Team Malmstrom celebrates Year of Military Women

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Every year, the United States Navy Memorial, a non-profit educational foundation, celebrates various branches of the military and rank, but this year was a first; from April 2013 to April 2014 is the Year of the Military Women.

To celebrate YOMW, more than 50 Malmstrom Air Force Base men, women, retirees and civilians attended a luncheon at Aces High Bowling Center on Dec. 16.

"The Navy Memorial Foundation creates a 'Year of' every year - last year was year of the chief and next year will be year of the Coast Guard," said Senior Airman Michelle Collins, 341st Missile Wing protocol member and Malmstrom YOMW ambassador. "This is the first time they have celebrated just the women."

According to www.navymemorial.org, YOMW pays special tribune to women in all branches of the military and is a yearlong exhibit and series of events held at both the memorial's Naval Heritage Center in Washington D.C. and nationwide throughout the Department of Defense.

"I wanted to get [YOMW] started here," Collins said. "My mother is the vice president of operations at the Navy Memorial Foundation, so she asked me how I could spread the word and become involved. My goal is to get the word out to really make people aware of some of the struggles and some of the excitement that has come along for women and their ability to be in combat or be in roles that weren't necessary for women. We wanted to highlight that and get veterans and retirees out to - because they've made so many sacrifices. It's important to hear their stories too."

The local Malmstrom YOMW committee of 12 Airmen hopes to grow in numbers with the goal of spreading the stories of past and current women of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard.

"It's important to recognize everyone the military," said Col. Marné Deranger, 341st Missile Wing vice commander. "As a woman in the military with 20 year of service, I think there are things I can get from my experience to help other women. This is a great opportunity to talk about the unique challenges and opportunities that come along with that.

"I like to have these mentorship opportunities and get the folks at Malmstrom together because everyone has a different set of challenges and experiences."

For more information about YOMW, call Collins at 731-3431 or visit the website at http://www.navymemorial.org/yomw.