Marines Attend 28th Annual Women in Aviation Symposium

Photo By Sgt. Logan Block | Marines motivate and cheer on an attendee of the 2017 Women in Aviation International Symposium in Orlando, Fla., March 2, 2017. The symposium is scheduled from 2-4 March, and allows Marines to interact with young men and women interested in aviation career paths, and to teach them about the many programs the Marine Corps has to offer them.  

ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES

03.06.2017

Story by Sgt. Logan Block 

Marine Corps Recruiting Command           

Marine pilots had the opportunity to celebrate the history of female aviators by sharing their experiences at the 28th annual Women in Aviation symposium in Orlando, Florida, March 2-4, 2017.
“I wanted to become a pilot to help the Marines on the ground,” said Lt. Col. Jessica Owens, an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot. “Every Marine is a rifleman, and I wanted to help keep them safe.”
This was one of the many inspirational things Owens told attendees during a combat operations discussion panel, one of the week’s many events. The Marines also participated in a Networking 101 seminar, a Wake Up and Work Out with the Marines, Girls in Aviation Day, and finally, the closing banquet and Pioneer Hall of Fame Ceremony.
“I think it’s very beneficial to have the Marine Corps here,” said Peggy Chabrian, President and chairman of Women in Aviation International. “When a lot of people think about aviation, they immediately think of the airlines and they don’t think about the opportunities in the military as well.”
Among the Marine aviators in attendance was Col. Alison Thompson, a CH-53 Pilot, and the senior female active duty pilot in the United States Marine Corps.
“I think it is a phenomenal opportunity from my standpoint as a Marine aviator to be out here and give these young men and women information not only on what the Marine Corps is, but also Marine Corps aviation and leadership opportunities,” Thompson said.
The Marines were eager to share their stories and experiences with young men and women interested in flight, because the Marine Corps offers more than 100 different occupational specialties in aviation. They also offered some words of wisdom.
On a panel discussion during Girls in Aviation Day, Capt. Elizabeth Phillips, an MV-22 Osprey pilot, told young women that, “you should not want to stand out solely because you are a female. You should stand out because you work hard and set yourself above both men and women competing against you.”
For more information on Marine Corps aviation, or to learn how to become a Marine, visit www.marines.com.

• Date Taken: 03.06.2017
• Date Posted: 03.06.2017 09:17
• Story ID: 225794
• Location: ORLANDO, FL, US