Author: Debra Flax

While women are underrepresented in the U.S. Air Force, Tech Sgt. Katrina Smith said that partnering with high schools across the country can be helpful in breaking perceived stereotypes and informing a new class of exceptional female recruits. 

“Addressing misconceptions, such as limited career options or workplace culture concerns, can help encourage more women to consider and pursue opportunities in the Air Force,” Smith said. “Collaboration with high schools facilitates informative sessions, mentorship programs, and hands-on experiences that demystify military service, fostering a more inclusive environment.”

Smith recently visited Bonner Springs High School in Bonner Springs, Kan., to head leadership and team building sessions with the school’s female sports teams. She spoke with the school’s female volleyball, softball, cross country, bowling, track and field, soccer, and cheerleading teams. 

Smith shared with the students that she joined the armed forces to gain experience, travel the world, and take advantage of the many opportunities and benefits the Air Force could offer. She also wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and continue her family’s tradition of serving. 

Doug Hitchcock, Athletic/Activities Director for Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Unified School District 204, said the in-person conversation with the teams allowed students to not only ask questions, but listen to each other as well. 

“Tech Sgt. Smith did an excellent job of relating to our female students with some of her stories when she was trying to decide what to do after high school and also her stories once in the Air Force,” Hitchcock said.

The teamwork-focused leadership program facilitated by Ohio-based marketing firm DistrictWON engages students in a new way and allows the Air Force to break through barriers and talk with students about their leadership potential within the military and what it could offer beyond graduation. 

“Women joining the Air Force can benefit from a wide range of roles spanning various career fields, Smith said. “From aviation, intelligence, medical and engineering professions, the Air Force offers diverse opportunities for women to explore and excel. They can build valuable skills in teamwork, decision-making and problem-solving, contributing to their overall career growth.”

According to the 2022 Demographics Profile of the Military Community newly released by the U.S. Department of Defense, the number of service members in all military branches dropped by 2.7 percent over the previous year. However, the percentage of women increased slightly, with those actively serving in the military rising to 17.5 percent in 2022 from 17.3 percent the year prior and those in the selected reserve increasing to 21.6 percent from 21.4 percent over the same period.

Smith said that integration and diversity are crucial for the Air Force’s development in fulfilling its service mission and addressing global challenges.

“A diverse and inclusive force brings together individuals with varied perspectives, skills and experiences, enhancing the overall effectiveness and adaptability of the military,” Smith said. “This diversity fosters innovation and problem-solving, essential in the dynamic and complex nature of modern military operations. An inclusive environment improves morale, teamwork, and unit cohesion, leading to a more resilient and capable force.”

Joining the U.S. Air Force was not Cpt. DéJayé Garner’s Plan A, but after 18 years of service, it has afforded her opportunities that she says brought out the best in her. 

“My military service has given me an opportunity to travel the world, it has taught me skills I never would’ve had otherwise,” Garner said. “It has provided me with a steady income to raise a thriving family and it has provided opportunities to learn and grow not only as a leader, but as an individual.” 

After dropping out of college in her sophomore year, Garner said that she knew she had to set a good example for her three younger siblings and do something meaningful with her life. She met with her local recruiter at 19 years old and, over the course of her career, “went from a medical career field, to a safety career field, to managing aircraft mechanics, from an enlisted Master Sergeant (E7) to now a Captain (O3E).”

“The Air Force recognizes the benefit the female Airmen bring to the table and wants to tap in on those talents and provide opportunities to grow and flourish as much as we can,” Garner said. “The cool thing is even after almost 18 years of service, I am still being challenged in a positive way and growing every day.”

Garner, 962nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, recently visited Walnut Ridge High School in Columbus, Ohio, to meet with girls from 9th-12th grades and discuss her experiences with the military and the career options that the military can provide. 

Kila Joseph, I Know I Can College/Career Advising Manager at Walnut Ridge High School, said the leadership event was important because it helped “debunk myths of women in the Air Force.”

“It exposed students to opportunities outside of what they typically see on TV,” Joseph said. “It gave students an alternative pathway after high school. They were excited to hear from someone with a similar background.”

The teamwork-focused leadership program facilitated by Ohio-based marketing firm DistrictWON engages students in a new way and allows Airmen to break through barriers and talk with students about their advancement potential within the military and what it could offer beyond graduation. 

“This is a great benefit for high school students because it highlights women in these fields that we typically do not see on a regular basis,” Joseph said. “We know that tech, military, construction, and more is mainly dominated by men and having this shows that women are doing it as well. This could lead them to be leaders in a field such as the Air Force [service], because they could see themselves in women that presented to them.”

Garner agreed that partnering with high schools is vital because it shows young women that soldiers can look like them.

“Coming out, talking to high school students and showing young ladies that they too can serve just like me helps counter this challenge because they are able to physically see me and ask me questions that maybe they would not want to ask a male currently serving in the military,” she said.

According to the 2022 Demographics Profile of the Military Community recently released by the U.S. Department of Defense, the number of service members in all military branches dropped by 2.7 percent over the previous year. However, the percentage of women increased slightly, with those actively serving in the military rising to 17.5 percent in 2022 from 17.3 percent the year prior and those in the selected reserve increasing to 21.6 percent from 21.4 percent over the same period.

“As a young female leader in the Air Force, it’s not very often I see women in high leadership positions,” Garner said. “This is not because women are not capable of reaching those positions, but rather we are often outnumbered by our male counterparts. As a female leader, I do not take for granted the opportunity I have to show young Airmen and ladies, they too can serve in my capacity. In my opinion, the Air Force recognizes the importance of representation and has made several attempts to break these barriers and place women in key leadership roles in recent years.”

For Cpt. Quin’Shay Perkins, serving in the U.S. Air Force has allowed her the opportunity to lead, learn, and foster change in the male-dominated institution, and now she’s using her career story to empower and encourage other young women to answer the call.

“I went to the Air Force Academy when I graduated high school because I was looking for an opportunity to better myself as an individual and have the opportunity to be a part of change,” Perkins said. “Personally, the military has given me opportunities that I wouldn’t have had if I stayed in a small town in Mississippi. It has allowed me to lead, to make decisions, and to develop discipline that I didn’t have growing up.”

Perkins, an RPA pilot with the U.S. Air Force, recently visited Legend High School in Parker, Colo., to talk to students about the benefits of serving in the U.S. military as a woman. 

“[Perkins] talked about the number of females in leadership and the importance of knowing what opportunities are available to them,” Legend High School Athletic Director Daniel Simington said. “By becoming knowledgeable about opportunities, kids can achieve their own personal greatness. Several girls were interested in how to apply to the Air Force Academy.”

Student athletes from the school’s female softball, cross country, track, basketball, swim, volleyball, and soccer teams participated in the leadership and team building sessions with the Air Force recruiter. Ohio-based marketing firm DistrictWON facilitates the program that connects the U.S. Air Force with local high schools.

The teamwork-focused program engages students in a new way and allows the U.S. Air Force to break through barriers and talk with students about their leadership potential within the military and what it could offer beyond graduation. 

“The girls were excited to hear about options they have through the Air Force, the Academy and leadership,” Simington said. “Girls shared about setting their goals high and the traits that separate great leaders.”

Critical and diverse thinking are necessary for problem-solving, Perkins said, and women in all fields of interest can bring with them unique perspectives needed to move forward, change social views of what gender norms and roles are, and be part of global and strategic policymaking. 

“Without integration and diversity, there is no challenge to the culture that has already been established,” Perkins said. “In the Air Force, every individual comes from a different walk of life to come together for one cause: to protect and defend the Constitution. The different problems that we must solve as a force are solved by the diverse mindsets that we all possess.”

Perkins acknowledged that there is still a “you can’t sit with us” problem that women face, but also feels that the possibility of change is within reach.

“It is our duty [as recruiters] to be the face for young women to believe, because all it takes is one spark of curiosity for one to believe that they are capable,” Perkins said. 

According to the 2022 Demographics Profile of the Military Community newly released by the U.S. Department of Defense, the number of service members in all military branches dropped by 2.7 percent over the previous year. However, the percentage of women increased slightly, with those actively serving in the military rising to 17.5 percent in 2022 from 17.3 percent the year prior and those in the selected reserve increasing to 21.6 percent from 21.4 percent over the same period.

Perkins would like to see the data on the number of women in the military continue rising.

“We must come together to teach and inspire our young women to go after their dreams,” Perkins said. “It’s OK to be the first, because that means we are making progress in a world that still tells us we can’t.”

 

For Allstate Insurance Agent Ryan Larson based in Provo, Utah, sponsoring Maple Mountain High School’s athletic department through a partnership facilitated by Ohio-based DistrictWON was a cost-effective opportunity to support students.

“Successful businesses in the area have a moral stewardship to give back to the next generation, and where they are found is in the public schools,” Larson said.

At the same time, Allstate Insurance aims to attract local customers through its advertising campaigns. In February, Larson was highlighted on Maple Mountain’s website and social media accounts, naming him the school’s “M.V.A. – Most Valuable Allstate Agent.”

“He has the protection game down, and we’re happy to have him as a fan and a sponsor of Maple Mountain High School. #AllstateGoodHandsdw,” the school tweeted along with a photo of Larson and his agency’s contact information.

David Boyack, athletic director at Maple Mountain High School located in Spanish Fork, Utah, said Larson’s contributions go a long way toward helping to fund the athletic department’s many needs.

“It was great to have the sponsorship and donations to our athletic department,” Boyack said. “Having the donation done in front of a large basketball crowd was awesome. Fans from two rival schools were able to see that local businesses are willing to get behind and support student-athletes.”

Larson, who has worked for Allstate for 24 years, moved near Maple Mountain High School with his family five years ago.

“It’s the school in the community where I live, and many of my clients, their families go to Maple Mountain, and we want to support that,” Larson said.

“I’m a big fan of athletics, having been a high school athlete myself, so athletics was the leading driver in terms of sponsorship [for Maple Mountain],” added Larson, who played football in high school.

Larson has received positive feedback about Allstate’s partnership with the school from neighbors and fellow church members who have attended Maple Mountain High School sports events.

“It’s brought a lot of goodwill in the community,” he said.

Rocky River, Ohio-based DistrictWON creates meaningful brand connections within local communities through marketing partnerships between businesses and high schools. For more information on how to reach high school students, parents and administrators in a way that truly makes a difference in the community, visit https://www.districtwon.com, https://www.facebook.com/districtwon, or follow https://twitter.com/districtwon on Twitter