Army Aviator First Lt. Demetria Elosiebo Becomes DC National Guard's 1st African-American Female Pilot

The District of Columbia National Guard celebrated the graduation of its first African-American female pilot.
First Lt. Demetria Elosiebo earned her Army aviator wings in February after completing Initial Entry Rotary Wing Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.  “This is an extraordinary, historical event for us,” said Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, commanding general of the D.C. National Guard. “We’re extremely proud of Lt. Elosiebo. She’s a fine officer, and now, an Army aviator.”
Schwartz said every pilot who graduates from Fort Rucker’s rigorous aviator training course – male or female, regardless of their race or ethnicity – has accomplished something special.  He added that the military has moved well past the days when such accomplishments were unusual.  “The diversity of our armed forces is what makes us strong,” Schwartz said.
While completing the course is no cake walk, Elosiebo had a leg up on most other students at Fort Rucker. In her civilian career, she previously earned her FAA commercial pilots license and became a certified flight instructor.
Elosiebo follows in the path of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American fighter pilots. Before World War II, black pilots were barred from earning their wings in the Army Air Corps. The Pentagon’s rationale was that African-Americans could not be taught to fly. But after being forced to go through pilot training three times before being sent to the fight, they became the best of the best. In the bomber escort missions they flew in Europe, they never lost a bomber.
Elosiebo has a strong connection to the Tuskegee Airmen. She received one of her many scholarships from one of their association chapters, and they supported her when she began pursuing her private pilot’s license at age 19. In addition, she has worked with, and been mentored by these living legends, including Herbert Jones, who formed the first African-American-owned airline in the U.S.
Women pilots during WWII – the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots, or WASPs – also inspired Elosiebo. More than 1,000 WASPs flew during the war. Their primary mission was to ferry military aircraft from factories to bases around the country.  “When I think about the trailblazers who went before me and the adversity they continuously faced, be it gender, ethnicity, or simply doing what had not been done, it makes me realize I wouldn’t have a story if it wasn’t for them,” Elosiebo said.
Elosiebo learned to be a go-getter early on in life. As the oldest child, she soon realized that whatever calamity might occur when she was left in charge of her younger siblings, she was going to have to answer for it. So she took charge, and she took responsibility. She’s never looked back. She served as class leader during UH-60 qualification and again during Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape training.   Elosiebo is now assigned as a platoon leader with D Company, (Air Ambulance) 1-224th Aviation (Security and Support), at Davison Army Airfield, Va.
article by Lt. Col. Kevin Andrews via www.army.mil