Rachel Washburn (born 1987 or 1988) is a former United States Army officer and former cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rachel Washburn | |
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.jpg) Cadet Washburn in 2009 | |
| Born | 1987 or 1988 (age 35–36) |
| Education | BA, Drexel U. (2010) |
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| Military career | |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years | 2010–2016 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
Personal life
Born in 1987 or 1988,[1] Rachel Washburn is a military brat[2] who moved at least twelve times while her father flew helicopters for the US Army and fighter aircraft for the US Air Force. By 2013, though, she called Philadelphia home.[3] In October 2019, Washburn was married to an active-duty soldier assigned to the United States Army Special Forces.[4]
Advised by her father to accept an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship to Ohio State University, Washburn instead accepted a "lucrative " Army ROTC scholarship to Philadelphia's Drexel University.[3] In autumn 2006, she enrolled at Drexel U. to pursue her Bachelor of Arts in history.[1] Cadet Washburn participated in 2009's Army-sponsored All-American Bowl in San Antonio alongside Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston.[5]
Cheerleading
With a childhood background in gymnastics,[6] inspired by her friend who cheered for the Philadelphia 76ers, and with an interest in American football, Washburn was accepted by the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders in spring 2007,[1] despite having zero experience in the sport. She worked for the team for three seasons (2007–08, 08–09, and 09–10).[6] As a cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washburn joined the team on a goodwill tour of Iraq and Kuwait; this reignited her passion for ROTC and military service.[1]
US Army
Washburn joined the United States Army in 2010.[7] After her commissioning as a second lieutenant, Washburn received paratrooper and intelligence training, and would be primarily tasked with the latter. Prior to her first deployments to Afghanistan, Washburn was trained as a cultural support team (CST) member: a female soldier attached to a special operations unit to liaise with Afghan women. Washburn wore a headscarf when working with local women, and even subbed for a midwife when she helped deliver an Afghan woman's baby. Washburn and other CST members were the first members of the program, and have considered writing a book on the topic.[1]
On her second Afghan deployment (ended 17 November 2013), Washburn led an intelligence platoon. By December 2013, First Lieutenant Washburn was stationed at Fort Stewart and had received a Bronze Star Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, a Combat Action Badge, and an Air Assault Badge.[1] Washburn left the Army in 2016.[4]
Civilian career
After working with a non-governmental relief organization as a regional director, Washburn was hired by the broker-dealer Academy Securities in 2017.[7] In 2018, she co-authored a report, cited by Forbes warning that "Turkey as a NATO ally is no longer a given".[8] As of October 2019[update], she was still with the veteran-run company. Academy Securities president Phil McConkey said of Washburn, "Rachel leads 13 admirals and generals as a junior officer. She's in charge, and she organizes all these great resources."[4]