Wing highlights women's contributions to ISAF mission

Published March 17, 2012
By Capt. Passion Julinsey
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Women at Kandahar Airfield and all over the world gathered March 8 to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future.

Royal Australian air force Sgt. Geoffrey Bell opened up the ceremony by offering history of how the event came to be celebrated globally. In 1909, the first National Woman's Day was observed across the United States and two years later it became an international event. International Women's Day is now an official holiday in more than 15 countries, including Afghanistan.

The United Nations theme for IWD this year is "Connecting Girls, Inspiring Future." Highlighted at the ceremony were the contributions female service members and civilian employees made to the International Security Assistance Force mission. Among the four keynote speakers were two women from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing.

Airman 1st Class Estrella Washington, the only female MQ-9 Reaper avionics specialist at Kandahar Airfield, joined the U.S. Air Force in 2010. She is assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and ensures all Reaper sorties are prepared to launch and are fully weapons deployable at all times. She has enabled over 125 combat sorties and is saving ISAF troops one sortie at a time.

In her speech, Washington thanked Esther Blake, the first woman in the U.S. Air Force, for paving the way to her success.

"She enlisted on the first minute of the first hour of the first day regular Air Force duty was authorized for women, July 8, 1948," said Washington. "To me, this means that she was waiting there, ready to serve and ready to fight."

Capt. Erin Biggers, senior intelligence officer for the wing, recounts how her deployment to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in the summer of 2010 showed her what true sacrifices for the mission looks like.

"I was the only female on the ops side of the house, in charge of running the tactical operations center, taking all radio calls, and generally trying to steer our birds from the bad guys," said Biggers.

"It was this deployment that showed me what deep professional admiration and respect feels like and what true sacrifice to the mission looks like."

"When the mission is always the first thing on your mind, that's when you walk into every room with a voice that matters and with one that directly affects the battlefield."

Other highlighted wing members were Airman 1st Class Jenalyn Camp, weapons loader; Staff Sgt. Alisha Seeley, F-16 Fighting Falcon life support specialist, and Master Sgt. Jennifer Drehobl, intelligence flight NCO in charge.

Camp, while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan from October 2011 to February 2012, earned the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing F-16 Aircraft Maintenance Unit Outstanding Achievement Award.

Here at Kandahar Airfield, she continues to load countless aircraft for combat missions, all without a safety violation or technical data violation.

Seeley, also previously deployed to Bagram Airfield, has volunteered for three deployments in four years in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

While at Bagram Airfield, she donated blood platelets 12 times. Here at Kandahar Airfield, she makes blood platelet donations weekly. She has also recruited other F-16 unit members to save lives by donating platelets.

Drehobl, on her fourth deployment, provides direct intelligence support to nine operational flying squadrons including four geographically separated units. She has contributed to the successful execution of over 8,600 combat missions and Kandahar Airfield defense with over 350 current intelligence products.

Brig. Gen. Scott Dennis, commander of Kandahar Airfield and the 451st AEW, presented the women with coins and thanked them for their dedication and service to the ISAF mission.

Dennis also noted a special occasion over the skies of Afghanistan at the very same moment as the ceremony. The second all-female MC-12W crew for the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron was airborne together on an Operation Enduring Freedom combat mission.

The crew consisted of Maj. Sharon Rohde, mission commander; Royal Australian air force Flt. Lt. Carlene Heise, pilot; Senior Airman Heather Eichbrecht, sensor operator; and Staff Sgt. Stephanie Wiggins, cryptological operator.

"The MC-12W is a $22.5M highly modified tactical Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft that plays a critical role in removing high-value individuals from the battlefield," said Lt. Col. James Sweeney, commander of the 361st ERS.

About all ISAF women serving in Afghanistan, said Dennis, "You serve with distinction, honor and valor. You now carry inspiration for the next generation. Continue to carry the flag for the future generations of women in Afghanistan."

High flyin' flag