The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is Seeking Female Pilots and Mechanics
The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is now recruiting women to be pilots and mechanics, the first special operations unit to do so.
This move, officially authorized June 19, is part of the Pentagon’s effort to open all military jobs to women. The 160th, based at Fort Campbell, Ky., is the Army’s elite special operations aviation unit.
“Women currently serve in enabling functions within special operations forces, so this is a natural transition as these aviation [military occupational specialties] are already open to women in the Army,” said Brig. Gen. Clayton M. Hutmacher, commander of Army Special Operations Aviation Command.
The 160th is able to open its ranks to qualified women because the Defense Department eliminated the direct combat assignment rule, which barred women from being assigned to units below the brigade level whose primary mission is to engage in direct combat on the ground.
The Army and U.S. Special Operations Command are still studying whether or how to open closed specialties and units, such as Special Forces and Rangers, to women.
As the saying goes, “the Army isn’t what it used to be, and never was.” Good luck to any and all Soldiers that select to go Special Operations.