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Show 10 June 10, 1993 Hilltop Times A F p re pares fo r wo m en fig hter pilots Aspin spells out policy that opened door for first woman to enter fighter lead-i- n 66 training. Air . the Air Force has been identifying those women aviators who pilots and navigators should be offered the opportunity to fly combat aircraft. ... by TSgt. Sarah Hood Force News Service WASHINGTON (AFNS) When the defense secretary took exception to a recommendation from the commission studying women in the military, he opened the door for the first Air Force woman to enter fighter lead-i- n training May 19. Second Lt. Jeannie M. Flynn was one of seven women initially identified as eligible to fly combat aircraft following the policy change. She chose the Lt. Gen. Billy J. Boles Air Force deputy chief of staff for personnel . F-15- E. J4 Unable to appear before the House subcommittee on military forces and personnel recently, Les Aspin submitted a letter outlining his April 28 decision to open combat aircraft to women. "Prior to making this decision, I conferred with General (Colin) Powell and the service chiefs," he said. "I also discussed the issues of women in combat with members of the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces, members of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services and many others. Their input is reflected in this new policy." Aspin has put together a committee to make sure changes are implemented. The committee will also review and make recommendations concerning parental and family policies, pregnancy and deploy-abilit-y policies, and the appropriateness of the Department of Defense risk rule. Immediately following Aspin's decision, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill A. McPeak asked all general officers and commanders to ensure everyone understood the new policy, and to implement the changes "promptly and professionally," said the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for personnel. "Since the secretary's decision, the Air Force has been identifying those women aviators pilots and who should be offered the opportunity navigators to fly combat aircraft," said Lt. Gen. Billy J. Boles. "Individuals volunteer when they enter the Air Force," Boles said in prepared testimony for the May 19 House hearing. "However, after they have signed on the dotted line, every man and woman is illy - committed to do the job for which they have been trained." The Air Force's gender-neutra- l assignment system is based on worldwide deployability of all members, and, just as with the men, women are expected to perform' their duties regardless of location or likelihood of danger, he said. "The secretary's decision reaffirms our commitment to selecting the best qualified individual for each military job and in equitable sharing of desirable and less desirable duties." But while almost 10,000 positions previously closed to women are now open, there are still some exceptions, meaning some positions related to ground combat duty are still closed. Those skills are being looked at to determine if . they can also be opened. Those that can will be, Boles said. In those skills that cannot be opened completely, the Air Force will open as many positions within the skill as possible, and identify those positions women cannot be assigned to because of direct ground combat or field billeting restrictions. . Initial pilot candidates instructor pilots and those in support aircraft who would have chosen a coipbat aircraft based on their undergraduate pilot training class standing have already been contacted concerning flying fighters. Those who want to fly combat aircraft and are recommended by their commanders are being scheduled for training. A similar process is under way to Give 'em the gun 2nd Lt. Jeannie Flynn poses in front of a 8 Talon aircraft parked on a windy tarmac at Randolph AFB, Texas. Flynn is one of seven female pilots selected to attend fighterbomber lead-i- n training following a landmark decision to repeal the ban barring women from combat aircraft. The change in policy was announced by Defense Secretary Les Aspin April 28. Flynn, currently assigned to Randolph, began lead-i- training in May and will follow up with Eagle training. T-3- n E identify women navigators who could fly combat aircraft. Women pilots and navigators already flying other weapons systems, such as airlift, tanker and reconnaissance, can now compete for cross-flotraining into combat aircraft on a gender-neutrbasis along with their male counterparts. w al Hllllllllllliiiimiiiiiiii.iii....... iiimninimHljn royt ftS&'M v i OK E i T;r YlTHO i r M S 0 V;S-X nn n LOANS ,4 L0Ass l 6j June 26 Rice Stadium - Salt Lake City Tour The Pits Enjoy the FREE Motorsports Expo Custom Truck Show Watch Practice & Qualifying Gates Open Meet the Racers at the FREE Autograph Session Watch Opening Ceremonies 1:00-5:0- bMITH-TI- Information & 1:00-6:0- 0 1:00-3:0- 0 X CHARGE BV PHONE (801) 467-599- r 7:00 Pnducdb kh9Y Thompson Entertainment Group con 1 UtsmWkuH YAMAHA MM. BOSCH tlHSSZ good?year Military Guaranteed ! with Licensed by the State of Utah GENTRY i H 314 Washington Blvd., Ogden 1 394-111- 0 BUYirslG? SELLING? rfsri CHECK OUT THE CLASS FOE OSS ftp B TO ADVERTISE: Ogdon, 394-965-5; SLC, m 6 months or more on Post W.A.C. 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