The RAF is celebrating the incredible RAF servicewomen and their achievements this International Women’s Day 2022, with this years theme of ‘breaking the bias’ of gender inequality and stereotypes.
Breaking the bias against gender
Warrant Officer Donna Trenholme career has been motivated by a desire to do something exciting and see the world; an ambition that saw her along an impressive 35-year career, becoming the first female Warrant Officer for 90 Signals Unit.
Donna joined the RAF in 1987, as a telephonist at Headquarters Strike Command (now Air Command) and later qualified as a Communication & Information Manager. She went on to travel across the world, including the Falkland Island, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Germany, leading a team of men as a Detachment Commander.
"It was difficult to earn their respect until they got to know me. Maybe it was more self-induced pressure, and I was conscious of how things would look if I had failed. I did prove myself, but it took time, and nothing was ever as bad as I imagined it to be.
There are so many strands to engineering, new profession where we require exceptionally talented people. If you have any innovative ideas, you are really encouraged to bring them forward. It’s not just about work, there's so many opportunities for adventure training and sports, plus working with people from many different back grounds. I would definitely recommend the Royal Air Force as a career choice for women."
Warrant Officer Donna Trenholme
90 Signals Unit
Breaking the bias against age
Flying Officer Caroline Newton, Support Force Training Officer, has not allowed age to defy her career progression.
From childhood, Caroline was independent and inquisitive personality. She took this drive across a 34-year RAF career, visiting locations such as Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Norway, America, Canada, Iraq, the Falklands, Ascension Island and Egypt.
Caroline then became a Training Officer for 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing, after commissioning, aged 52, alongside her younger course mates.
"For the first six weeks of officer training I kept really quiet. I was the oldest person there, and I’d been in for 34 years so I wanted to blend in as best I could and not stick out like a sore thumb. But I quickly realised the influence that I had, because I was 52 and could keep going, the other students, who were half my age HAD to keep going. And they were so encouraging, never once did I think about giving up. Battle-PT was a nightmare though."
Flying Officer Caroline Newton
Support Force Training Officer
Caroline has also seen success as a qualified yoga teacher, finding it builds fitness, wellness, and resilience; as well as improving flexibility, strength, co-ordination, and balance.
Breaking the bias against disability
Corporal Shona Brownlee has not let disability hinder a successful career as a RAF Musician and an elite professional athlete.
Shona graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a degree in music and earned a master’s degree at Arizona State University. She then joined the RAF, yet sustained an injury during basic training that meant her right leg had to be amputated following years of treatment.
"My leg just wasn’t improving and there was nothing more they could do to fix it. I was stuck on crutches, the only other option was a wheelchair, but that was like accepting defeat, and now it’s like I don’t even have an injury anymore. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done."
Corporal Shona Brownlee
RAF Musician
An RAF Rehabilitation Programme providing adaptive sports and adventurous training for wounded, injured and sick personnel, led Shona to discover a passion for snow sports. She soon hit the slopes winning medals as a World Champion, and recently qualifying for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games with the Great Britain para-skiing team.
Read more about Shona's route to the Paralympic's here
The RAF supports Shona through the RAF Elite Athlete Scheme, allowing her to train while maintaining a career playing the French horn with her beloved Military Band.
"I have had amazing support throughout. RAF Music has been really good about releasing me and it’s made a massive difference because there is no way I would be where I am now without the support of RAF Music and RAF Sport."
Corporal Shona Brownlee
RAF Musician
Shona has continued to defy her disability, with her outstanding mental perseverance being recognised in 2021 as RAF Sportswoman of the year. She also appeared in the New Year’s Honours list and received an MBE.
"If you are thinking about a career in the Royal Air Force, I would say absolutely go for it, you get opportunities in the RAF that you just don’t get anywhere else. International Women’s Day is about celebrating all that woman can achieve and if you really want to achieve in your life, the RAF is a great place to help you do just that."
Corporal Shona Brownlee
RAF Musician
Read more about the RAF's events and activities this International Women's Day.
