Career Limitations for Women?

ski_addict29

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Hey! so I am hoping to go to an SA and will be applying to USNA, USCGA, USMA, and USAFA. I was wondering what career limitations there are for women after. At the moment I hope to go the med school route, but knowing that may not happen I was wondering what careers I couldn't have since I am a girl? I am interested in the Marines, Special Forces/Ops, etc. Is being a women going to prevent me from that type of career? Also any other info about this subject would be great.
Thanks! :smile:
 
also what are some common careers from each of the academies? I am definately into science and history/government. (not sure if that helps at all) lol
 
When I put on the "blue suit" in 1979...the "limitations" on women in ALL the services were HUGE!

NOW?

MUCH MUCH better...still some, let's not be unrealistic but they're quickly being whittled down.

I think folks like:

"Maggie" Woodward (one of my IP's in UPT)
http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=10749

Dana Born http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7839 (my classmate)

Michelle Johnson http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=8092
(knew her at USAFA)

Sue Desjardins http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=8061
(knew her at USAFA)

These are just a FEW of the women I've followed in my AF career and been wholly impressed by everything I've ever seen them do.

And they are DESTROYING barriers every day!

I can't speak for the other services...but I think you'll find they are ALL making great progress!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Hey! so I am hoping to go to an SA and will be applying to USNA, USCGA, USMA, and USAFA. I was wondering what career limitations there are for women after. At the moment I hope to go the med school route, but knowing that may not happen I was wondering what careers I couldn't have since I am a girl? I am interested in the Marines, Special Forces/Ops, etc. Is being a women going to prevent me from that type of career? Also any other info about this subject would be great.
Thanks! :smile:

Women can be Marines. Not all jobs are open to women, though.

Special Forces? No.

Special Operations? Yes, in a limited capacity. You can be in Civil Affairs or MISO (the old Psychological Operations). You can also be in a support role for other special operations units.
 
No MDs in the Coast Guard, and only a very very very small number of PAs. We use the USPHS. So if you want to go to medical school, don't go CGA.

The only limitation for women in the Coast Guard is berthing (no coed sleeping, so need to be on ships with even women or women only berthing). That's it though. Everything is open to them
 
Hey! so I am hoping to go to an SA and will be applying to USNA, USCGA, USMA, and USAFA. I was wondering what career limitations there are for women after. At the moment I hope to go the med school route, but knowing that may not happen I was wondering what careers I couldn't have since I am a girl? I am interested in the Marines, Special Forces/Ops, etc. Is being a women going to prevent me from that type of career? Also any other info about this subject would be great.
Thanks! :smile:

While I can understand why you want to see what the limitations on gender are, don't let that be the only factor in choosing what service academy you want to go to. Look at some other things. For instance, I started out applying to all five, but started to narrow things down.

USMMA...first ruled out because it didn't seem "military" enough for me. Plus, they didn't have any majors that I was interested in :thumbdown: I didn't even finish the application. Although kp2001 on here is a flight surgeon, so medical school is a possibility.

USMA....next one that I ruled out. USMA has a lot of tradition and history behind it, as well as being the most recognizable SA. But having the possibility of rucking it in the Infantry? :eek: I'll pass.

So that left USNA, USAFA, and USCGA. I would have gladly gone to any of these three, especially because I hope to become a pilot. All of them had the major that I wanted too. But something stuck out about the Coast Guard and USCGA...smaller Service, the people are given opportunities to lead earlier. And you get to perform your job daily, not just train for it.

Apply to all that you are interested, but be sure to look at other things besides gender :thumb:
 
I read in a book somewhere that the Delta Force allowed women in something called a "funny group" not sure if its true though I think I read it in a book written by the author of Black Hawk Down, could have even been that very book not sure though.

Oh year and there is also no telling what they do for that group, that is a given though.
 
I agree with ACA's advice.

flieger83 said:
When I put on the "blue suit"

Honestly, that is the perspective you need to follow. First and foremost you wear the uniform of that branch. Notice Flieger who is a flier did not say "when I put on the bag (flight suit)" he said the blue suit aka AF.

You serve the branch, and IF you are fortunate you will get your career goal. However, that is never a given, regardless of gender.

Reach for it, but don't bank on it. Every branch is unique, for the most part they are not interchangeable.

You don't know what doors will open for women, but you will know that you are tied to that branch from a time commitment prospective. Serve in the branch you want to serve in.

You know what they call an O2 Ranger or SWO or Pilot...LT!

You wear the uniform first.
 
I read in a book somewhere that the Delta Force allowed women in something called a "funny group" not sure if its true though I think I read it in a book written by the author of Black Hawk Down, could have even been that very book not sure though.

Oh year and there is also no telling what they do for that group, that is a given though.

They could be in support roles, or PsyOps, although I don’t know if that is in Delta Force.

If you want to be in the 4 most recognizable SOF (the combat related ones being PJ SF SEAL and Recon). The answer is no.
Nobody point out that there are other recognizable SOF but I wasn’t sure what other word to use.
 
They could be in support roles, or PsyOps, although I don’t know if that is in Delta Force.

If you want to be in the 4 most recognizable SOF (the combat related ones being PJ SF SEAL and Recon). The answer is no.
Nobody point out that there are other recognizable SOF but I wasn’t sure what other word to use.

I'm pretty sure that women can participate in the Navy's "Special Operations" field, which is things like Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/specialops.htm

Special Operations, the newest warfare community was approved by the Secretary of the Navy in July 1978 in recognition of a need for sustained, progressive, cost-effective and ready capability in four functional areas: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Mine Countermeasures (MCM), Operational Diving and Salvage (ODS), and Explosive Ordnance Management. Explosive Ordnance and diving provide the common base which assures compatibility of the four functional areas. Special Operations offers men and women an exciting career and command opportunity in a small specialized community.
 
I have another question pertaining to women in the military that has been bugging me for some time. At USMA, are all the combat branches closed to the women, or is it just the big three (Infantry, Armor, Artillery)?

Sorry to hijack the thread, hopefully this will be answered quickly:redface:
 
I have another question pertaining to women in the military that has been bugging me for some time. At USMA, are all the combat branches closed to the women, or is it just the big three (Infantry, Armor, Artillery)?

Sorry to hijack the thread, hopefully this will be answered quickly:redface:

Women are allowed to branch field artiller, air defense artillery, engineers, and aviation, all combat branches. Some MOS's withing those branches are off limites to women.
 
Women are allowed to branch field artiller, air defense artillery, engineers, and aviation, all combat branches. Some MOS's withing those branches are off limites to women.

One thing to point out is that slots for women in FA are very limited. If I recall, one girl from my class did it.
 
"GIRL". You have opened yourself up for unbelievable trash talk.:shake:
 
Ok thank you all so much for all the information. It definately isn't my reasoning for which SA i would prefer, but i know there are some limitations and I was just curious on what they are. I am definately keeping my options open and truly just want to serve our country.

thanks again!
 
If there is something you really want to do and are not allowed to because your a woman, you can always try anyways; maybe the rules will change by the time you get there. Just keep a back-up plan on hand anyways. You could always be the first!
 
If there is something you really want to do and are not allowed to because your a woman, you can always try anyways; maybe the rules will change by the time you get there. Just keep a back-up plan on hand anyways. You could always be the first!

This is very good advice. Things changed tremendously between the time I started active duty in 1976 and retired from the reserves in 1998. I saw things I never expected to see and got to do some things I never expected to do when I started.

As for the USN, assignment to submarines, Carrier Group Commander, and Commander of the Air Group are all things that became reality for women over the last year.
 
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