Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Andree Monique Sutton Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Persian Gulf War, 1991; Cold War
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Location of Service: Lowry Air Force Base and Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Vandenberg Air Force Base, George Air Force Base, March Air Reserve Base, and Norton Air Force Base, California; Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina; McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey
- Highest Rank: Chief Master Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/79791
After attending an all-girls Catholic High School, life in the male-dominated Air Force came as a bit of a shock to Chief Master Sergeant Andree Sutton. Enlisting in 1979, she worked first in electronics repair, and often found herself to be the only woman in the shop. Transitioning to recruiting, she discovered a passion and talent for helping others find their niche in life, and was named Air Force Recruiter of the Year in 1984. Post-service, she earned a Master's degree in counseling, and carved out a new role for herself as a vocational rehab counselor, assisting veterans in making the transition from military to civilian life.
Interview / Recording
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PlaySelected for electronics maintenance; only woman in tech school; training under a male instructor unaccustomed to training women. 00:01:46.0 - 00:04:28.0
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PlayReasons for going into recruiting; did really well in recruiting; helped active duty personnel transition to reserves; selected as Air Force Recruiter of the Year. 00:06:35.0 - 00:09:18.0
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PlayIn charge of European region recruiting; opportunity to travel; acted as a mentor to recruiters in European; close relationships with those under her. 00:09:45.0 - 00:11:25.0
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PlayBeing called 'Mom' by men she supervised; sense of responsibility as a woman working in Air Force; felt like she had to live up to the expectations put on her. 00:11:26.0 - 00:13:59.0
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PlayRetired in 2005; decided to become a counselor; working for the VA, counseling returning veterans; honored to have them share their stories with her. 00:14:43.0 - 00:16:27.0
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PlayLeft to become a vocational rehab counselor; helping veterans find their niche and bridge gap between military and civilian life. 00:16:27.0 - 00:18:44.0
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PlayExperience working with in a majority male environment; pushing hard to prove herself to men. 00:19:03.0 - 00:20:39.0
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PlayTaking over recruiting for March Air Force Base; in charge of squadron of 21 recruiters; pressure to deliver; put a challenge to recruiters, promised a training meeting in Hawaii; success of her technique. 00:26:11.0 - 00:28:40.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Andree Monique Sutton Collection
Names
- Tollefsen, Kjell T.
- Sutton, Andree Monique
- Central Connecticut State University
- McGuckin, Briana
Home State
- New York (State)
Headings
- - Sutton, Andree Monique
- - Cold War -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
- - Persian Gulf War, 1991 -- Personal Narratives
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Cold War
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Location of Service: Lowry Air Force Base and Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Vandenberg Air Force Base, George Air Force Base, March Air Reserve Base, and Norton Air Force Base, California; Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina; McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey
- Highest Rank: Chief Master Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1979-1983
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran lists unit as "Recruiting."
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Persian Gulf War, 1991
- Dates of Service: 1989-2005
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2010-06-17)
- Photograph: Digital print [1 item] -- Photograph (collected 2010-06-17)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/79791
Cite as
- Andree Monique Sutton Collection (AFC/2001/001/79791), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina
- Lowry Air Force Base and Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey
- Vandenberg Air Force Base, George Air Force Base, March Air Reserve Base, and Norton Air Force Base, California