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25th CAB female redefines women's role in combat

By Spc. Bryanna Poulin

Every child has a dream of what they want to become when they grow up. Whether it's a doctor, lawyer, or teacher; dreams are ambitions that pave the way for future endeavors.

Yet many times, childhood dreams are left behind when Saturday morning cartoons are swapped with a brewed cup of coffee and a Sunday newspaper.

However, for one female Blackhawk crew chief with 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, her childhood dream is a day to day reality in a job that is mostly performed by males.

"Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to fly and do something concerning aviation," Sgt. Jenell C. Munson, crew chief with B. Company, 2-25 Aviation said. "It's exhilarating to be able to fly and go places that many Soldiers never have the opportunity to go."

Munson is one of the few female Soldiers, in a male dominated Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) and has overcome the many obstacles that have come her way. Although Munson is not the first woman in a combat role, nor will she be the last, she is part of the small number of female Soldiers performing combat missions daily.

"When I first came to B Company I was the only female crew chief and worked with all males," Munson said with a chuckle. "It took them [males] awhile to get used to working with a girl...now I fit right in."

The soft spoken crew chief overcame the gender stereotype from coworkers, but continues to receive looks of astonishment when passengers see her working.

"Being a female crew chief and a gunner, people often associate those roles with males...a crew chief is a combat arms MOS," she noted humbly about her role as a Blackhawk gunner. "Being a door gunner, people have asked if know what I am doing, it shocking for people to see a female firing this huge weapon...it's usually not a female role."

A door gunner is an extra set of eyes for the pilots that are continuously looking for enemy fire, pulling security for downed aircraft and engaging the enemy when needed.

Having a female as a gunner is laying the foundation for females in combat roles, she added. 10 years ago, women weren't in combat...now female Soldiers are filling more roles than ever before.

Yet, the combat role is exactly what thrills her. Fortunately, Munson has never been in a situation where she has engaged the enemy. Interestingly enough, she gets a rush of adrenaline during test fires and more excited when she tosses smoke grenades from the helicopter, which are used as a variety of identifiers for ground forces.

"When the birds go out, we do test fires through the hills of Iraq...at first I was nervous but now I'm used to it and can do it from memory," Munson said. "A few weeks ago, I had to throw smoke grenades ...it was such a rush."

Munson, who represents the small number of female crew chiefs in the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, is one of the many unsung heroes that make up the aviation brigade.

"I see myself as just another crew chief...carrying out the mission I am given," Munson said humbly. Ironically though, the first female crew chief Munson met had a significant impact for her [Munson] life.

"I saw this female crew chief when I was in Afghanistan and envied her...I wanted to be like her...to play a part in a combat role," she stated about her first deployment with 25th CAB. "So hopefully I impact other female Soldiers' lives."

Like so many other missions in a deployed atmosphere, there are obstacles Munson faces every day. From trust issues, to being responsible for passengers' safety, Munson finds herself overcoming these obstacles, proving women can perform combat roles.

"People give me looks that they don't trust me [when she directs them on the Blackhawk]...as though I can't handle this [being a crew chief]," noted Munson. "Also, being accountable for others safety is tough, sometimes passengers don't want to use safety belts...but I make them understand, I am in charge of the aircraft and it's my duty to enforce safety standards."

When passengers board the aircraft, they have to understand safety is the primary goal...not only for them but also for the crew members, Munson noted. If the aircraft goes down and passengers aren't buckled in, they could fall on us; [pilots and crew chiefs] risking everyone's protection.

Through every obstacle and challenged faced, Munson's sheer passion for the aviation mission has been a lifelong venture.

"I love my job and I couldn't imagine doing anything that didn't involve aviation," Sgt. Munson an aviation warrior said. "This is something I have wanted to do since I was a child...I get to do things that others only dream of."