It can be devastating when our
pathways in life lead us to outcomes we view as contrary to success.
This is no more evident than in
the military where our career pathways are mapped out before we join by long
held tradition, expectation, and networks of decision makers who subscribe to
the ‘way it’s always been done’. Our picture of success is often intertwined
with promotion and appointment in particular jobs as you move from point A to
point B. So, what happens when your path travels via point C or D or even point
X, Y and Z or how about 1, 2 & 3? Our military systems are not designed for
these individuals, and they are often passed over because they lack ‘the right
ticks in the right boxes’. Their chosen pathway is too crooked to match the
norm.
I have a friend who has taken this
crooked path. She has excelled across two Air Forces, achieved in three
different career pathways and is on her way to a fourth. After serving over 25 years
as an Officer, she missed out on promotion to O5 due not having a tick in a
box. She sees this as a failure – a waste of time invested from both her and
her family (she is a wife and mother of three). I see her as a role model, a
leader, a go getter, a challenge-taker. She inspires me daily.
She started her career in the Royal
Air Force (RAF) as a fast jet back seater until a ski accident removed her
aircrew medical category, and almost her life. She bounced back and
recategorized as an Air Battle Manager and was selected for exchange to the Royal
Air Australian Force (RAAF) in a Flight Commander position. Towards the end of
the exchange tour the RAAF, recognising her potential, ‘stole’ her from the RAF
and again she recategorised this time as a Growler Electronic Warfare Officer.
By this stage she was approaching 40, had three primary school aged children
yet together with her husband they relocated to the US and she commenced 12
months of intense fast jet back seater training.
Training, oh by the way, designed
for young 20-somethings who have no commitments other than to pass the course.
On return from training, on the SQN with reduced rank (part of the transition
deal and to allow time to learn the new job), her peers and her FLTCDRs were
young, predominantly male with far less life and service experience. Having completed
the initial tour she looked to expand her knowledge of the ADF and competed for
a position as Staff Officer to a Two Star in a strategic position in Canberra,
a job in which she excelled.
Her experiences, and prior study led
her to develop a PhD thesis proposal which was formally accepted and for the
past twelve months she has been sponsored by Air Force to research ethical
decision making by fast jet aircrew.
This amazingly accomplished woman
is now at a crossroads. To continue along “the path” she must return to the Squadron
and complete a Flight Commander role (to gain flying supervision experience) a
key role in a unit, one that will take all her commitment and energy. One that
is also harsh on a body now closer to 50 than 40. One that would also place her
as the only female Flight Commander in a mostly male Squadron and via a pathway
that has not been standard (standard being recruited by RAAF at 18 and passing
through all the fast jet selection checkpoints along the way including multiple
tours at Squadrons). This opens her up to internal and external criticism from
both males and females and although she could withstand the scrutiny and the
pressure it would come at a cost to her mental health.
Alternately, she could, again, exit
the normal path and continue her academic studies and enter the ‘staff pathway’
meaning she will never be considered for command positions. This pathway would
provide critical research to Air Force, satisfy her mental curiosity, provide
more time for the most important role – motherhood – and be much kinder on her
physically. From my perspective looking in from the outside it’s a no brainer,
for her it means giving up all the elements that she has been led to believe
are key to being successful. Whether these elements are social, cultural or
traditional constructs is a moot point – for her they are large and
insurmountable obstacles to her being seen as a success.
I wish she could see herself as I,
and others, see her.
Already successful in so many ways
across so many paths. An inspirational aviator role model, a balancer of
career, motherhood and marriage. An accomplished sports woman (finisher of
multiple ultra-marathons), adventure seeker (who chooses to Wing Walk for their
40th?!), academic, staunch and loyal colleague, best of friends.
About the author:
When Louise desJardins joined the
Royal Australian Air Force at age 17, the Hobart native had no idea she would
still be serving almost 30 years later. Her career has taken her to many places
within our great Nation, as well as opportunities overseas on exercise,
deployment and posting. A wife, mother of two, and committed runner, she can be
found most weekends with her head in a book. Louise is currently serving as the
Australian Defence Attache to Tel Aviv.