A Woman in Combat
Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:21 pm
Cool story. Reposted with written permission from Aero-News Network, www.aero-news.net
WAI 2009 Profile: A Woman in Combat
Tue, 03 Mar '09
Lt. Col. Jacqui Marty
By Gina Doughty
Jacqui Marty looks like an ordinary woman.
At least, she looks as ordinary as anyone can, wearing a well-worn flight suit with a Lieutenant Colonel's insignia, sitting on a panel with four other women telling "Stories from the War Front." A combat-experienced Air Force pilot who can claim to have traveled to every State and a dozen foreign countries, she's got a few stories to share.
"We were scared and excited," she says bluntly, describing the sleepless night her crew spent before a sortie over Kosovo. She describes her emotions with the same factual simplicity that she describes her aircraft.
But even on the front lines she found moments of levity. In the air her copilot--another female Air Force pilot on her first combat mission--exclaimed excitedly that there must be a celebration going on below. "She said, 'Look, they're shooting off fireworks!'" Marty says with a small laugh. "I told her, 'Uh, that's not fireworks. They are actually shooting at us." She is quick to reassure, "We were high enough it wasn't a factor."
She adds thoughtfully, "But is sure was something to see."
Marty recounts another story of being stranded in Thailand after a hydraulic failure on her KC-10. After several days and many phone calls to coordinate the arrival of parts and personnel to effect repairs, she caught the attention of the staff at the hotel. When asked, the Thai member of Marty's crew attempted explain that she was the commanding officer, in charge of a nine-person crew--which happened to be all male. Marty said "She understood the words, but couldn't grasp the concept of a woman in charge." After an extensive explanation, Marty's crew member eventually got the message across.
"Suddenly it was like the Red Sea parting when I walked into a room. They bowed and smiled [when they greeted me]. I went to my room and there was a huge fruit basket. It was very nice, but I thought it was a little late for a welcome basket," she recalls. "When I found out what had happened, you can bet I took advantage of that as often as I could!" She says with a laugh.
For U.S. military personnel stationed in the UAE, movement is extremely limited. Marty recalls being limited to only certain areas on base, and required to go nearly everywhere in pairs. "But after spending that much time together, you needed some alone time," she admits. To get a moment of solitude, she went for a jog around the free-movement area of the base. On the way, she encountered a local woman supervising her children as they played in the yard. Stopping to pick up a ball that rolled away from the children, she chanced to make eye contact with the woman.
No words passed between them, as regulations prohibited interaction, and the language barrier stood impentrable, regardless. But as the women stood looking at each other--one wearing standard workout clothes for an American woman, the other in the traditional black Abaya, her face and body entirely concealed except for her eyes--Marty said she felt a deep connection between them.
"She looked at me with envy...and what I think was this powerful longing."
Able to pursue a career, given recognition and status equal to that of men, allowed the same opportunities, Marty expresses empathy for women denied such things. She struggles to find the words, and emotion fogs her voice as she continues, "It was then that I realized... how lucky I am to be an American woman, with the rights and freedoms we have... I'm very grateful."
FMI: www.march.afrc.af.mil/
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Robbie
WAI 2009 Profile: A Woman in Combat
Tue, 03 Mar '09
Lt. Col. Jacqui Marty
By Gina Doughty
Jacqui Marty looks like an ordinary woman.
At least, she looks as ordinary as anyone can, wearing a well-worn flight suit with a Lieutenant Colonel's insignia, sitting on a panel with four other women telling "Stories from the War Front." A combat-experienced Air Force pilot who can claim to have traveled to every State and a dozen foreign countries, she's got a few stories to share.
"We were scared and excited," she says bluntly, describing the sleepless night her crew spent before a sortie over Kosovo. She describes her emotions with the same factual simplicity that she describes her aircraft.
But even on the front lines she found moments of levity. In the air her copilot--another female Air Force pilot on her first combat mission--exclaimed excitedly that there must be a celebration going on below. "She said, 'Look, they're shooting off fireworks!'" Marty says with a small laugh. "I told her, 'Uh, that's not fireworks. They are actually shooting at us." She is quick to reassure, "We were high enough it wasn't a factor."
She adds thoughtfully, "But is sure was something to see."
Marty recounts another story of being stranded in Thailand after a hydraulic failure on her KC-10. After several days and many phone calls to coordinate the arrival of parts and personnel to effect repairs, she caught the attention of the staff at the hotel. When asked, the Thai member of Marty's crew attempted explain that she was the commanding officer, in charge of a nine-person crew--which happened to be all male. Marty said "She understood the words, but couldn't grasp the concept of a woman in charge." After an extensive explanation, Marty's crew member eventually got the message across.
"Suddenly it was like the Red Sea parting when I walked into a room. They bowed and smiled [when they greeted me]. I went to my room and there was a huge fruit basket. It was very nice, but I thought it was a little late for a welcome basket," she recalls. "When I found out what had happened, you can bet I took advantage of that as often as I could!" She says with a laugh.
For U.S. military personnel stationed in the UAE, movement is extremely limited. Marty recalls being limited to only certain areas on base, and required to go nearly everywhere in pairs. "But after spending that much time together, you needed some alone time," she admits. To get a moment of solitude, she went for a jog around the free-movement area of the base. On the way, she encountered a local woman supervising her children as they played in the yard. Stopping to pick up a ball that rolled away from the children, she chanced to make eye contact with the woman.
No words passed between them, as regulations prohibited interaction, and the language barrier stood impentrable, regardless. But as the women stood looking at each other--one wearing standard workout clothes for an American woman, the other in the traditional black Abaya, her face and body entirely concealed except for her eyes--Marty said she felt a deep connection between them.
"She looked at me with envy...and what I think was this powerful longing."
Able to pursue a career, given recognition and status equal to that of men, allowed the same opportunities, Marty expresses empathy for women denied such things. She struggles to find the words, and emotion fogs her voice as she continues, "It was then that I realized... how lucky I am to be an American woman, with the rights and freedoms we have... I'm very grateful."
FMI: www.march.afrc.af.mil/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robbie
Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:53 pm
Thanks for sharing, interesting article. At Fantasy of Flight at the end of the month they are doing a Living History presentation on the WASPs, real ground breakers.
Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:07 pm
What's the point of that story?
Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:20 pm
It's called a human interest story, Randy. They find someone with an interesting point of view or experience and interview them. Don't be alarmed if you are never chosen as the subject of one. I believe there is a requirement of a pulse involved. 
Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:32 pm
Sorry Mr. Boots, but I'm with Randy on this one. You may have found something interesting in that "human interest" story but I thought that it was mundane and of little interest.
If you would like to read about a far more remarkable woman who lived an incredible life under far more extraordinary and dangerous circumstances then pick up a copy of "West With the Night" by Beryl Markham. She lived her life at the pointy end of the spear and was a most amazing and *interesting* woman.
If you would like to read about a far more remarkable woman who lived an incredible life under far more extraordinary and dangerous circumstances then pick up a copy of "West With the Night" by Beryl Markham. She lived her life at the pointy end of the spear and was a most amazing and *interesting* woman.
Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:48 pm
Sorry Mr. Corsair, but I'm with Mr. Boots on this one, even though you are very correct in your assumption that this story is mundane and of little interest (to men), it actually does merrit interest if you happen to be a women. And believe it or not, their are women who are members of this wonderful website ... 
Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:02 am
Well Mr. Cat, I'm pleased to meet you. Um, I don't suppose that you read my second paragraph in which I pointed out the life story of a FEMALE aviator (amongst other things) whose life was truly interesting beyond an everyday occurence kind of thing. Know what I mean, Vern?
Mundane
Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:18 am
Randy,I like your style.
Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:46 am
Seriously, guys. I don't see what is newsworthy about that.
I don't have any he-man-woman-hating agenda here -- I have flown with women since the first day I sat in the cockpit of a USAF aircraft. I don't have any issues with females in the military, in the cockpit, whatever. Gender is simply a non-issue.
That's what makes a story like this...well, annoying for one. It's a non-story. There is simply nothing unique about a female USAF pilot anymore. Perhaps in 1993 when Jeannie Flynn was the first USAF fighter pilot...but that was FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. The annoying part is that people keep making it into an issue.
How much longer do we have to keep thinking this is unique?
So, back to the story itself. Is there even a story in there? Let's review the highlights:
- Back in the late 90s -- two decades after the first females went to USAF pilot training in 1976 -- she was in a KC-10 and saw AAA being shot.
- At an unknown time, she went to Thailand and they were surprised that a female was in charge of a military crew.
- At an unkonwn time, she was in a Middle Eastern country and had more rights than the locals.
So, somebody please tell me why this is news, why this is notable.
I don't have any he-man-woman-hating agenda here -- I have flown with women since the first day I sat in the cockpit of a USAF aircraft. I don't have any issues with females in the military, in the cockpit, whatever. Gender is simply a non-issue.
That's what makes a story like this...well, annoying for one. It's a non-story. There is simply nothing unique about a female USAF pilot anymore. Perhaps in 1993 when Jeannie Flynn was the first USAF fighter pilot...but that was FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. The annoying part is that people keep making it into an issue.
How much longer do we have to keep thinking this is unique?
So, back to the story itself. Is there even a story in there? Let's review the highlights:
- Back in the late 90s -- two decades after the first females went to USAF pilot training in 1976 -- she was in a KC-10 and saw AAA being shot.
- At an unknown time, she went to Thailand and they were surprised that a female was in charge of a military crew.
- At an unkonwn time, she was in a Middle Eastern country and had more rights than the locals.
So, somebody please tell me why this is news, why this is notable.
Last edited by Randy Haskin on Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:48 am
I'm not sure I dislike the subject, but the writer left a lot to be desired. I was just poking Randy's ribs for the sake of poking Randy's ribs. I do think it would have been an interesting interview had it not read so disjointedly.
I also like this: and feel I should begin using it much more often. Maybe I shoudl start using it to identify my replies to Eric Downing.
Randy, I think the general public isn't quite as aware as you that we let girls behind the controls of those big throbbing weapons of war *coughs* To you it's sort of old hat. To most of us here on the forum it's a known quantity. But if you at the number of times women combat pilots come up here on WIX, you can see that it isn't exactly on the front burner. I'm not saying it should be an issue, just that the public at large might still find it intriguing. And the interview was mostly (I think) a fluff piece about an American woman's perspective. And one which has only fairly recently been opened to women. The first woman in combat--who was actually sent into combat to fight, as opposed to sucked in or sneaking in--in the US forces was Capt Bray in Panama. She led an MP platoon into a fight at the Commandancia I think. Been a while for me. But it's still a relatively new phenomenon outside Israel.
I also like this:
and feel I should begin using it much more often. Maybe I shoudl start using it to identify my replies to Eric Downing.
Randy, I think the general public isn't quite as aware as you that we let girls behind the controls of those big throbbing weapons of war *coughs* To you it's sort of old hat. To most of us here on the forum it's a known quantity. But if you at the number of times women combat pilots come up here on WIX, you can see that it isn't exactly on the front burner. I'm not saying it should be an issue, just that the public at large might still find it intriguing. And the interview was mostly (I think) a fluff piece about an American woman's perspective. And one which has only fairly recently been opened to women. The first woman in combat--who was actually sent into combat to fight, as opposed to sucked in or sneaking in--in the US forces was Capt Bray in Panama. She led an MP platoon into a fight at the Commandancia I think. Been a while for me. But it's still a relatively new phenomenon outside Israel.
Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:57 am
I once had a Col. tell me he thought there was no place for women as pilots in the AF because
A) they were women
b) they get pregnant
lucky for him he had the stripes on his shoulder or I would've given him my opinion in a non political correct manner! Strangely his ride went U/S a few hours later. Bad karma I guess
A) they were women
b) they get pregnant
lucky for him he had the stripes on his shoulder or I would've given him my opinion in a non political correct manner! Strangely his ride went U/S a few hours later. Bad karma I guess
Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:44 am
Wow, I did not mean to start a poop storm. I saw it as a human interest story taken during the Women In Aviation International convention, held here in Atlanta. I admit, it left a lot to be desired. I do have to agree with Randy, the story was kinda hollow. Next time I will read something a couple times before I request permission, & post it. I ain't been right since I got got crap knocked out of me two weeks ago by lightening.
Robbie
Robbie
Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:06 am
... I wonder if any of the female aces from WWII are still alive. I am sure there is a story in there somewhere...
Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:55 pm
If she was flying an F-14 it would be a great story.
Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:01 pm
corsairman wrote:Well Mr. Cat, I'm pleased to meet you. Um, I don't suppose that you read my second paragraph in which I pointed out the life story of a FEMALE aviator (amongst other things) whose life was truly interesting beyond an everyday occurence kind of thing. Know what I mean, Vern?
Mr. C I saw it and I have no problem at all. I'm still with Mr. Boots ... just poking fun, I should have stated such in my first post, No problem here Mr. C .... pleasure to meet you ...
Chicks in planes .... Planes & Chicks .... sounds fun to me ...