1 00:00:03,370 --> 00:00:06,490 I am an american airman . I am a 2 00:00:06,490 --> 00:00:09,040 warrior . I have answered my nation's 3 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:12,830 call Well I am a boy Mom . I have three 4 00:00:12,830 --> 00:00:16,220 boys and I need them to understand that 5 00:00:16,220 --> 00:00:19,440 my voice is just as powerful as their 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,200 dad's voices . That I can make just as 7 00:00:22,210 --> 00:00:24,400 much of an impact in this world as 8 00:00:24,410 --> 00:00:26,350 their dad can . I want the next 9 00:00:26,350 --> 00:00:29,520 generation of women , the you know , 10 00:00:29,530 --> 00:00:31,641 high school aged girls right now that 11 00:00:31,641 --> 00:00:34,850 can see solid female leaders and get 12 00:00:34,850 --> 00:00:36,906 into this career field because right 13 00:00:36,906 --> 00:00:38,961 now there is a bit of a gulf between 14 00:00:38,961 --> 00:00:41,072 the number of senior leaders that are 15 00:00:41,072 --> 00:00:43,183 men as opposed to women . And I think 16 00:00:43,183 --> 00:00:45,406 that number even evens out a bit more . 17 00:00:45,406 --> 00:00:45,070 We're just gonna have a bigger pool of 18 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:46,858 younger females coming into the 19 00:00:46,858 --> 00:00:49,080 military and that gives us more to draw 20 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,024 and that's always been my goal . I 21 00:00:51,024 --> 00:00:52,747 think that all women should be 22 00:00:52,747 --> 00:00:54,913 empowered to make decisions that allow 23 00:00:54,913 --> 00:00:57,080 them to grow and ultimately become the 24 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,080 best version of themselves . I am a 25 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:02,820 very voice fel person . So I have 26 00:01:02,820 --> 00:01:05,970 always believed that my voice was just 27 00:01:05,980 --> 00:01:09,930 as impactful , just as relevant as 28 00:01:09,930 --> 00:01:11,930 anyone else's in the room no matter 29 00:01:11,930 --> 00:01:14,920 what my rank was or if I was the only 30 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,142 female or the only one that looked like 31 00:01:17,142 --> 00:01:19,253 me in the wrong time and time again , 32 00:01:19,253 --> 00:01:21,420 I've run into people that are the best 33 00:01:21,420 --> 00:01:23,642 in their field and a lot of times those 34 00:01:23,642 --> 00:01:26,200 are females speak your truth , be 35 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,040 yourself , be unapologetic , in who you 36 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,230 are , define who you are for 37 00:01:33,230 --> 00:01:36,630 yourself . Don't let others determine 38 00:01:37,330 --> 00:01:40,850 what you are and who you are and what 39 00:01:40,850 --> 00:01:42,850 you stand for . Your character will 40 00:01:42,850 --> 00:01:45,820 speak values for you , operational 41 00:01:45,820 --> 00:01:47,820 readiness , the quality of the work 42 00:01:47,820 --> 00:01:49,820 force . I think we get that through 43 00:01:49,820 --> 00:01:51,931 having access to more people . Like I 44 00:01:51,931 --> 00:01:54,264 said , regardless of gender orientation , 45 00:01:54,264 --> 00:01:56,431 race . Any of those factors . When you 46 00:01:56,431 --> 00:01:58,840 initially joined the Air Force , you 47 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,640 feel small , you feel like you don't 48 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:03,800 matter , you feel like you're just a 49 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,850 number . But once you become 50 00:02:05,850 --> 00:02:07,906 operational , once you get your feet 51 00:02:07,906 --> 00:02:10,070 wet , once you get down and into the 52 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,680 fight , you understand that you are 53 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,040 important . You are an asset , they 54 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,420 need you . It wouldn't be an Air Force 55 00:02:17,430 --> 00:02:18,460 if it wasn't for you .