Photo By David San Miguel | Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Schaben-Davidson shows off her tattoo which signifies her...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Growing up in rural Iowa, it was all Jennifer Schaben-Davidson could do to branch out into a brave, new world.
It was an adventurous spirit, she attributes to her father growing up in Portsmouth with a population of a little more than 150 that moved her to join the Army.
At 5 feet 1 inch and 135 pounds, Schaben defied small town tradition and joined the Army Reserve under the Split Training Option while still in high school. This program allows students to attend basic training during the summer of their junior year and complete advanced individual training following graduation.
Though her father never joined the military, she believes that “looking back, he may have considered joining had he been young enough. But where we’re from, there’s not a lot of military there and people just don’t generally consider it. Only a handful of people do join, but it’s not a widely known option.
“I think it was just that sense of adventure,” Schaben said. “I just wanted to get out there and do something. I’ve always not been one to walk the worn path.
“I also think that maybe if I’d have waited a year, I might not have done it at all,” she admitted. “I try not to let anyone or the fear of the unknown stop me. It was one of the best decisions of my life.”
That decision introduced the high school junior to aerial flight and helped develop a budding interest in skydiving.
“I’d never flown in an airplane before. I had never been able to,” she said. “But I have always been drawn to that.”
Schaben completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She reported for duty as a medic with an Army Reserve unit in Iowa and enrolled at the University of Iowa in pursuit of a degree in international studies.
“There, I met some people who skydived and I started jumping as a civilian,” she said. “This was back when I was in college and there was a drop zone about 45 minutes away.
“I was a TPU (troop program unit) soldier when I heard about the Golden Knights,” Schaben added. “I found out that if you’re in the military and have about 100-150 jumps, you could try out for the team. So, I decided I’d go try out.”
Schaben’s application was accepted and she successfully completed the grueling and mentally challenging six-week course, said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Janise, Golden Knights member and team videographer. She became the first female in the U.S. Army Reserve to make the roster.
“She has been with the team, first on the demonstration team and now on the competition team, since coming on board in October 2008,” Janise said. “Her easy-going personality gelled with the team and made her a great asset. Schaben has since helped the Women’s 4-Way team earn gold, silver and bronze medals at various international and national skydiving competitions, such as the World Meet in the Czech Republic and the Counsel International du Sport Militaire competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”
To date the Golden Knights hold the current military world record in both male and female 4-way freefall formation and the world record in Canopy piloting speed.
“We definitely play a role in skydiving history. We are the highest scoring women’s team in skydiving history,” Schaben added. “We’re the first women’s team to make it to the podium at a national competition. So that’s really great for me to be a part of that.”
Admittedly modest of her success not only as a member of the Golden Knights but also as a sergeant first class in today’s Army Reserve, Schaben said that she initially didn’t see the correlation between the team’s wins and women’s history.
“Skydiving is not very main stream,” she said, “but you take all of these little accomplishments that myself and other women are making and I think it definitely makes an impact. It’s a part of women’s history. I’m very proud of that.”
That impact, she said begins with making goals. It’s her motto she often is reminded of tattooed on her right forearm, “Impossible is Nothing.”
“I hope others, particularly young women, recognize that and set their goals and know that they can accomplish them,” Schaben said. “If you dream it, you can do it.”
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2014 12:03 |
| Story ID: | 121943 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,424 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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