UNIPATH STAFF
Jordan is defending its borders with a fleet of new UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters flown in part by female pilots.
Lara Al-Hawawsheh and Aya Al-Sourany, both 2nd lieutenants in the Royal Jordanian Air Force, were introduced at a January 2018 ceremony in which a final shipment of Black Hawks was delivered to bolster Jordan’s Quick Reaction Force.
Al-Hawawsheh and Al-Sourany are two of six female helicopter pilots trained in the United States with the support of the U.S. Counter-Terrorism Partnership Fund.
“The women take pride in serving in the military. They love their country. They do a great job defending their country. They train so hard,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Elizabeth Kelpis.
Among the attendees at the Black Hawk ceremony at King Abdullah Air Base near Zarqa were U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Joseph L. Votel, His Royal Highness Prince Feisal bin Al Hussein and Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat.
The helicopter force allows Jordan to move troops and supplies anywhere in the country to strengthen borders and repulse enemy fighters who might consider crossing into Jordan from Syria.
“U.S.-Jordanian military cooperation is very strong and a key component in our joint effort to defeat Daesh,” said Brig. Gen. Jaber al-Abbadi, Jordan’s Airlift Wing commander.
Gen. Votel reiterated U.S. support for Jordan’s counterterrorism efforts.
“Jordan has been a fantastic partner for a number of years here; I think what you saw in our demonstration here today is the maturity of our relationship,” Gen. Votel told CNN. “Jordanians are operating top of the line equipment and doing a great job with it.”
Women make up about 5 percent of the Jordan Armed Forces and have played a prominent role in missions as far afield as Afghanistan.
Sources: Reuters, Colorado National Guard, CNN