Success has no limit for women at Shaw Air Force Base

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As the sun rises and liquid nitrogen heats up in the metal shop, an airman puts bearing cups from an F-16 Fighting Falcon into the substance so the bearing cup expands and comes apart.

She proceeds to snap on her gloves, glasses and apron to prepare for another day.

Replacing bad bearing cups on aircraft, welding, responding to calls about stuck screws and creating new parts from metal are all part of the daily work life of Airman 1st Class Sondra Saul, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technician apprentice.

"I'm really proud of what I've done because I came from nothing," Saul said.

Saul said she enjoys her job because she does not usually see many females in her career field - she is currently the only female in the shop - so it makes her more competitive. Every day in the metal shop is something new and different, every day a new challenge.

From 6:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saul said, her competitive nature pushes her to work hard and catch up to the advanced crew members in her shop by practicing using tools like the lathe, which cuts metal, to match a blueprint the shop is given. She cleans and helps out where she can.

The whole shop is like a family, Saul said. Everyone who's been there for a long time likes to help the new airmen and mentor them into their own craftsman.

"I don't know what it is about maintenance guys, but they are very family-oriented, so they really look out for me and make sure I get where I need to be," Saul said. "I got really lucky."

Saul said she does not try to compete with anyone in the shop; she is just there to become proficient.

Being the only female, she also does not have to compete to stand out.

"It's actually like a breath of fresh air because you don't have to do more to stand out," Saul said. "I just have to come to the job and do my best."

Staff Sgt. Hayden Faulkenberry, 20th EMS aircraft metals technician journeyman, said Saul got here in September and has been picking up the craft quickly.

"She's definitely one of the better ones, and I can tell she enjoys her job very, very much," Faulkenberry said.

Though her co-workers and boss say she does a great job, there are still a few differences with a female in the shop.

"It hasn't affected anything whatsoever, but I cross-trained," Faulkenberry said. "One of the big things is locker space because we can't just go change in the back anymore."

Faulkenberry said having a female in the shop adds unique qualities to the shop but doesn't inhibit them.