Photo By Kendall James | Brig. Gen. Louis W. Wilham, assistant adjutant general for Oklahoma, re-affirms the...... read more read more
Subscribe
The Oklahoma Army National Guard made history by pinning its first female general officer, Brig. Gen. Cynthia K. Tinkham, during a pinning ceremony at the Oklahoma State Capitol Wednesday.
“In our organization they can look around and see a female role model in just about every career field, and they can see a female leader at every rank... so that’s huge,” Tinkham said. “This is a significant milestone. Not for me personally, but for our organization and those who will follow me.”
Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson, adjutant general for Oklahoma, said in his 35-year career, he has seen how integral female service members are to the nation’s defense.
“Today is a big day for us and I think it is long overdue; we have the opportunity to promote a female and I’m so happy it is Cynthia Tinkham,” Thompson said. “You are exactly the type of person we want leading our Soldiers, influencing the next generation of Soldiers, influencing women that you can be a general officer in today’s military.”
Tinkham, a native of Blanchard, Oklahoma, joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1989 after visiting a recruiter’s office with a friend. She said she was attracted to the service, adventure and the challenge the military offered.
“In 1989, the motto for the Army was, ‘Be all you can be,’ and I love that motto, I think that really attracted me to the Army,” Tinkham said. “But at the time for females, it was, ‘be all you can be, but you can’t be this and you can’t be that, and oh yeah, you can’t be that either.’
“The only thing I would say is that if I was joining today verses 1989, I might have done something differently just because I would have had the opportunity that I didn’t have back then, like be a Blackhawk pilot or F-16 pilot or combat medic,” Tinkham continued. “Those things I didn’t think about doing because I couldn’t back then.”
Since commissioning as a second lieutenant in 1991, Tinkham has witnessed many barriers broken by females across the military, to include females taking jobs in combat arms. She said that great things are bound to happen when opportunities are expanded for all.
“When I joined in 1989, I didn’t set out to be a general officer,” Tinkham said. “I didn’t set out to be anything. I just wanted to serve and be in the Army. For me, it was always about doing a good job first."
“There are females out there who can do these things and they shouldn’t be held back. They should be able to try just like anybody else,” Tinkham added. “I don’t like to see anybody limited from pursuing a dream or something they want to do. If they think they can be an infantryman and they want to put in the hard work to preparing themselves physically and mentally, then they should have that opportunity and seek it.”
Prior to becoming a general officer, Tinkham was the only female colonel in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. She said that her career path has not been more difficult than anybody else’s, but that for any female, a career in the military is different than for their male counterparts.
“We are usually, often times throughout our career, either the first female in some position or role, or we are the only female in that position or role, and a lot of times for a very long time,” Tinkham said. “It can be lonely because you feel different. You’re looked at like you’re some exotic creature. I know we still encounter gender biases, and it’s not conscious all the time.”
Despite the unique set of challenges females in the military face, Tinkham encourages all female service members to be a trailblazer and rely on role models and mentors, both male and female, as their careers develop and grow.
“Don’t be hesitant, and don’t apologize for wanting to pursue opportunities that maybe some people think aren’t traditional for women to pursue in the military,” Tinkham added. “I think you just have to have confidence in yourself and know that there are a lot of people out there to support you. Just be strong and always know you own abilities and what you can do."
“I am so proud to be a member of the Oklahoma National Guard and I always will be,” Tinkham continued. “I want to continue to work and to make our organization a place that when people join, they know and they are confident they will be treated with dignity and respect, and that they will be given every opportunity to pursue their goals, and to contribute to this organization and its mission.”
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2019 10:57 |
| Story ID: | 308035 |
| Location: | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Oklahoma Army National Guard promotes first female general officer, by SSG Brian Schroeder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT