Fort Jackson celebrated how women helped make America great with a luncheon March 18 at the NCO Club on post.
The luncheon sponsored by the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School, themed Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government, highlighted how women have contributed to America's strength.
"Personally I have been blessed by strong, wonderful women from birth to marriage to fatherhood of my two great daughters, but especially I am surrounded by dynamically professional women every day," said Chaplain (Col.) Peter Sniffin, USACHCS commandant during the event.
He lauded the leadership roles women hold every day while highlighting the women of the Midlands.
"Columbia is a city full of great women," he said. There is the Moore School of Business named after "one of the foremost business executives in our nation, Darla Moore," South Carolina governor "Nikki Haley -- a woman who has tremendously and graciously led this state through a tremendous challenge in the last year" and "15 of my favorite women" on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team."
"I am honored to be surrounded by them and honored to host an even to honor them today," he concluded.
The event was attended by Service members and civilians from all branches of the Armed Forces, the Blythewood High School Junior ROTC, and Crystal Stevens, a Columbia, South Carolina firefighter, while Judi Gatson, WIS-TV anchor was the guest speaker.
Stephens shared how she was told she'd never be a firefighter because "you're too small, you're not strong enough, you'll never have enough upper body strength," but she persevered and became a first responder nonetheless.
"There will always be someone out there who want to put you down," she said. "My advice to any woman who has to face that kind of adversity is to stand up for yourself and prove them wrong. Show them you are not defined by your gender."
Also during the luncheon Gatson, gave a humorous speech about the role women play in America.
The Army has made significant gains in equality over the past year as female Soldiers graduated from Ranger School, the Department of Defense opened all military occupational specialties to women and the first black female Army surgeon general was selected.
Women Soldiers have served in about every kind of role imaginable within the military, a legacy to inspire future women Soldiers. Army leaders across the department continue to set the conditions for all Soldiers to reach their full potential, and assign tasks and jobs throughout the force based on ability, not gender. For the first time in history, the U.S. Army has fully integrated women into all military positions, which makes the U.S. armed forces better and stronger.
Sidebar:
Women hold an important role in keeping America strong besides being allowed to fill all combat roles in the military, :
32 Presidential cabinet positions
Nearly 300 congresswomen since 1917
4,711 sitting judges across the U.S.
219 police chiefs
19 percent of FBI employees
Nearly 13 percent of law enforcement officers
165,000 serving in the military
3 Ranger-qualified Soldiers
West Point commandant
69 generals and admirals
1 Medal of Honor; 2 Silver Stars
2.4 million Registered Nurses
Over 11,000 firefighters
Nearly 160 fire chiefs
98 firefighters died serving
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