Several of you have been sending this link to us over the last couple of days – the story of Rachel Washburn who went from being an ROTC student and Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader to a two-tour El-Tee in Afghanistan.
“Initially, it was kind of a novelty to people I met if they ever found out,” Washburn said Thursday in a phone interview from Savannah, Ga., where she was on the first day of her post-deployment leave.
“It’s kind of a bit of a shock. You don’t expect those two things to go hand in hand with one person.”
She didn’t join the Army on a whim. During her three seasons with the Eagles, Washburn was an Army ROTC student and history major at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Her father was an Army helicopter pilot and an Air Force fighter pilot. She figures she moved 17 or 18 times growing up, but she calls Philadelphia home even though she just attended college there.
Actually, I thought the story was a little sexist. We have a Ravens’ cheerleader in our midst who went in the other direction. After serving in Afghanistan (a hardship tour, since he was TSO’s battle buddy), our own VTWoody became an NFL cheerleader and USAToday never did a story about him. What’s up with that, media?
i call bull shit, there are no hot women in the army! i saw the duffle blog article, the air force is stealing them all!
@1 Smitty I agree. Never saw anything like her when I was a troop!
This is classified: Female Soldiers in MI are hotter than any other branch of the army.
@2 damn it, why didnt they tell me that when i signed up for infantry
err @3 i mean
VT Woody can’t rock that mascara with a tac vest and M-4 like Lt Washburn. That’s why USA today hasn’t done a story on him.
@6, or, perhaps, VTWoody doesn’t look all that good in a halter top?
Dang UpNorth, (#7) give a hetro guy some warning before posting something like that! Where’s my brain bleach hiding? 🙂
As a hothead who’s publicly loud and proud to stand fully and completely against females in combat arms, I gotta say…
Good for you woman! She had a lot going on. Lots of avenues of approach to life open to her and she chose the military and not on a whim either.
Well done, ma’am.
A totally inappropriate comment was here at one time that was completely out of line.
Well, #11, that was completely tacky on your part. Now that we know how much you despise women, what else do you have to say?
Huh?
You wanta take me on, sleazasaurus?
Good on her. I know of a female Marine 2nd Lt, college cherrleader, crossfit enthusiast who is going to IOC in January. I’m really pulling for her to finish.
@12.
I agree.
#11 is a classless turd.
While I never had a whole piece on me, I’ve managed to sneak into the spotlight on a Reuters project, CBS morning show and last month on NFL Mexico. At least I can say I’m still the only NFL cheerleader with a CIB….well till they open up the infantry.
You’ll have to excuse me now, got to go on the field to watch the Ravens beat TSO’s pats.
@11 What an out and out POS you are! Go back to your gay internet porn and stop posting here. I have great respect for this woman and what she CHOSE to accomplish. I have NO respect for you whatsoever. You need a stiff punch to the throat.
Thanks, Jonn, for removing mr. nastypants’ uncalled for post @11.
@15, as an Indianapolis Colts fan I never thought I would root for the Ravens, but if they win the next two games the Colts get the #2 seed. Plus Tom Brady is so far in the closet he is having adventures in Narnia.
I’d follow here anywhere.
I’d follow her anywhere.
@18.
Go Skins!
This is what I have been reduced too.
Cheering on TAH.
We (Skins) are terrible.
What are you complaining about, Thumb? Da Bears lost to the Packers – AGAIN!!!!! – and that was their last chance for the playoffs. Quitcher whinin’.
Maybe it’s just Monday, and completely crappy weather outside, but I don’t get #11 at all. Was that a mod that replaced the post? Must. Drink. More. Coffee.
Yes, Mr. Ret. The original post as something obnoxious, from a poster who knows no other way to “communicate.”
Thanks OW. Yea, I guess it was the following comments that threw me off. They must have seen the original. Anyway, my caffine levels are back up to operational parameters…
“…living in a mud hut with Green Berets…”
Damn, that is not the SF I served in! I’m jealous.
@ #25: Yep, you got it. And I hope that you did not mind my poetic license with your name. My Dad was a CWO. I miss hearing him called “Mr.” Of course, he retired in 1956, so it’s been a very long time. He died just before Christmas a few years ago, so I especially miss him during this season.
It was rather funny, but he was referred to as “The Colonel” at one after retirement place of employment. He never claimed it, corrected people frequently, but they insisted that he looked like a colonel, so that is what they called him.