Breaking barriers and overcoming life's challenges Published April 5, 2012 By Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- "When I was a young Airman I was told I would never become a chief because I was a female," said Chief Master Sgt. Melissa PerMar, 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron security forces manager. PerMar joined the Air Force as a security specialist in 1989 and was among the first waves of female Airmen allowed into the security specialist career field. It was challenging the way they looked at us, said PerMar, referring to the perception men had toward newly integrated females. "Many thought I wouldn't be able to handle it, but I hung in there and with time I was able to fit right in," she said. PerMar currently has the distinct honor of serving as one of only seven female chief master sergeants in the security forces career field. Team Minot is also home to Senior Master Sgt. Laura Klaczyk, 5th Security Forces Squadron security forces manager and chief select. Despite the few numbers of women in the career field, Klaczyk is encouraged by the fact that 14 percent of security forces personnel at Minot are females. This is a lot more females than when she first joined she said, adding PerMar was only the second female security forces chief she had ever met. Klaczyk explained many females come to a crossroads during their military life and must choose between balancing family with the job or choosing to move on elsewhere. "Very often family is more important and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that," Klaczyk said. "Times definitely have changed and we see more direct leadership from women now than when I came in." For Tech. Sgt. Christina Villegas, 791st MSFS support flight chief, the balance between being a mother of two children, working in security forces and going to school is a challenging feat but luckily has been able to work things out thus far. Despite her situation, she explained she'd be the first to say females can last in this career field and females can go up through the ranks despite any challenges or negativity that can be faced on the job. Master Sgt. Dawne Roby, 5th SFS flight chief, said when women have children it can take some time to adapt between the transition of being a nurturing mother and coming to work at the squadron. Adding it can be very difficult when women have younger children because all the child recognizes is a caring mother. For females, it is necessary to have a certain personality to be in the security forces career field explained Roby. We have to be straightforward, stern, assertive, have a backbone, and be thick skinned, she continued. Thus, the transition from home to the squadron can be a challenge but stated it all works out with time and age. PerMar noted the challenges can apply to men as well and whether or not members continue in this career field ultimately depends on what each person's circumstances are. "Everyone is different and is motivated by different things," said PerMar. "Whether our members get married and make it work, have children and move on-- I for one have truly enjoyed being in this career field." There is a lot of education, information and mentoring we can impart to both our female and male Airmen about this career field, said Klaczyk. On the part of females though, there are some things that they experience that men don't she added, and it's good to have female supervisors mentor their younger Airmen and act as guides. 1st Lt. Nikki Smith, 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron flight commander, agreed adding that it's all about how you take advantage of and get comfortable in the career field. "Each person will have their way of going about it but can succeed so long they don't lose themselves in the process" she said. "I really believe this career field can help you grow more than any other, but it's all what you make of it." For Klaczyk, it is very pleasing to see there are more women coming into the career field, staying in and excelling. "The Air Force has grown in the number of women as a whole and our career field needs to continue to do that," said Klaczyk. "There is no doubt we have come a long ways from when I first joined."