Women in the military

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Laura R. McFarlane
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Base members attended a brunch celebrating the 95th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, going into effect during Women’s Equality Day Aug. 26.

The brunch included a panel of female service members from each branch answering questions about their time in service.

Army 1st Sgt. Adriana A. Vargas, 344th Millitary Intelligence Battalion B Company first sergeant, was the first to respond to a question about how their career has been in the military.

"Difficult but not too hard. Being a junior enlisted soldier, you're not the one that has to give orders, you receive the orders and you move out," said Vargas.

The harder times came up as she moved up the ranks and begin giving the orders.

"That's when I started to get push back or questioning," added Vargas. “I had to prove myself a little bit more, earn my place and prove to them that I'm not going anywhere.”

Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne S. Bass, 17th Training Wing Command Chief, added how her experiences differed from Vargas’ even though she has spent most of her career in male dominated organizations.

"I've never felt slighted, I've never felt treated different,” said Bass. “I've felt like every organization and every job that I've been in is based off qualification and off of merit.”

Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Michelle L. O' Grady, Navy Center for Information Dominance Detachment senior enlisted advisor, has had similar situations to Bass with male dominated environments.

"I've always been welcomed, I've always been treated like a sister,” said O’Grady. “When I’m on the ship, I’m normally on a cruiser which is about a 330 person crew and there are about 30 females.”

When asked what strengths females bring to the military, Bass got a laugh out of the crowd with her answer.

“For the guys in here, you know we're always right," said Bass.

Each of the women joined for different reasons and the reactions of the family members varied from member to member.

O’Grady was in the kitchen when she told her parents.

“I told my mom I went to see the recruiter,” said O’Grady. “She was not happy. She looked at me and she said ‘my daughter will not wear combat boots’ and she walked out and my dad said ‘that sounds like a good plan.’”

O’Grady’s grandfather was a Navy chief and she wanted to carry on the tradition.

“He always had fond memories and he’s one of the greatest men I’ve ever known,” said O’Grady.

Marine Corps Sgt. Kentrena A. McMonigal, Marine Corps Detachment Goodfellow instructor, never had the military talk with her family so when she called, she told her mom that she had done something her mom might not like.

“I joined the military,” said McMonigal. “In the background, I heard my dad “it’d better been the Marine Corps.”

Her dad was in the Marine Corps.

“They’ve been excited,” said McMonigal. “I had to tell them not to wear my daughters a U.S. Marine shirt when we’re at Camp Lejeune [North Carolina]. Everyone’s daughter or son is a Marine here, you don’t need it.”

With a combination of over 60 years of service between the women, the discussion provided insight into the lives and service of women in the armed forces.