International Women's Day
This year's theme of Cracking the Code resonates with an aviator in the technical workforce who recognises the importance of diverse thinking in problem solving.
Growing up with Vietnamese refugee parents taught Leading Aircraftwoman Jenny Phan to truly value every single day of her Air Force career.
Enlisting in 2017 as an aircraft technician, Leading Aircraftwoman Phan was the dux of her RAAF School of Technical Training course which led to a posting at her dream unit, 6 Squadron.
Her role at 6 Squadron and as an Air Force-recognised linguist have provided her with many opportunities for different experiences including overseas exercises and supporting the joint force.
Leading Aircraftwoman Phan said all these experiences have shaped her thinking and creativity.
"Even though I was born and raised in Melbourne, I grew up traditionally Vietnamese," Leading Aircraftwoman Phan said.
"My dad was a refugee, it took him three attempts to escape Vietnam and he spent five and half years in Malaysia at a refugee camp before being accepted into Australia.
"I grew up with extremely hard-working and resilient parents and that shaped me greatly as a child and now as an adult.
"Seeing my parents' appreciation for a country that gave them new-found freedom and stability, it allowed me to be appreciative of each and every day I get to be in the RAAF."
Leading Aircraftwoman Phan broadened her understanding of the ADF outside her mustering, unit and service.
Working in the technical workforce, she continues to see the importance of diverse thinking in problem solving.
She said she loves the creativity that a diverse team brings to her unit.
"The thing I love most about my job is being a part of 6 Squadron and contributing as an integral part of the unit's capabilities - I am a huge advocate for the EA-18G Growler platform and what it does for the organisation," Leading Aircraftwoman Phan said.
"As the maintenance workforce diversifies itself, I see how the culture of conducting maintenance is shifting - we are always trying to work smarter and not harder.
"As we use different sets of eyes for inspections in maintenance, it is like the wider workforce, different eyes capture different perspectives."
Leading Aircraftwoman Phan is the ground support equipment manager at 6 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Amberley.
