2 The HBCU Advocate


Volume 2 Number 1


July/August 2018


Tuskegee Grad becomes Alabama National Guard's First Black Female Pilot


Retired Col. Christine Knighton pins aviator wings on 2nd Lt. Kayla Freeman at Freeman's graduation from the Army Aviation school, at Fort Rucker, Ala. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st. Lt. Jermaine Thurston)


BY SPC. CODY MUZIO AND SGT. 1ST CLASS MYRA BUSH FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- When


2nd Lt. Kayla Freeman wore her wings for the first time on the stage of Fort Rucker's Army Aviation school, she didn't consider how historically impactful the moment was.


Freeman, whose June 21


graduation made her the first black female pilot in the Alabama National Guard, said she "didn't think about making history when I


started this journey. I just wanted to do the best that I could do and hopefully


inspire a few people


along the way." That's a goal she has also


accomplished, with Freeman being inundated with congratula- tions, well-wishes, and messages of appreciation in the few weeks after her achievement.


Freeman said she was honored to have her wings TUSKEGEE GRAD PAGE 10


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