Phoenix Raven - Women in The Security Police Field

Women in The Security Police Field

Female airmen were first introduced into the Air Force's law enforcement career field in 1971. An all male career field since its inception, the Security Police did not accept this innovation easily. How ever, since women had been serving in civilian police forces for several years, these women were quickly integrated into the field.

As more women were trained and as they proved themselves capable of wider application in the career field, it became apparent that they had interests well beyond law enforcement.

The first women dog handlers came into service in 1973; and the first women entered the corrections field in 1974.

While the first introduction of women into the career field was not until 1971, the gender barrier had been broken earlier by Renee Rubin.

Renee, a San Francisco lawyer and a reservist, was assigned as a mobilization day assignee to the Air Police headquarters staff in 1962. During her career as a reservist she achieved the rank of colonel and served as the IMA to the office of the Deputy Chief of Security Police.

It was 1973 before the first female commissioned officer, Lt. Sally Kucera, was graduated from the Basic Security Police Officer's Course. The career of Sally, now Col. Sally D. Uebelacker, has been a model for any young woman to follow, as she rose from 2nd lieutenant to the rank of colonel.

By 1976 the number of women in the career field had risen from 198 to 1,280 or to almost 4% of the force. Clearly, a dichotomy existed where the Security Police officer was concerned. The split career field affected only the enlisted force.

Officers might serve in any capacity including commanding combat troops in a war zone. In 1976, Lt. Pamela Kraus became the first woman to graduate from the Air Base Defense Course at Camp Bullis, Texas.

The same year, 1976, 100 women were selected to participate in a one year test of women serving in the security career field. Twenty five were assigned to each of four security units. The test was to determine whether or not women could perform the wide variety of security and ground defense tasks incumbent upon the career field.

To most of the senior leadership of the career field, the answer to the question was known before the test began. Certainly women could perform the duties. During the test period they proved their capabilities. Even at that, the test was a qualified success.

The real question which was yet to be answered was whether or not as a matter of national policy, were we ready to place women in harm's way in combat. The answer to that question was still several years away but ultimately the career field was open to women without limitations.

One of the issues addressed in bringing women into the field was the question of functionality vs femininity.

Brig. General Jeane Holm, the officer with primary oversight of women's matters in the Directorate of Personnel, was opposed to arming the women with standard issue weapons carried in holsters on the side. Initially they were armed with the 2 inch barrel .38 and it was to be carried in the purse.

During one staff visit, a young lady complained bitterly, "Hell, Colonel, I can't even find my lipstick in my purse. What will I do, if I need my gun?" Ultimately the women were armed the same as were the men.

In 1984, the full integration of the security police force was achieved when the Secretary of the Air Force approved a revised combat exclusion policy affecting Security Police women. This revision opened previously closed security specialties in combat zones to women.

In January 1985, the first female student attended the Security Specialist Course under the permanent program, and on May 1, 1985, twelve active duty women made up the first all female flight in the Security Specialist Course.