New Changes Bring New Opportunities for Women at Dyess AFB
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: January 25, 2013
Capt. Laura Hunstock is used to suiting up for combat.
She's been doing it for seven years now as a weapons system officer for the Air Force.
She does it all from the air, it's a different story for women serving in ground combat.
"By opening these slots to women they might find some better qualified individuals or people that have a knack for these kind of things," said Hunstock.
Even though they're just now allowed to be officially assigned for this:
"It's happening already," said Capt. Alisha Mason who serves for the 7th security forces squadron at Dyess Air Force Base.
It's not anything new her.
"The lines are skewed today," she said, "women are having to drive convoys, I have female canine handlers who are out with army units."
She's already served in Afghanistan several times and knows first hand some of the challenges women face.
"Long days, heavy gear if you're not used to wearing it," she said.
She believes the new changes for women serving in the military are than just physical.
"I think it's going to have to be a mindset change," she said.
There will be one change for her.
The way she looks at this picture of the first six women in her division.
"It's absolutely amazing, you know this career field wasn't always open for women either," said Mason.
Now there may be more photographs like this one hanging at the seven new divisions open to women there.
The U.S. secretary of defense eliminated a ban set in 1994 for women to be assigned to ground combat.
According to representatives at Dyess Air Force Base, the change will open seven new jobs for women who serve at the Air Force.
They tell us the changes should be fully implemented at Dyess by Feb. 2015.
