AF Academy pioneer visits Incirlik

Ricki Selva (left) meets with Incirlik’s Key Spouses during a base visit Nov. 25, 2015, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Mrs. Selva, a member of the first Air Force Academy class to include women and wife of Gen. Paul Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed current issues facing Incirlik spouses and provided feedback. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders/Released)

AF Academy pioneer visits Incirlik

Ricki Selva, meets with Incirlik’s key spouses during a base visit Nov. 25, 2015, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. She discussed dependent morale, support programs and the recent Department of Defense travel and permanent change of station restrictions. Mrs. Selva is the wife of Gen, Paul Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a member of the first Air Force Academy class to include women. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders/Released)

AF Academy pioneer visits Incirlik

Ricki Selva, visits with fellow female academy alumni Nov. 25, 2015 at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Mrs. Selva, a graduate of the first female inclusive class of the Air Force Academy, shared how the Airmen could use their experiences at the AF Academy to shape their careers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders/Released)

AF Academy pioneer visits Incirlik

Ricki Selva, U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, visits with fellow female academy alumni Nov. 25, 2015 at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Mrs. Selva, a graduate of the first female inclusive class of the Air Force Academy, instructed the Airmen to always strive to better the service. Mrs. Selva has played a key role in raising awareness about sexual harassment and sexual assault across the Air Force and at the academy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders/Released)

AF Academy pioneer visits Incirlik

Published Dec. 4, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Mrs. Ricki Selva, a member of the first Air Force Academy class to include women, visited Incirlik Air Base with her husband, Gen. Paul Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nov. 25, 2015.

The two toured the base visiting several locations in an effort to get to know Airmen and gain a better understanding of how they are supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

During the visit, Mrs. Selva spoke with several Airmen about their time at Incirlik and asked them how recent Department of Defense travel implementations, specifically the Authorized Voluntary Departure order of dependents and Stop Movement, which suspended dependent permanent change of stations to Adana, are affecting unit morale. She also had the opportunity to speak with Incirlik Key Spouses.

"The Key Spouses program is one close to my heart because of what it does to help Airmen and their spouses deal with day-to-day issues," Mrs. Selva said.

Mrs. Selva also met with a group of female AF Academy graduates during her visit. She spoke with them about dedication, career choices and the importance of mentoring future female officers.

She reminisced about her times working as an aircraft maintainer saying one of her proudest accomplishments was seeing an entire formation of B-52s participate in a minimum interval take off exercise at dawn separated only by seconds.

"Not only is it amazing to see aircraft that big take off at minimal interval, you have to realize that if the take-off time is dawn then hundreds of people worked in concert, throughout the night to make this happen," Mrs. Selva said.

Mrs. Selva has also played a key role in raising awareness about sexual harassment and sexual assault across the Air Force and at the AF Academy. It's a subject she encouraged her counterparts to keep working to elevate. She stated the Air Force's culture has changed dramatically since her time in, but there is still more that can be done.