Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  News Features
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Maryland Airman finds family in 175th Wing By Staff Sgt. Sarah McClanahan
                Maryland Air National Guard
 MIDDLE RIVER, Md. – A little past 6 a.m, just before the start of the duty day, Senior Airman Jayme Bradley arrives at the 175th Maintenance Squadron phase hanger. Typically among the first to arrive at the hangar with fresh coffee in hand, sometimes with an additional cup for a coworker, she checks the flying schedule and begins her day. For Bradley, an electrical and environmental specialist, each day at the 175th Wing presents new and unique challenges while repairing the electrical components of the A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft. "You know, it's like a puzzle," said Bradley. "It's just something different all the time. You find the problem and use your hands and you fix it." As a self-proclaimed tomboy who grew up on a tobacco farm in rural North Carolina, Bradley is used to hard work and working with her hands to troubleshoot issues. She was raised by her grandparents and spent time watching her grandfather, who was an electrician, tinker with things. Bradley describes him as a source of inspiration. "I just always wanted to make him proud," said Bradley. "I was definitely a papaw's girl." Shortly after a brief stint taking college-level electrical courses, she met her husband, Ron, who she moved with to Maryland to help him care for his elderly parents. "He was serving as a Marine in North Carolina," Bradley said. "He got out because his parent's health was failing. So we ended up moving here to Maryland in '03. Ron worked and I took care of home. That's not my gig, but you do what you have to do." Bradley spent more than a decade acting as a caretaker for her husband's parents. Following her father-in-law's death, her husband suffered a severe injury leaving him unable to work. This led her to pursue a goal she had put aside long ago - joining the military. "There we were, I mean, we were barely making it," explains Bradley. "[So now] it was my turn. It was my chance to do what I wanted to do." At the age of 36, she enlisted into the Maryland Air National Guard and shipped off to basic military training. Despite her fears and hesitations, she explained she found something she didn't expect to find in her military career - a second family. "It was the absolute best thing I've ever done," said Bradley. "I ended up being Mama Bradley in [basic training]. Right before we would go to bed, when the MTIs would leave us alone, legit like 6-10 girls would line up because they wanted a mom hug." She still keeps in touch with many of her basic training sisters. This sense of family didn't end at basic training. It wasn't long before she found a new sense of family at her duty station at the 175th Wing. From comforting her fear of flying during stateside training missions or cracking jokes, Bradley's new coworkers didn't hesitate to make her feel at home. "This shop is our family," Bradley said. "But then you go out into that hangar with all those fellows and they're just an extension of that family. You end up caring about people in all kinds of different ways. You don't get that everywhere you go. They are so good to me." As the only full-time female Airman in her shop, Bradley expressed her initial concerns about feeling like the odd person out. "I'm hard on myself, but they don't require it of me," she said. "I push myself really hard because I know I'm in a male-dominated field and I want to be better than good." However, her concerns were quickly relieved as she found an acceptance she didn't expect. "They never make me feel like an outsider, you know, just accepted me," explains Bradley. "I never wanted special treatment. I just wanted to be accepted and I didn't even have to ask. That's what they gave me." Despite her concerns, Bradley's work ethic and dedication doesn't go unnoticed. "None of us are perfect, but she definitely knows what she's doing," says Staff Sgt. William Klingenstein, an electrical and environmental specialist for the 175th Maintenance Squadron. "She's smart. She's very dedicated and willing to volunteer for just about anything." Bradley's enthusiasm for working hard isn't the only thing that sets her apart. Klingenstein said her compassion and willingness to take care of her fellow wingmen makes her an exceptional Airman. "She's willing to go out of her way for people because she cares," said Klingenstein. "For example, if someone lost a family member, it doesn't matter if she knew them or not, she's gonna send them flowers or go out of her way to do anything for them. Having someone with a lot of heart like that is pretty hard to come by." This appreciation is mutual for Bradley and her coworkers. "I'm thankful for the friendship, brutal honesty, acceptance and camaraderie this work family brings to my life," said Bradley. "My coworkers constantly challenge me and my abilities, and the thing is, they're not trying to break me down. Instead, they're trying to build me up, knowing as a team we will all be better for it."
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Maryland Air National Guard
 Guard General Retires After Final Watch at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier News Features • 9 hours ago
 Young Cancer Patient Made Honorary 1st Sergeant in Illinois Guard News Features • 19 hours ago
 80 Years Ago, National Guard Units Played Key Role in D-Day Landings News Features • 6 days ago
 Retiring Illinois Guard Artillery Gun Chief Fires Final Rounds News Features • 11 days ago
 Hawaii Guardsman Finds Success in Aviation, Infantry Journey News Features • 11 days ago
 2024 (45)  2023 (107)  2022 (121)  2021 (119)  2020 (203)  2019 (208)  2018 (165)  2017 (164)  2016 (109)  2015 (52)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil