Army Helicopter Pilot
My name is Santa Barbara Mediavilla. I am an Apache Longbow Pilot for B
CO 1/3 AVN U.S. Army at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. I
have been flying for the Army for 5 years and have loved every moment.
My rank is Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2).
I originally enlisted in the army in 1995 as a Private and was made a Crew
Chief on the Apache. A Crew Chief organizes all maintenance on aircraft
from pre-flight, post-flight and through-flight inspections, launches and
recovers aircraft, and on some aircraft, passengers. After 4 years I was
promoted to the Longbow as a Platoon Sergeant (E-6P) in charge of 32
soldiers, including 4 squad leaders and two section sergeants. After 5
years of enlisted time, I was inspired to fly by with the encouragement of
my maintenance test pilot, CW4 Mark Phillips. Mr. Phillips would always ask
me if I was going to walk the rest of my military career or try something like
flying. I would laugh and tell him I was afraid of heights, which is true -- I
am terrified.
One day he ran up the aircraft with me in the front seat. The Apache and
the Apache Longbow has no place for passengers because it is a two seater
(one pilot and one gunner) aircraft. I was convinced that flying was
something I would definitely enjoy, just from that 2 minute run up. He
helped me submit my flight packet and a year later while I was in Korea, I
found out I was accepted. It was a long process because my packet was
denied two other times but well worth the trouble.
My 11 years in the military has been all about aviation. I have been to Fort
Hood, Texas, as a Crew Chief; Camp Eagle, Korea, as Platoon Sergeant of a
Maintenance Platoon; Fort Rucker, Alabama, to go to Flight School; Fort
Hood, Texas, as an Apache Longbow Pilot; Illesheim, Germany, as an
Apache Longbow Pilot; Hunter Army Airfield (HAAF), Georgia, as an Apache
Longbow Pilot, and have been deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan.
Aviation has been great even though I'm usually the only female in every
company I have been in. Many guys didn't think that I had what it took to
be an Apache Longbow Pilot but those were the guys who chose to fly
Blackhawks or Chinooks (Utility Helicopters) so they could try to avoid
combat.
Others told me that there was no such thing as a FEMALE Apache Longbow
Pilot, but they are definitely stuck in the stone ages because there are so
many of us now since the Gulf War.
The guys also said that I would freeze when it came to shooting someone.
Well, they all thought differently once my performed was well above
standard. Its always nice to do things better than the guys. For some
reason or another, the guys seem to always think that I would do better
because I am trying to prove something. Not true at all. It is a proven fact
that women are more in tune to their surrounding and have more finesse.
We are more capable of doing many things at the same time and doing
them very well. We have more drive and determination to do things right
the first time, so we can learn more and do things better.
What I enjoy the most is shooting and providing security for any military
soldier, convoy, and military post. There is nothing like feeling shooting the
30MM Gun, the 2.75 inch Rockets flying off the rails and the Hellfire Missiles
heading down range and knowing our soldiers on the ground are safe. It
really is an adrenaline rush helping the ground guys. I will be in Iraq this
late spring and being part of the team on the war against terror.
On my off duty time, I ride my motorcycle (dry and warm or cool weather
required), surf (seasonal), snowboard (seasonal), run (often), and hang out
at home with my two cats (Pepper & Bandit) and work to finish my Bachelor
degree in Aeronautics at Embry Riddle University. After I retire from the
active duty military, I would like to go to Michigan to become a
schoolteacher or fly for their Search & Rescue.
Good luck and GOD Speed!
My name is Santa Barbara Mediavilla. I am an Apache Longbow Pilot for B
CO 1/3 AVN U.S. Army at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. I
have been flying for the Army for 5 years and have loved every moment.
My rank is Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2).
I originally enlisted in the army in 1995 as a Private and was made a Crew
Chief on the Apache. A Crew Chief organizes all maintenance on aircraft
from pre-flight, post-flight and through-flight inspections, launches and
recovers aircraft, and on some aircraft, passengers. After 4 years I was
promoted to the Longbow as a Platoon Sergeant (E-6P) in charge of 32
soldiers, including 4 squad leaders and two section sergeants. After 5
years of enlisted time, I was inspired to fly by with the encouragement of
my maintenance test pilot, CW4 Mark Phillips. Mr. Phillips would always ask
me if I was going to walk the rest of my military career or try something like
flying. I would laugh and tell him I was afraid of heights, which is true -- I
am terrified.
One day he ran up the aircraft with me in the front seat. The Apache and
the Apache Longbow has no place for passengers because it is a two seater
(one pilot and one gunner) aircraft. I was convinced that flying was
something I would definitely enjoy, just from that 2 minute run up. He
helped me submit my flight packet and a year later while I was in Korea, I
found out I was accepted. It was a long process because my packet was
denied two other times but well worth the trouble.
My 11 years in the military has been all about aviation. I have been to Fort
Hood, Texas, as a Crew Chief; Camp Eagle, Korea, as Platoon Sergeant of a
Maintenance Platoon; Fort Rucker, Alabama, to go to Flight School; Fort
Hood, Texas, as an Apache Longbow Pilot; Illesheim, Germany, as an
Apache Longbow Pilot; Hunter Army Airfield (HAAF), Georgia, as an Apache
Longbow Pilot, and have been deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan.
Aviation has been great even though I'm usually the only female in every
company I have been in. Many guys didn't think that I had what it took to
be an Apache Longbow Pilot but those were the guys who chose to fly
Blackhawks or Chinooks (Utility Helicopters) so they could try to avoid
combat.
Others told me that there was no such thing as a FEMALE Apache Longbow
Pilot, but they are definitely stuck in the stone ages because there are so
many of us now since the Gulf War.
The guys also said that I would freeze when it came to shooting someone.
Well, they all thought differently once my performed was well above
standard. Its always nice to do things better than the guys. For some
reason or another, the guys seem to always think that I would do better
because I am trying to prove something. Not true at all. It is a proven fact
that women are more in tune to their surrounding and have more finesse.
We are more capable of doing many things at the same time and doing
them very well. We have more drive and determination to do things right
the first time, so we can learn more and do things better.
What I enjoy the most is shooting and providing security for any military
soldier, convoy, and military post. There is nothing like feeling shooting the
30MM Gun, the 2.75 inch Rockets flying off the rails and the Hellfire Missiles
heading down range and knowing our soldiers on the ground are safe. It
really is an adrenaline rush helping the ground guys. I will be in Iraq this
late spring and being part of the team on the war against terror.
On my off duty time, I ride my motorcycle (dry and warm or cool weather
required), surf (seasonal), snowboard (seasonal), run (often), and hang out
at home with my two cats (Pepper & Bandit) and work to finish my Bachelor
degree in Aeronautics at Embry Riddle University. After I retire from the
active duty military, I would like to go to Michigan to become a
schoolteacher or fly for their Search & Rescue.
Good luck and GOD Speed!
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| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
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