Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs April 5, 2024
A Department of Defense Education Activity student tours a C-130J Super Hercules during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. Over 900 students from the Kaiserslautern Military Community attended the FLAG event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
Over 900 Department of Defense Education Activity students from the Kaiserslautern Military Community attended a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, March 20.
The 37th Airlift Squadron hosted the event with 15 units from Ramstein AB providing demonstrations, displays and a formation of four C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for students, celebrating women in various Air Force career fields.
“The biggest thing for me is being able to include young men and women and showing them the opportunities that are out there,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Kaylynn Butchko, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot. “If you set your mind to it, you can achieve anything in these fantastic career fields.”
Female aircrew and aeromedical evacuation members pose for a photo during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. The 37th Airlift Squadron hosted the event with 15 units from Ramstein AB and included a career fair to inspire students to consider careers in the military in science, technology, engineering and math. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
This is the largest Fly Like a Girl event that Ramstein has hosted. Previous years featured female aircrews, but this year’s event included a career fair to help inspire students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math in the military.
“A lot of our girls don’t know what’s out there for them,” said Michele Dubé, Baumholder Middle and High School teacher. “We have girls who are coming here specifically to see what the Air Force might be able to offer them.”
Displays included aircraft tours, maintainer for a day activities, self-defense, patrol vehicles, virtual fire trainer with extinguisher, spraying a low-pressure water hose, a K-loader and more.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christina Torres, 5th Quartermaster Company Air Operations noncommissioned officer in charge, prepares for a jump during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. Torres was the jumpmaster for the all female jump team during the FLAG event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
During the event, approximately 120 paratroopers jumped from four C-130Js to the Ramstein AB drop zone. The jump included a jump team of nine women from the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, 86th Operations Support Squadron, the 5th Quartermaster Company and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
All four aircraft were operated by all-female aircrews. One of the four aircraft was launched by an all-female team of 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainers.
U.S. Air Force Staff. Sgt Sydney Willis, 721st Aerial Port Squadron ramp services technician, volunteered to help teach students about her career field at the event.
U.S. Air Force Staff. Sgt. Riley Solomon, 435th Air Expeditionary Wing independent duty medical technician, and Airman 1st Class Jac Curran, 86th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, pose for a photo before rigging up for a jump during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. This was Solomon’s first jump after completing jump training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
“I’m glad to be a part of it,” said Willis. “I think it’s a great way for other career fields to share what they do with each other, and for the students to see what we do — especially as women in the Air Force.”
Dubé also expressed deep appreciation for the event. Many of her students attended the event for the opportunity to visit the Air Force Academy booth and talk to recruiters.
“My message to the ladies is don’t let anyone discourage you from setting your goals,” said Butchko. “Dream as high as you possibly can.”
A Department of Defense Education Activity student looks through binoculars during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. Events in previous years featured women aircrews, but this year was the largest event to include demonstrations, displays, and a career fair for DODEA students. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
Airman 1st Class Amanda Mackey, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services driver operator, assists Department of Defense Education Activity students holding a firehose during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. The FLAG event included demonstrations and displays included aircraft tours, maintainer for a day activities, self-defense, patrol vehicles, virtual fire trainer with extinguisher, spraying a low-pressure water hose, a K-loader and more. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Otis C. Jones, 86th Airlift Wing commander, speaks to Department of Defense Education Activity students during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. This was Ramstein AB’s third annual, and largest, FLAG event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army jumpers land after a jump during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. The FLAG event showcased different career fields and celebrated women in the military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
A team of all female jumpers prepare to board a C-130J Super Hercules during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. The team was composed of members from the U.S. Air Force 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, 86th Operations Support Squadron, the 5th Quartermaster Company and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andrea Medranda, 37th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, waits for engines to start on a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. This was Ramstein AB’s largest Fly Like A Girl event with 39 orientation flight participants and over 900 Department of Defense Education Activity students who participated in a career fair to inspire students to consider careers in the military, science, technology, engineering and math. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Rigollet, 37th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, flies a C-130J aircraft departing Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. Ramstein AB hosted a Fly Like a Girl event, which included a C-130J flight with all female aviators, aircrew and jumpers, paying tribute to the great accomplishments of women in the military and aviation, as well as a career fair with 15 other units, paying tribute to the great accomplishments of women in the military and aviation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Tiffany Haines, 37th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, flies a C-130J departing Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. Ramstein AB hosted a Fly Like a Girl event, which included a C-130J flight with all female aviators, aircrew and jumpers, paying tribute to the great accomplishments of women in the military and aviation, as well as a career fair with 15 other units, paying tribute to the great accomplishments of women in the military and aviation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tessa Townsend, 37th Airlift Squadron loadmaster places a ramp on the back of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft during a Fly Like A Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. The 37th Airlift Squadron hosted the event with 15 units across Ramstein AB, providing demonstrations, displays and a formation of four C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for students to showcase different career fields in the U.S. Air Force, and celebrate women in the military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro
U.S. Army Spc. Jasmine Siegfried, 5th Quartermaster Company parachute rigger, is inspected before a jump during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. Siegfried was a part of an all female jump team during the FLAG event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army jumpers descend after a jump during a Fly Like a Girl event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. The FLAG event celebrated women in the military and showcased different career fields to students in the Kaiserslautern Military Community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty)
U.S. Army jumpers perform a pre-jump gear and safety check over Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 20, 2024. Approximately 120 military jumpers from bases across Germany and Italy participated in the Fly Like a Girl event led by the 37th Airlift Squadron, celebrating the great accomplishments of women in the military and aviation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro)
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