Military women are continuing to knock down
barriers and make history. Capt. Jennifer Wilson, a B-2 Spirit
pilot deployed with the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, landed
on the runway April 1 at her forward-deployed location, making her
the first female B-2 pilot to fly a combat mission. "Flying is
great," Wilson said. "I can't imagine doing anything else right
now, and to be able to have a chance to fly in combat with the B-2
was an awesome experience."
Formerly a B-1 Lancer pilot, Operation Iraqi Freedom was not the
first time she flew a combat mission, Wilson said. She also flew
for Operation Allied Force in Kosovo, the first time the B-1s were
involved in combat. The 30-year-old Miami native received her
commission through the ROTC program at Georgia Technical Institute
in June 1995. She attended undergraduate pilot training at Columbus
Air Force Base, Miss.
After more than three years of flying the B-1, Wilson said she
wanted to become a B-2 pilot. "I wanted to have the opportunity to
fly what I think is the most premier aircraft," Wilson said. After
a lengthy application and interview process, Wilson was accepted
for the B-2 pilot training program in the fall of 2000. She became
qualified in April 2002.
"My parents have always been there to encourage me in whatever
it was that I wanted to do," Wilson said. "I owe a lot to my family
for their support."
"For me, it's exciting to be a part of a chosen few," Wilson
said. "I am lucky to be able to have the chance to do something
that so few people will ever have the opportunity to do." Wilson
said she believes the B-2 training she and the airmen of the
squadron received gave her the confidence to complete the recent
combat sortie.
"I
wasn't scared," Wilson said. "We've all trained quite a bit leading
up to this operation. I knew I was going to be able to come through
and get the job done." After flying here, Wilson said she does not
consider the mission a milestone. She said she feels thankful that
she deployed with her squadron and the other airmen of the 40th Air
Expeditionary Wing who are all working together toward the goal of
securing freedom.
"It was just great coming off the plane and seeing the people
who came to show me support," Wilson said. "From the maintainers to
the operators, I was humbled to see them excited for me. We all
work together to make the mission happen." [ANN Thanks Airman 1st
Class Alice K. Moore, 40th Air Expeditionary Wing Public
Affairs]