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Martha LaGuardia Kotite talks about fighting for your dreams in the U.S. military
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-- -- for the last couple of minutes of death country we are here in new York -- believe we -- we've heard from the navy expert from the green sticker from the Coast Guard.
We even heard from the diplomatic corps but now we're going to hear about women in you know it's very.
And the history of women in the military and how it's just that I thought I'm totally wild ride for the last five years joining me as -- -- board it hurt.
-- -- again because I coat tight Martha reported -- she's the author of a great book called changing the rules of engagement which you can see on the screen.
I've read it and I must say -- -- just put itself up my spine because I was.
After White House at the very beginning of when we have women go to the service academies.
I was president Nixon's staff when the decisions were made and -- now on the line.
Everything that's happened in the military and how everything has changed -- give us some story.
There's some wonderful stories -- profiled seventeen top women in the -- is an invitation for.
People from all backgrounds and meeting -- with the leaders at the top of their game who broke through the ceiling if you well and opened up.
Doors and opportunities for others like -- -- follow.
For example on the covers a -- mail account ski she broke with 53 years of tradition opened up.
-- aerial demonstration team -- opportunity for women as one of the as the first female thunderbird.
And one of the lessons I learned from her each woman offers a lesson that that it crosses.
From the military into the civilian and corporate world.
Was surround yourself with a -- -- supporters.
And let the negative people just fall to the wayside and that's how she succeeds -- that lesson on life telling about some of the others.
Well there's also vice admiral Craig -- Coast -- woman.
She served under President Reagan is the first female presidential military -- -- she carried -- there are yes yes.
And after that she didn't stop there she became the the highest ranking woman in the history of our military to be a deputy service -- as vice commandant of the Coast Guard.
And she has been an inspiration for men and women not only in the Coast Guard where she served.
But across services.
For the things that that she's done -- one of the most remarkable was early on she applied to fly Coast Guard aircraft.
And -- serve and coastguard ships and the answer was no.
And she said well am -- gonna accept no for an answer and she said now.
Says she petitioned based on -- she says is -- reason why can't find a plane.
And let's revisit this and the Coast Guard did and she helped open the doors for women -- military jets in the united states Coast Guard.
Firmware it's penalty -- -- services took them.
In in a way on Department of Defense is different from the Coast Guard at the time we were part of transportation of the laws to change in the ninety's and -- -- Caspian is an example of flying in military jet into combat areas.
-- -- -- -- -- -- Stories of these women who just has this phenomenal careers and they've broken the glass ceiling and everything is your sense any -- -- -- -- that.
They -- seem to having.
Yes absolutely I found they're positive outlook.
They don't look at negativity.
They push back against ill will they don't listen to it they have a vision.
They have intelligence.
And they're graceful leaders.
So in other words as a mother when you tell your kids no whining.
It really does work right in and life as well as in the military.
It does that these lessons apply really across the board and -- for it -- it like to speak at schools and talk to younger men and women young students kids.
And they appreciate the stories of courage and bravery of of pushing through and fighting for your dream and one of the biggest things I love.
Was from congresswoman.
Heather Wilson and they went through the air force academy is early on.
One -- the first classes to have women she went off to Oxford and studied and then became a Rhodes scholar a Rhodes scholar.
And then became a congresswoman.
And her message to me -- to all of us who read this book is stream and bigger dream.
And mention KT what airline could be your -- really really well but if you had a bigger -- and thought of that as a young person.
Where would you be today.
Most Eric I think congressman Wilson back to someone there are about.
Being a candidate for -- -- she is she's running she's putting her her plan to do that and another woman in the book running for congress this go around -- Tammy Duckworth.
A purple heart triple amputee has shot down flying a Blackhawk helicopter in Iraq.
Nearly died they thought she was dead.
Then they notice it's this she still had blood coming out of residents that she's not dead let's act now and save her life and they did.
She fought fought fought fought her way back.
And now she's running for congress and she's flying planes again a -- -- Did you do that -- -- your reserve officer as well -- was start but what made you decide you wanted to write about women.
Well it was it was a moment that I was speaking about my first book called so others may live about Coast Guard rescue swimmers.
And my desire has always been recognized veterans because only 1% of our population serves in the military.
I figured many people don't understand and know about our great people that serve our country.
And while I was talking about so others may live.
I had a moment.
Whereby I recognize that there are so many women they deserve to be more than a footnote in one of Ollie north's books.
-- deserve their own book.
There you -- how well except I -- on our announcer on the betterment of -- very -- competition.
For those are the real story the united states military.
Okay so thank you very much Martha LaGuardia -- -- -- the book is called changing the rules of engagement inspiring stories of courage and leadership.
From women in the military.
Thank you so much and.
