History-making Haver Visits All American Division

Photo By Sgt. L'Erin Wynn | 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, an Apache pilot assigned to 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade out of Fort Carson, Colorado, speaks to an audience of Soldiers at the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters on Fort Bragg, N.C., March 30, 2016. (U.S. Army photo illustration by Spc. L'Erin G. Wynn/49th Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

03.31.2016

Story by Spc. L'Erin Wynn 

49th Public Affairs Detachment   

First Lt. Shaye Haver, an Apache pilot assigned to 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade based in Fort Carson, Colorado, spoke to an audience of 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers at the Division headquarters on Fort Bragg, N.C. March 30, 2016.
Haver made history by becoming one of three women to graduate from the rigorous U.S. Army Ranger School and earn the highly coveted Ranger tab. Because of her unique accomplishment, male and female Soldiers of every rank attended the event to hear about her experiences.
“I didn’t think of my experience or accomplishment as being something that is historically significant, I just wanted to be a better leader,” Haver said. “I don’t look at myself as more of an example than anyone else wearing this tab.”
As a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point at a time when combat arms military occupational specialties and officer branches were not offered to women, Haver never thought of Ranger school as a goal or even an option. When the opportunity to attend the school, which is “not for the weak or fainthearted,” presented itself, she had very specific reasons for wanting to attend.
“I didn’t go to Ranger School to prove that I could do the job of an Infantryman, rather so that I could do my job better as an aviator supporting the guys on the ground,” she said.
Haver was in Ranger School for 124 days. When asked what got her through the experience, her answer was simple.
“I drew strength from my Ranger buddies and knowing if I failed they would have to pick up my slack,” she said.
Haver also took the opportunity to make a powerful point to her audience, Ranger School is gender neutral.
“In my case, with Ranger School, they changed nothing in order for the validation to occur,” she said. “This course has been validated for years and these are the standards that make you a Ranger qualified individual, regardless of gender.”
Members of the audience enjoyed hearing about her experiences and viewed it as valuable insight.
“1st Lt Haver’s experience was both motivating and inspiring for every Paratrooper in the room, not just the females in attendance,” said Staff Sgt. Michelle Lavigne, the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 82nd Abn. Div. career counselor. “It’s great to see her achieve this standard and it is amazing to see what females can accomplish in the U.S. Army when given the opportunity.”
One of the final pieces of advice Haver bestowed upon her All American audience was about personal motivation to attend Ranger School and what the tab means to her.
“Really good leaders will tell you that the (Ranger) Creed is what you take with you beyond the school,” she said. “Bearing the tab does mean something, but the leader you are beyond the school is what really matters. Whatever it takes to be a good leader for my Soldiers is what I’ll continue to do.”
-Airborne-

• Date Taken: 03.31.2016
• Date Posted: 03.31.2016 11:37
• Story ID: 193967
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US
• Hometown: COPPERAS COVE, TX, US