Limitless adventures

LIMITLESSAdventures

Serving is about brotherhood and sisterhood. It’s about giving back and the sacrifices we have to make. It’s so much more than I ever thought it would be.

LEAH LEHMKUHL MEYER

Commander, 5th Contracting Squadron U. S. Air Force Alexandria graduate fulfills a calling in Air Force

After getting in more than her share of trouble in high school, Leah Lehmkuhl Meyer said a conversation with her softball coach led her down a path she never expected.

A 2001 graduate of Jefferson High School in Alexandria, Maj. Meyer, who has been serving on active duty in the Air Force for the past 14 years, is the commander of the 5th Contracting Squadron stationed in Minot, North Dakota. She was recently selected for the rank of Lt. Col. and will be pinned on Dec. 1.

It was Coach Orin Schueler, she said, who got through to her about the choices she was making. After getting in trouble once again, she remembers having a conversation with him.

“He told me, ‘This isn’t you. You’re meant for bigger things,’ ” said Meyer. “He is one of the main reasons I

Maj. Leah Meyer (front, right) is pictured with the 5th Contracting Squadron. The organization is made up of two-thirds military members and one-third civilians. PAGE 6 SALUTE

By Celeste Edenloff chose this path. I wanted something that was going to push me like Coach Schueler pushed me and I chose the Air Force.”

Meyer said when the decision to join the military was made, she never considered any other branch. The Air Force was always her No. 1 pick. Although she doesn’t come from a military family, Meyer said she had an uncle who flew B-52s and told her that the Air Force takes the best care of its people.

She believes her decision to join the Air Force was a calling. She knew she wanted a career where there would be a potential for leadership, one where she could positively impact lives, and a career that would challenge her. The Air Force did all that and more.

“When I joined, I thought I could offer something to the Air Force,” said Meyer. “But what the Air Force has taught me, what it has given me is so much more. It started out as a dream to lead, but I have learned so much about myself, my strengths, my weaknesses. Serving is about brotherhood and sisterhood. It’s about giving back and the sacrifices we have to make. It’s so much more than I ever thought it would be.”

Meyer said serving in the military is something special and that she is a different person than when she first joined ROTC and she is so grateful for that.

She currently is the commander of 40 people in her squadron, which does all the purchasing for the base she and her husband, Keith, are stationed at. He also serves in the United States Air Force.

In essence, she and her team buy items that keep the base running and operational.

Throughout her career, she has bought everything from office supplies to major weapon systems

and currently holds an unlimited warrant, which allows her to spend taxpayer dollars on behalf of the military. One of her largest purchases was a $400 million aircraft modification, which she remembers signing for because her hands might have been just a little shaky.

Meyer and her husband have been stationed at the base in Minot for a little more than a year. The couple, along with their three children – Charli, 9; Kate, 7; and Henry, 4 – will be heading to Washington, D.C. next summer, where they expect to be stationed for two to three years. A DECADE OF CHANGE

When Meyer first joined the military, she was thinking of becoming a pilot. However, she was told, “You can’t be a good pilot and be a good mom.” The thought of becoming a pilot went out the window because she knew she wanted to be a mom. She regrets that choice, as every pilot/mom she now knows is fantastic at both roles.

Although it hasn’t always been smooth sailing being a woman in the military, Meyer said there have been great strides in the past decade.

“The Air Force is much more accommodating now,” Meyer said.

She remembers when she became pregnant with her first child and a supervisor, who happened to be a woman, told her that she went from being an asset to a liability because of the pregnancy. Fortunately, that mentality has gone by the wayside for the most part, she said.

After her first daughter was born, she

Several years ago, Maj. Leah Meyer, a 2001 Alexandria graduate, along with her two daughters, Charli and Kate, met up with her high school coach and mentor, Orin Schueler.

Maj. Leah Meyer, on the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, reenlists one of the aircraft maintainers. Air Force maintainers perform pre-, post- and between flight safety and function checks, as well as many other duties. had a very short maternity leave and said. Having 100% trust in each other and she said there were no private areas for great communication. nursing moms after she got back to work. “It made it easier that we spoke the After her third child was born, however, same language,” she said. “He knows maternity leave had gone from six to the rules and regulations and knows 12 weeks, there were plenty of places what is expected in the military. And vice for nursing moms and there were new versa. We understand the long hours and accommodations for fathers, as well. sacrifices. And we always find quality

“It was totally different from my first to time together, we plan trips and make the my third child. They were definitely more most of the time we have together and as supportive of ‘Team Meyer’ the last time a family.” around,” she said. “They are much more It was nice that they both wanted flexible with working moms and in just children, but they knew it would be a decade, I feel the Air Force has come trickier because of their military life. After around 180 degrees.” their children were born, Meyer said she wasted a lot of time trying to find that

HARMONY, NOT BALANCE “work-life balance.”

Meyer met her husband, Keith, while She said instead of trying to find that they were both in the ROTC program at balance, the couple have what they the University of Minnesota. She never call work-life harmony and that it really thought she would marry an ROTC man, boils down to good communication and because it would make life more difficult managing their expectations. She let go to manage a dual-military household. of the balance and found peace in the Now she can’t imagine it any other harmony of it all. way and feels she has the best built-in “I was constantly trying to find a perfect support network she could ask for. balance that I don’t think truly exists. I

When she and Keith started dating, don’t have ‘mom guilt’ anymore. I let it go the couple’s timing wasn’t the best. She and life has been much better for all of was graduating and had orders to go us,” Meyer said. to Hawaii and he wasn’t going to be She figures out ways to incorporate her graduating for another six months and kids into her work as often as possible then was heading to Virginia. But the and makes sure everything involving 5,000 mile long-distance relationship her kids’ school and activities is put on worked and the couple have been her work calendar. She talks to her kids married for 12 years. when she has to work late and explains

For the first few years of marriage, it that it is part of the sacrifice of being in wasn’t the easiest. Being a dual-military couple, Meyer said they were on the path of most resistance. Trust was key, she MEYER Page 8 SALUTE PAGE 7

MEYER From page 7

the military and serving your country. And she said that they know that on the weekends and vacation she rarely takes work phone calls or checks work emails. They know that that time is dedicated to them.

Taking family vacations is also key. A few years ago, Meyer and her husband bought a cabin in the Alexandria lakes area and now, her kids refer to it as being “home,” which is something she loves. Meyer has family in the area, including her mom and brother, and grew up in the area so it will always be home for her.

“I love where I am from and the strong foundation and values that growing up in a small town has provided me,” Meyer said.

MILITARY LIFE

Making a career out of the military isn’t something Meyer expected to do in the beginning. At first, she thought she would put in her four years and use it as a stepping stone into the civilian sector. But now, after nearly 15 years, she loves her military life and even though she could retire in five years, she’s not entirely sure she will.

She’s been stationed in Hawaii, Virginia, Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Alabama and now, Minot. Before having her children, Hawaii was her favorite location to be assigned. But now that she has her family, she loves living in Minot because it is close to family – hers and her husband’s.

Both her and Keith have each been deployed three times.

Her first deployment was to Qatar, her second to Africa, primarily in Djibouti and Uganda, and her third was a shorter trip

to Afghanistan, which she said was not the most ideal destination.

She said it takes a village to raise any child, especially when both parents are in the military. That only gets harder when one parent is deployed.

The couple relies mostly on family, friends, and military neighbors when things get hectic. Meyer said they did have an au pair for a year, which was very helpful. The au pair was from France and taught her children about French culture, language and cuisine.

“It truly takes a village and all the support we have is awesome,” said Meyer.

Being in the military does have its advantages. A favorite part for Meyer is getting to experience so many different places in the country and throughout the world. Growing up in the Alexandria area, where she said she has strong roots, Meyer didn’t have a lot of exposure beyond her experiences in Minnesota.

Her children have been exposed to many different people, places and perspectives in their short lives, which is something she is grateful for. She said they have had more diverse life experiences brought into their lives already than in her first 20 years of life.

“It is priceless to be able to show them that they can do whatever they want to

While on a mission to evacuate American citizens from South Sudan during a civil war in 2013, Maj. Leah Meyer talks with a family she worked with. The family was evacuated to Uganda.

do in life, be whatever they want, and go wherever they want. I don’t ever want them to believe there are limits to what they can achieve,” she said. Meyer has gained so much with every new assignment and location and said she hasn’t ever had a bad assignment, which is why she is not so sure she’ll be ready for retirement from the military in five years.

“I have a hard time turning down adventures,” she said. “When I do retire, I want to help teens and adults and teach them to make the most of the situations they find themselves in. Take stock, and take ownership. Too often people impose artificial barriers or believe that because of their lot in life or poor choices as an adolescent, that they’ve set themselves on a predetermined path. I want them to know they have their whole life ahead of them and that there are no limits to what they can do and be.”

Meyer also commented on the new Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Alexandria. She said she was emotional walking through it for the first time as she saw names of family, friends and classmates listed throughout the park. She said it was a job tremendously well done, and is proud of her hometown and the support the community has toward military personnel.

“Every day, I am still so proud to put on my uniform and serve our country,” she said.

Every day, I am still so proud to put on my uniform and serve our country.

LEAH LEHMKUHL MEYER Commander, 5th Contracting Squadron U. S. Air Force