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Thunderbolt NEWS March 4, 2016 7
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Dudette passes 1,000 combat flight hours
(Editor’s note: Last names were not in- terminal attack controllers,” Kevin said, Courtesy photo
cluded due to security and safety reasons.) who has been flying with Jennifer since
2010. “She can take broken and barely 0DM-HQQLIHUDVW([SHGLWLRQDU\)LJKWHU6TXDGURQZHDSRQV\VWHPVRI¿FHUVWDQGV
SOUTHWEST ASIA — Maj. Jennifer intelligible communications on a secure RQWRSRIDQ)(6WULNH(DJOHIROORZLQJDFRPEDWVRUWLH)HEDWDQXQGLVFORVHGOR-
received a hero’s welcome from members radio and efficiently turn it in to mission FDWLRQLQ6RXWKZHVW$VLD-HQQLIHUVXUSDVVHGWKHFRPEDWÀLJKWKRXUPDUNGXULQJ
of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing as success for the ground forces.” the mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
she surpassed the 1,000 combat-hour
milestone in the F-15E Strike Eagle Feb. Jennifer logged her first combat sortie
13 at an undisclosed location in South- in 2009, during the first of her two tours
west Asia. in Afghanistan, and has compiled more
than 1,600 flying hours and 220 combat
Jennifer, a weapon systems officer as- sorties during her career.
signed to the 391st Expeditionary Fighter
Squadron, achieved the milestone during “Reaching this milestone to me repre-
a mission in support of Operation Inher- sents my willingness to serve and protect
ent Resolve. Americans in a flying capacity each time
I go out and fly,” Jennifer said. “I’m very
“The hour milestones in the jet are proud to serve and keep the enemy here
big deals,” said Capt. Kevin, a 391st instead of being back at home.”
EFS pilot, who accompanied Jennifer on
the mission. “Our opportunity to accrue She was also a member of the historic
hours is finite, and every one of them is Dudette 07 mission in 2011, which was
special. To reach 1,000 hours in a cat- the first F-15E Air Force combat mission
egory as unique as combat time is pretty comprised entirely of female aircrew
special; it means someone has invested a members.
lot of time and effort into their job.”
“You can count on Jennifer to be thor-
Achieving this milestone is a career ough and reliable in her job,” Kevin said.
defining moment for any F-15E aircrew “Her performance is nothing short of
member, even more so for females, which what you would expect from an experi-
make up approximately 10 percent of enced and professional aviator; it goes to
Strike Eagle pilots and the WSO com- show it doesn’t matter what your gender
munity. is - the girls can hang with the best of
them, and are capable of being the best
“With so much time as a close-air themselves.”
support subject matter expert, she is
well versed in integrating with the joint Courtesy of af.mil
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