Female weapons manager earns chief master sgt.

Chief Master Sgt, Anne Rice removes a BDU-33 bomb block during arming procedures at an end of runway check.


Female weapons manager earns chief master sgt.
Staff report
Posted : Friday Oct 12, 2007 16:37:37 EDT

Respect doesn’t come with a prerequisite pertaining to gender.

Proving this recently was Chief Master Sgt. Anne Rice, weapons manager for the 181st Fighter Wing Weapons Manager in Terre Haute, Ind.

Rice became the first female weapons manager to earn the rank of chief master sergeant, not just in the 181st, or the Air National Guard — but in the entire Air Force.

“This is definitely a predominately male career field, and I really hope this helps other females realize they can do whatever they set themselves out to do no matter what career field they are in,” Rice said. “But it’s not about gender, it’s about doing your job the best you can and loving what you do.”

Rice joined the Air Force 29 years ago, and when she enlisted, all she wanted to do was be a mechanic. Rice chose nuclear missiles.

Spending her first six years in the missile silos at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Rice was the only woman in her shop. She climbed the silos, turned wrenches and got her hands just as dirty as the next airman — earning respect from her peers.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/10/airforce_munitions_chief_071012/