Thailand’s women warriors are soaring to new heights. Female squadron leaders of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) landed at Camp Murray on 10 September 2024 for a leadership exchange with their counterparts from the Washington Air National Guard.

The event aimed to discuss and map out strategies for advancing women in defense. Participants shared their experiences in the military and discussed how to successfully navigate their careers in a male-dominated environment.

“Women bring a unique perspective and leadership style to the military, as well as a distinct way of solving problems,” said U.S. Air Force Colonel and Director of Staff Carrie Wentzel.

“This foundation will allow us to develop initiatives and strategies to remove barriers and empower females in our respective militaries,” Wentzel emphasized.

Thailand is America’s oldest treaty ally in Asia, with 191 years of diplomatic relations. Troops from both nations have served side by side in conflict zones and peacekeeping missions since the 1950s.

The Washington State National Guard has been engaged in training with the Thai armed forces since 2002. The leadership exchange is part of the U.S. Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, designed for capacity building with partner nations’ National Guard members for future missions.

RTAF Squadron Leader Karnchanok “Maestro” Chunyaruck, a C-130 pilot and one of only seven female RTAF pilots, expressed hope that the engagement can widen opportunities for women in Thailand’s armed forces.

“We also have many talented non-commissioned officers, but they just don’t have the chance,” she said.

“This good beginning might be an initiative that we can bring back to help those females have the same opportunities we had to improve themselves and advance the Royal Thai Air Force,” Karnchanok said.

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