In 2001, I was an Air Force lieutenant colonel and A-10 fighter pilot stationed in Saudi Arabia, in charge of rescue operations for no-fly enforcement in Iraq and then in Afghanistan.
Growing up, I was told I could be anything I wanted to be. There were no limitations restraining me just because I was a girl. Then I joined the military.
North Korea is not even close to being a near peer to South Korea or, much less, the United States.
I just personally decided I was going to be the first woman fighter pilot.
If we want the most effective fighting force, we need to pick the most qualified capable man for the job, even if it's a woman.
Our troops should not conform to customs that represent the marginalization of people and are incongruent with our fundamental values.
America has a long history of pride in the military uniform, and the Army has a 362-page directive on proper uniform wear. Included are guidelines that accommodate freedom of religion by outlining what religious attire or jewelry can be worn with the uniform.
If it were in our national security to deploy to South Africa under apartheid, would we have found it acceptable or customary to segregate African American soldiers from other American soldiers, and say, 'It's just a cultural thing'? I don't think so. I would hope not.
When American troops find themselves fighting for their lives, there is no better sound than an A-10 - a plane officially nicknamed the Thunderbolt II but known affectionately by the troops as the Warthog - firing its enormous 30-millimeter gun at the enemy.
It might not be pretty, but the A-10 is our most capable close air-support aircraft, and its arrival on the battlefield signals survival for our troops and annihilation for our enemies.
Before running for office, I was an A-10 squadron commander with 325 combat hours. During my time in uniform and since coming to the House and taking up the fight to keep the plane, I have heard countless stories from American soldiers about how the A-10 saved their lives.
As an A-10 squadron commander in the Air Force, I was required to be ready to deploy my 24 Warthogs and team anywhere in the world within 24 hours, including the Korean Peninsula.
Maybe I'll start a little group of us that's called the Don't Do Stupid Stuff caucus. I'm going to be in the D.D.S.S. caucus. I'm going to lead it. There's no reason for us to be doing stupid things that are not getting us anywhere.
The private sector is the innovation engine of our economy, and more private-sector businesses and organizations than ever are recognizing that training, promoting, and retaining women is essential to their continued competitiveness - and their bottom line.
Sexism is real.
If I was a guy, based on how I performed in pilot training, I would have been able to have selected a fighter. I mean, I have always said unemotionally, if we want the best fighting force, why would we have 50 percent of our population not competing for these positions?
