Women Airforce Service Pilots inspire wing's Airmen to achieve

Published Nov. 6, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Patricia Carazo-Danner
302 Mission Support Group

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- More than 200 military members from all services attended the International Women in Aviation conference in Dallas, Texas March 8-10, 2012. This included four members of the 302nd Airlift Wing who were sponsored by the Wing's Human Resource Development Council.

Col. Kathleen Flarity, 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron commander, Senior Master Sgt. Jane Link, 731st Airlift Squadron flight engineer, Master Sgt. Heldwin Brito, 302nd Maintenance Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Patricia Carazo-Danner, 302nd Force Support Squadron, joined the more than 3,000 total participants from 13 countries in the networking, history lessons and educational opportunities offered at the WiA conference.

"I appreciate the caliber and courage of so many women that have broken down barriers and brought the military to where it is at today," said Flarity. "It is great to see so many achieving a balance between work and personal life while continuing to move forward and be successful. The conference was also a wonderful opportunity for networking and talking to young girls to encourage them to pursue their dreams."

More than 50 educational sessions were offered, most geared toward the aviation industry, but others covered leadership development, leading through change and striking life balance.

"We were walking among giants and extraordinary people that where ahead of their times paving the way into a better tomorrow not only for ourselves for the nation," stated Brito. "Reaching tomorrow today was the message the conference implanted in all of us--an inspiration to continue to do great things not only in aviation but the need to fight for our dreams -- whatever they may be."

The conference was packed with skill broadening seminars, however the highlight of the conference for many was the Women Airforce Service Pilots presentations and their interaction with WiA participants throughout the three-day conference.

"It is absolutely fabulous to see the remaining WASP ladies that are so inspiring and have such high energy and are so enthused to be here." remarked Link. "They graciously answered questions from the gallery, told of their history and even gave career advice, in one word--persistence."

The WASPs are still vibrant women, all of them in there eighties and beyond now. Their history started with nearly 2,500 women applying to the program, but only 1,074 women passed the training in the three years of the program. This pioneering organization of female pilots flew over 60 million miles in every type of military aircraft during World War II so their male counterparts could fly combat missions. They are also credited with breaking down gender barriers allowing today's female aviators to succeed in the cockpit. Today, the WASPs continue to push boundaries and inspire generations with their deeds, words and attitudes.

"The WASPs are an incredibly modest group of women who share their experience, as though for the first time, with anybody who asks them to," said Carazo-Danner. "During the conference, they patiently posed for photos, signed autographs and greeted each other as sisters. They still present a humbling strength and it was a privilege to be introduced to this group. It is an experience I won't soon forget."

The 24th Annual WiA conference is scheduled for March 14-16, 2013 in Nashville, Tenn. The 302nd AW's HRDC, chaired by Col. Courtney Arnold, 302nd AW vice wing commander can provide additional information on WiA as well as other career broadening experiences.

Editor's note: Maj. Kallece Quinn, 302nd Airlift Wing public affairs also contributed to this story.