Jill (Harper) Victor

Women have played an increasingly important role in the armed forces. In March 2005, about 350,000 women were serving in the U.S. military, almost 15% of active duty personnel, one in seven soldiers. (From: NPR Radio, Wounded in War: The Women Serving in Iraq, March 14, 2005).

By March 2007 over 160,000 women had served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East since the war began in 2003. There are no front lines, and women have frequently served in combat. At least 450 women have been wounded in Iraq, and 71 have died. This is more than the Korean, Vietnam, and first Gulf Wars combined. (From: www.salon.com, March 3, 2007).

Local women currently serving in the armed forces include Air Force Master Sgt. Jill (Harper) Victor. A 1991 Allegany High School graduate Jill had served as a flight test aerial photographer for the 46th Test Wing, 40th Flight Test Squadron. Her outstanding aerial photography of aircraft test missions has resulted in numerous weapon and aircraft related aerodynamic engineering modifications. Among her duty stations has been South Korea. As of February 2010, Jill Victor was stationed at Joint Base Balad, Iraq with the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. Sergeant Victor is first sergeant to more than 420 Airmen in the 332nd ECES.

The July 15, 2016 edition of the Cumberland Times-News reported that Jill Victor had been recently promoted to Senior Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. At the current time she was serving as the Superintendent for the 633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. In that capacity she is the personal adviser to the public affairs chief on all policy and oversees public affairs support to four wings, Headquarters Air Combat Command and 30 tenant units.