This Week At The Prep School

Gender Forums

The main focus of the Gender Forum is to provide the Cadet Candidates with a foundational understanding of gender as it relates to the Air Force. 

It is a three lesson program designed to expose them to the Air Force’s standards and expectations, as well as to their roles and responsibilities both now and as future Air Force officers.  It is important for them to understand these standards and expectations and to live by them as it will have a direct impact upon their careers, the careers of others,  and ultimately upon their ability to accomplish the Air Force’s mission.

For the focus of this week's particular lesson, the Cadet Candidates discussed the various views of gender within society in general and within the Air Force in particular, as well as the Air Force’s views regarding sexual orientation. 

Furthermore, they considered their responsibility regarding these topics as both representatives of the military and especially as Air Force leaders.

 

To view the rest of the pictures from our glimpse into the Prep School Men and Women Gender Forum go to; Classes - Prep School - Prep Life. Or click the link below.

Prep School Gender Forum

 

Gail Colvin

Colonel (Ret) Gail Benjamin Colvin is currently the Director of Staff, United States Air Force Academy. 

She oversees the administration and organization of the Academy’s staff supporting 16,000 personnel and she is the first African American, first female and first civilian to hold this position.

She grew up in Brooklyn, New York and was a graduate of USAFA's first class with women in 1980. She spent two years in college but her her brother Vaughn Benjamin (a 75' Grad) who at the time was working in USAFA Admissions told her to apply to the Academy. When she got to the Academy, her focus was on completing her college degree and out of it she developed a passion and love for the service which shows in her 30 year career in the Military.

Of the many firsts, she and her brother are the first brother-sister duo to attend the Academy as classmates. She and her husband, James Colvin are also the first Air Force transfer of squadron command from husband to wife. And she is USAFA’s first African American alumna to achieve the rank of colonel, making her and her brother, Philip Benjamin, the first African American siblings to simultaneously hold the rank of Colonel.

How extraordinary!

She spoke to the C/C's solving problems, her "secret sauce" as she put it "The most successful people on the planet find a way to turn every difficulty into their greatest hits collection. They find a way to make sure that failure does not destroy them, but is the very reason they prosper."

She talked about being self-aware and authentic, being responsible for your own happiness, and many more useful pieces of advice for the C/C's.

Afterwards the C/C's were able to ask her questions about her life and accomplishments and they presented her with a gift in the form of a Prep School Husky Mug.

 

To view the rest of the pictures taken during Col (Ret) Gail Colvin's visit go to; Classes - Prep School - Prep Life. Or click the link below.

Col (Ret) Gail Colvin Visits The Prep School