Shoot Like a Girl Quotes

“Despite the occasional backlash, I’ll continue to speak on this topic until people stop assuming that this debate is about whether or not to allow women into combat. Women are already fighting in combat with or without anyone’s permission, and they’re doing so valiantly. What they aren’t doing is being trained alongside their comrades-in-arms, given credit for doing the same jobs as their counterparts, given promotions to jobs overseeing combat operations, or being treated like combat veterans by people back home (even some in the Veterans Administration). Not every man has the skill set or warrior spirit for combat. Not every woman does, either. But everyone that does have that skill set should be afforded the opportunity to compete for jobs that enable them to serve in the way their heart calls them. For some people, that calling is in music or art. Some are natural teachers. There are those who will save lives with science. I was called to be a warrior and to fly and fight for my country. I was afforded the opportunity to answer that call, and because of that, I have lived a full and beautiful life. People will always be afraid of change. Just like when we integrated racially or opened up combat cockpits to women, there will always be those who are vocal in their opposition and their fear. History will do what it always does, however. It will make their ignorant statements, in retrospect, seem shortsighted and discriminatory, and the women who will serve their country bravely in the jobs that are now opening up will prove them wrong. Just like we always have.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“Fortis Incito — Incite Bravery”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“Battle readiness had nothing to do with gender and everything to do with individual capability.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“Women are physiologically predisposed to being excellent marksmen. It’s about their muscle tone, center of gravity, flexibility, heart rate, respiration, and, in my opinion, psychology.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“you can learn a hell of a lot from the leaders you do not want to emulate.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“They say that for every terrible officer out there, there's an SNCO who failed the Air Force. Well, Senior Master Sergeant McCabe took his job of turning me into a good officer very seriously, and to this day I remember him as one of the greatest mentors I had in the military.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“During my first week in Japan, when I reported in to my first commander, Major Johnson, I did all of the things my college ROTC instructors had taught me to do. ... "Jennings.... Get in here," I heard him call out from inside the office. ... "Sir, Lieutenant Jennings reports as ordered!" I was to hold my salute until it was returned, as I had been taught. "Sh*t," he said under his breath. "Lieutenant, the first time your time of the month gets in the way of doing your job, you're fired. Now get out of my office." He didn't return my salute. He just glanced back at his computer, ignoring me, not saying another word.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“One night, about eight months after he had arrived in Japan, I was in bed reading. For some reason, we got into an argument about Air Force regulations. Jack was asserting that not all regulations were good ones, and he insisted that there were some you could simply turn a blind eye to. "Wow, I hope you're never a commander with an attitude like that," I retorted, looking back down at my book. Then, like a bull about to charge, Jack leaned over me, clenched his fists, staring at me. He had lost his temper countless times before, but this time seemed different. Slowly, and without making eye contact, I slipped out of bed. My intention was to pack my bag, not for the first time, and go stay with a girlfriend of mine who lived nearby. But as I slowly stepped by him, I suddenly found myself on the floor. It took me a minute to figure out how I had gotten there. Shocked, I looked up, realizing that he had kicked me in the back and sent me flying into the dresser.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl - One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“In that instant, he saw it in my eyes--the second I decided to divorce him. He dropped to his knees crying, apologizing over and over. I got up and cradled his head to my chest. We both knew it was over. His temper was something he had struggled with his whole life. He had once told me that he was afraid to get married because of it and that he didn't deserve me. I only wish I had of listened to him.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“Well, how's that going to work with both of you as pilots? Who's going to watch your kids? What if you both get deployed? If he is going to be successful in the Air Force, he'll need a strong support system at home. Don't you want to be a good wife to him?" My heart sank. It was absolutely none of his business that we were going to get a divorce anyway. None of this was any of his business. It was clearly not his place to be making that kind of decision for my family, or anyone's family.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“This is what I was made for. I felt it in my gut. In the last hour, I'd been shot by the Taliban, had my aircraft riddled with bullets, and landed hard in enemy territory. 'I can do this. I'm not scared.' At that moment, I wouldn't have switched spots with anyone in the world, because I knew I was the best person for the job.”
― mary jennings hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“These things we do that others may live.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“Every mission was critical, each life precious. We would gladly lay down our lives for one another.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“The flightline was exactly where I wanted to be—in the middle of the action, learning and being challenged every day.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“To be honest, I would learn a lot from my short time working for him because, after all, you can learn a hell of a lot from the leaders you do not want to emulate.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“Luckily Senior Master Sergeant McCabe had taught me that asking for help was a strength. Admitting I was out of my depth was a good thing, I had learned.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“But that was definitely the moment I figured out what feeling I hate most in the world: fear.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front

“I learned an important lesson about staying focused on the task at hand. It was important to have dreams, but if all you did was envy those who were living out your dreams, you would never manage to achieve them yourself. Dream big, then force yourself back down to earth to keep plugging away at the minutiae that will bring those dreams within reach.”
― Mary Jennings Hegar, Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front