GlilMiiKAL o u iz; ' '■’^ A\'f^ /•“* 'OLFHNBAlUiiEU TO YOU By Kyle Farrell “May God bless you all, may God bless our veterans, and may God bless our united states of America”. These were the final re marks from the first ever female Four-Star General Wolfenbager as she concluded her speech. General Wolfenbarger was one of many females who entered the Airforce Academy for the first time in 1976. Before then, the Airforce was strictly men. General Wolfenbarger was promoted to four-star general on June 5, 2012. As a part of The Chancellor’s Distinguished Speaker’s list, General Wolfenbarger recapped her time as a cadet up until the present day merits that she has acquired. “My experience in the academy put me through trials and through those trials I am far more capable than I ever thought I would be,” Wolfenbarger. There has been significant changes in the airforce since 1976 when General Wolfenbarger entered the academy for the first time. In 1980, women made up about 10 percent of the Airforce. Currently that number has almost doubled as women makes up about 19 percent of the Air force. Another significant change in the Airforce was the addition mater nal leave. The Airforce now grants both maternal and paternal leave to those in their sector of military. When asked by a student “Where do you think the younger generations will deploy and fight next?” General Wolfenbarger responded “We an swer the nation’s call, no matter where that call may be; whether it be warfighting or humanitarian work”. Tara Jaime, a cadet in the US army ROTC here at FSU was among the many who has been inspired by General Wolfenbarger’s speech. “General Wolfenbarger has shown that the nation is making an effort to thrive for democracy through armed forces, she encourages me to thrive for success at her level and pass it on to generations to come”. The Chancellor’s Distingushed Speaker Series continues as follows: Jan. 22 at 6pm ~ Bob Zellner Feb. 5 at 2pm ~Dr. Cornell West March 12 at 2pm ~Hilda Pinnix-Ragland |iW