Female combat veteran: ‘There should be a mission standard, not a gender standard’ in military

Former helicopter pilot Amber Smith says women in combat should be treated just like their male counterparts. 

“My take on women in combat is women should be able to try. There should be a mission standard, not a gender standard,” Smith told “Rising” co-host Buck Sexton as part of his ongoing “Buck in a Bar” Hill.TV series. 

Smith, who flew two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, attributes her success to hard work and perseverance. 

“You have to want it. You have to work really hard and have some super thick skin,” she said. “But all of the hard work will pay off when you go out there serving your country, and you get to fly one of the most incredible pieces of equipment out there.”

Smith served as helicopter pilot and air mission commander in the 101st Airborne Division. She was also the deputy assistant to the secretary of defense for outreach in public affairs, and a Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs adviser to Trump’s presidential transition team. 

The Army veteran has a new book out detailing her journey, “Danger Close: My Epic Journey as a Combat Helicopter Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

— Tess Bonn