JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- "Women have been performing in every combat mission; we owe it to them to have gear that fits," said then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein in March 2018.
A year later, the idea of redesigning better-fitted uniforms and gear was launched within the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center. During a female fitment event, officials took their measurements for uniforms, helmets, and masks. Once data was gathered, the Air Force started making new gear and flight suits appropriate for females.
Recently, staff members from the 3rd Wing procured two-piece flight suit uniforms for their female pilots.
"With the purchase of these uniforms, the 3rd WG and group leadership showed its female Airmen they are listening to their needs and willing to make changes that make sense," said Air Force Capt. Jillian Cadieux, 3rd Operations Group executive officer. "Leadership solicited female input on sizing samples so the rest of the female aviators could try them on."
Traditionally, many female aviators had to wear uniforms made to their male colleagues' measurements and specifications. Before the flight suits’ arrival, all the females assigned to the wing were wearing male uniforms.
Women are built differently than men, echoed Senior Airman Sarah Morris, 3rd OG chief executive assistant. "In the civilian world, clothes are made differently from men's, so why can't we have uniforms we wear every day made different? Our female aviators fly extremely long missions, and being comfortable and mobile is vital for mission success."
However, both Cadieux and Morris did face a few hiccups getting the new flight suits. Shipping delays and missing a few uniform set elements were some of the hurdles they faced.
"Often, acquiring new uniforms is a slow process as a female flyer; the chances of appropriate sizes being available without a special order is rare," Cadieux said. "It's frustrating to feel like a burden because of the extra work it takes to find uniforms that fit."
Still, Cadieux, an Atkinson, New Hampshire, native, said she appreciates everyone's patience, knowing some females have complete uniform sets while others are still waiting on a top or bottom.
"Since [the manufacturer] has had manning problems due to COVID-19, they've been sending things extremely slowly and in separate orders, making it harder to know what each person is missing," Morris said. "After we receive a majority of the uniforms, we separate them by size, and notify Airmen that their gear is ready for pick up."
Morris noticed the morale of their female colleagues has skyrocketed. The Nashville native recalled hearing women trying the new uniform making positive comments on how well it fits.
"I wish we could've captured the smiles on their faces as they tried the uniform on," Morris recounted.
The next step is to get honest feedback from the women wearing the complete flight suits daily, Cadieux added.
"We should continually think about ways to improve," Cadieux said. "I know there are hundreds of women working tirelessly on Women's Initiative Teams around the country, tackling issues like uniforms. Hopefully, word spreads quickly to other installations that the 3rd WG was able to make this happen and that sparks others to do the same."
Cadieux and Morris said they agree on the importance of leaders of all levels taking time to listen to their people and get a true understanding of what is important to them, and use their platform to make necessary or desired changes – just like their leadership has done.
"If you listen to them and step forward to make a difference, your people will notice that and want to follow you even more," Morris emphasized. "You'll make them happy, and in return, you get good workers to complete the mission."