help, and to push themselves.
These women, and so many others like them, embody Mary Oliver’s famous quote: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
History and the public like to label and point out women’s firsts, women’s accomplishments. But, instead of categories like a female pilot, a female maintainer, a female historian. We prefer the descriptions of a skilled pilot, an expert maintainer, a fantastic historian to focus on greatness earned, not bestowed or granted because of gender. We are great Air Force members who just happen to be female.
Editor’s Note: This article was written from Shannon Murphy’s, 86th Airlift Wing historian, point of view.