A FORMER RAF officer from Marshfield, near Chippenham, will next week help to launch a nationwide campaign to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of women being allowed to serve in the armed forces.

Kirsty Bushell, 47, spent 24 years in the Royal Air Force and is now the vice-chairman of SSAFA, a charity dedicated to helping service personnel, veterans and military families across the country.

This July marks 100 years since the formation of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, which was the first time women were formally enlisted into the UK Armed Forces.

Over the past century women’s roles have moved on from cooking and administration to flying fighter jets and serving side-by-side with men fighting on the ground. SSAFA’s centenary campaign will show off the achievements of women in the military, past and present, and boost awareness of the charity’s work.

Kirsty became vice-chairman of SSAFA in 2012, after a career in which she served at home and abroad as a wing commander, intelligence officer, and personnel support officer.

She told the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, “Opportunities for women in the military have come a long way in the last 100 years and it’s tremendous to see now the effects of people pushing for progress over that time.

“When I joined the RAF I never felt disadvantaged because I was female, but there were still certain jobs that women couldn’t do. Now in 2017 we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with men and there are positive female role models throughout the military.

"There is a zero tolerance approach to sexism inside the armed forces and society understands what women are capable of – we have shown that women are strong enough to be on the frontline and strong enough to do the jobs that men do.

“Part of SSAFA’s celebration of this milestone is showing people the talent and diversity of military women and what they have achieved at every level of the services over the last 100 years.”

In a special photoshoot by war photographer Robert Wilson, SSAFA has brought together the stories of inspiring servicewomen including double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, who served in the British Army for 10 years; Major Heather Stanning, also a double Olympic champion and still serving in the army; Major General Susan Ridge, the army’s highest-ranking woman; and Flight Lieutenant Caroline Paige, the first openly transgender officer to serve in the UK Armed Forces.

Kirsty added, “I’m really proud to have served in the forces and my role at SSAFA is a natural fit for me to continue the sense of teamwork and support I enjoyed so much. The charity has a fantastic reach across serving personnel, veterans and their families.”