Team Sheppard, Lt. Col. Long celebrate women’s history Published March 28, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Candy Miller 82nd Training Wing, Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Team Sheppard, along with guest speaker Lt. Col. Jill Long, a T-6 instructor pilot and director of staff at the 80th Flying Training Wing, celebrated Women's History Month yesterday with a luncheon at the Sheppard Club. Colonel Long was the Air Education and Training Command 2008 Women's History Month Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Role Model for the military category. She was also part of the team that founded Women Soar, a program that encourages girls to pursue education and career opportunities in aviation, science, engineering, space and math. In her speech, Colonel Long spoke about pursuing dreams and making a vision for the future become a reality. "No matter where you are today it doesn't define who or what you might be in the future if you follow your dreams," said Colonel Long. She said she was fortunate because she when she was growing up she was not taught about being different, whether it was in gender, race or religion. Everyone was the same. "I hate labels," she said. Colonel Long said she never thought of herself as a woman, but thought of herself as "Jill." "If you ask someone in the military today, especially a pilot, how many female pilots there are they would have no idea, and that's a good thing. We are all just that, pilots." she also said. The military is doing what it has always done. It is building the best team possible and both men and women are a proud part of that team, she said. Colonel Long said woman's history is important, because all history is important. "It is a piece of who we are and where we came from. We can learn a lot from others who have walked before us."