Female pilot exemplifies warrior ethos, fights insurgency alongside men

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Chief Warrant Officer Mariko Kraft, pilot, Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, flies an OH-58 D Kiowa Warrior in and around Balad and has since November. On two seperate occassions, Kraft, whose squadron is attached to the 159th CAB, has engaged anti-coalition forces.  

03.04.2006

Courtesy Story

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The month of March is Women's History Month and it gives servicemembers the chance to recognize women who have made a difference in the world. Whether politically, medically or religiously, throughout the years women have proved to all that they are equal.

Women have come far in this male dominated world, from gaining the right to vote, to women in the Supreme Court, they have made themselves known.

Women make up nearly 15 percent of today's Armed Forces. In 1950, women only comprised of two percent of the military.

Working out of Logistics Support Area Anaconda, Chief Warrant Officer Mariko Kraft, pilot, Troop A, 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, flies an OH-58 D Kiowa Warrior in and around Balad.

Kraft, whose squadron is attached to the 159th CAB, conducts patrols, reconnaissance surveillance missions and provides convoy security.

One December morning, Kraft and her co-pilot were flying toward a refueling point when they spotted a vehicle in the middle of nowhere. She decided to investigate further, and to her surprise there were three men setting up rockets in the direction of LSA Anaconda. When she received clearance to fire, Kraft engaged the enemy.

In the back of her mind, she knew this was a dangerous situation. She is in a combat zone where coalition forces are dying everyday, she said. She had to focus on her task. Her training allowed Kraft to focus on and engage the enemy, preventing death to her fellow service members.

Not long after her first engagement with insurgents, Kraft experienced another.

Kraft was on a patrol responding to a large explosion on a pipeline. As she got closer to the location, she noticed two individuals departing the blast site. She patrolled the area looking for other individuals. Just moments later, a vehicle pulled up and an individual dismounted.

Again they were running low on fuel and she had to head back to Anaconda to refuel. She received word another pilot engaged the vehicle, but the two other individuals were still on the run.

Ground elements were not able to get airlift into the area because it was in a canal, so the ground commander authorized Kraft to disable the anti-coalition forces.

She located the two individuals and hovered above the ground just close enough to engage the enemy with her M-4 Carbine.

When Kraft returned to the LSA, Chief Warrant Officer Ron Jaramillo, maintenance test pilot, Troop A, 2-17th Cav., 101st CAB, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), said the engagement did not affect Kraft physically or mentally.

"If it did, she didn't show it. It was just another day at work for her," Jaramillo said. "That's what makes her a true warrior."

Jaramillo, who has flown five missions with Kraft, said she is very motivated, professional and eager to learn.

"This job can be very gruesome, but it doesn't seem to bother her," he said. "She is very well suited for the Kiowa Warrior."

Kraft said she always wanted to fly. She initially joined the Army in 1993, but did not qualify medically to fly so she enlisted as an interrogator.

Kraft joined the military because of her father, who enlisted voluntarily during Vietnam in 1966 because he felt it was his duty, she said. As Americans, Kraft feels everyone should have the same patriotism and serve their country, whether they spend two years or a career.

After four years of service, Kraft left the Army. During her separation from the military, Kraft continued to work and earned her bachelors degree.

She decided it was time to re-enlist in the military once again. Kraft received refractive eye surgery and with a waiver she applied and was accepted into flight school.

Kraft graduated flight school almost a year ago and since November has flown many missions throughout Iraq.

Kraft expressed her gratitude for her contribution in the war effort.

"Every time we go and find something, it's always nice to know that we helped prevent any kind of attack on the LSA," Kraft said. "If we provide security for a convoy, it's satisfying knowing that the convoy made it safely to its location."

Six months into her first deployment as an aviator, Kraft said she has gained a great deal of knowledge and experience.

For her efforts in foiling the insurgent acts, Kraft's command put her in for the Combat Action Badge and Air Medal. Kraft said the awards are great but are not the reason why she flies.

"The greatest satisfaction is knowing that we prevented possible injury and death," she said.

Kraft tracks down insurgents placing improvised explosive devices, firing rockets and mortars to ensure the safety of her fellow service members and will continue to do so throughout her deployment, she added.

• Date Taken: 03.04.2006
• Date Posted: 03.04.2006 10:27
• Story ID: 5593