First Female Apache Pilot
Gwen Schallow is the world's first female Apache pilot. She was just promoted to chief warrant officer 4, the second highest rank a flier can achieve. It's clear Schallow thrives in a traditionally macho world. CBS This Morning Anchor Thalia Assuras reports.
For Schallow, it was the chance to fly a helicopter that drew her to the Army. It was in helicopter school that Gwen met her husband, and she later joined his unit. They've just celebrated their ninth anniversary.
Schallow and her husband are both full-time pilots for Continental Airlines, but still put in about 100 days a year training with the reserves. In July, they'll give up their jobs for nine months to go to Bosnia on a peacekeeping mission.
 |  | Keeping The Peace | |
Active duty in Bosnia will be her first opportunity to earn a coveted combat patch, a badge of honor in the Army. She now trains at Ft. Knox in Kentucky, learning and practicing with various weapons and systems. She demonstrates one system, explaining, "Without ever moving my hand off of this device, I can activate either the gun system, the rocket system or the missile system by just moving this switch."
For target practice, Schallow and her co-pilot head to another site for fueling and ammunition before making their way to the range, where they'll actually fire rockets.
Schallow and her co-pilot were top scorers in practice last year and recently they got three out of three.
For Gwen, the challenge of hitting the target and the thrill of flying are all part her passion for the Army. "I love it. In fact, I've got 20 years of military time in," she said. "I could retire tomorrow, but I'm not going to do that. I'm having too much fun."
Attack jobs only became open to women in December of 1993. Shortly after that legislation was passed, Schallow began her training on the Apache.
She doesn't consider herself a pioneer. This is her job.
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