Females find success in careers traditionally held by men Published March 20, 2006 By Holly L. Birchfield 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- By night, Staff Sgt. Connie Rothlisberger likes to try her hand at a new recipe. But by day, she can be found rummaging through her toolbox. Sergeant Rothlisberger, a 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron C-130 crew chief, is like a wave of women passing up jobs typically seen as "women's work" for careers in areas traditionally held by men. The 31-year-old North Carolina native said her job is a physical one, and she loves it. "I've always been a tomboy," she said. "I like putting things together and tinkering with things." And that enjoyment drew the 5-foot, 4-inch Airman to the maintenance career field. "I always knew I'd be doing something like this," she said. "My dad had a construction company when I was growing up, so I always knew I'd work with my hands, whether it was mechanics or building houses." Most days she works eight-hour shifts pulling aircraft apart for repair and using cranes and other equipment to work on aircraft parts that can weigh up to 7,000 pounds. While some people may think the job is too much for Sergeant Rothlisberger, she's quick to prove them wrong. "I'm second-guessed every once in a while, for the simple fact that it's a man's career field for the most part," she said. "Sometimes, they'll take tools from me because they think they should be doing the job. But soon enough, they see I can handle it." Sergeant Rothlisberger said her crew is ready to offer a helping hand when needed. "I usually don't have a problem lifting things," she said. "But, if it's too heavy for me, I don't have a problem asking for help." Kristin Coleman, a 402nd Maintenance Wing aircraft electrician who works on F-15 aircraft wiring here, came to Robins through its COOP program and said although she holds true to her femininity, she fits in on the job. "Every now and then, strength comes into play," she said. "There are some clamps that are really hard to get on. But if that ever happens, I get help from one of my coworkers." What some women may lack in strength, they make up for with other attributes, like the ability to multi-task. Tech. Sgt. Audrey Honan, a 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft support assistant flight chief, ensures the squadron's equipment is ready at a moment's notice. "I'm pretty much a master orchestrator," she said. "I'm almost everywhere, and my hands are in everything. I'm like an octopus with her tentacles in everything to make sure everything is pushed and moved where it needs to be, so everyone gets what they need when they need it." But getting into the fields of their choice isn't always easy for some women, as Tech. Sgt. Kat Bailey, noncommissioned officer in charge at the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, learned first-hand when she joined the Army at 19. "When I first went to an Army recruiter, I took my test and had all my scores," she said. "They asked me what I wanted to do. Everything that interested me, like field artillery and combat arms, they said was male only. The Army's response back then was, 'Why don't you be a clerk? How about a nurse? We could make you a secretary." With perseverance, the then 120-pound, 5-foot, 2-inch soldier bucked tradition and became a truck driver. "Initially, there was a lot of shock that this little, tiny girl was in the field," she said. "I had to sit on a phone book, because I wasn't big enough to reach the pedals of my truck." The truck's lack of power steering meant the small-framed woman had a power struggle with the wheel as well. "If I had to turn a corner, I'd sit sideways in the seat and pull the wheel towards me," she said. "When you're a female, and you're as small as I was, you find a way to make a way." Sergeant Bailey said although some may have had reservations about her career choice and a few challenges that popped up along the way tested her determination, she always wanted to go into the service with both feet. "I really wanted to experience it all, and if that meant doing something very different, how cool would that be?" she said. "Years from now, I could tell my grandchildren, 'Hey, I was in a Special Forces unit, and it was the coolest thing ever. I got to blow up bridges.' How many women get to say that?" Sergeant Rothlisberger agreed. "If you're up for it, go for it," she said. "When you're the only female working with males, and you know you can do it, it's so much more fulfilling." Sergeant Honan said more women should take the opportunity to shine in career fields typically dominated by men. "I am a woman - and the Air Force says it's OK to be a woman in the Air Force," she said. "I'm going to be a woman who turns wrenches on a jet."