The School was delighted to hear of the achievements of former Head Girl, Stephanie Cole, who left in 2004. Stephanie has the distinction of being the youngest member of the RAF’s first all-woman combat helicopter crew, which is to about go into action in Southern Afghanistan.

Stephanie joined the RAF in 2007 and has recently completed a Degree from the University of Derby in Applied Aviation Studies, a qualification established in partnership with the RAF. Stephanie, the youngest of the female crew members, is currently stationed at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, a front-line support helicopter base working within the service's Joint Helicopter Command. Her training has chiefly involved being responsible for the passengers and cargo in the cabin, keeping the helicopter's pilots informed of obstacles around the aircraft and defending it if necessary.

Stephanie is shortly due to be sent to southern Afghanistan for combat duty. Whilst there, Stephanie and her colleagues will form part of Merlin helicopter crews, flying missions which take troops and supplies to the frontline against the Taliban in Helmand Province. They will also airlift casualties. To prepare for their role, Merlin helicopter crews train in the desert areas of California, USA, and at US airbase El Centro, to replicate the heat and dust they will have to deal with in Afghanistan. Stephanie’s training has included gunnery practice on the helicopter's three 7.62mm general purpose machine guns, in order to be able to defend their aircraft in Afghanistan.

As a member of an RAF combat helicopter crew Stephanie said she accepted that whilst on duty they would come under enemy fire, with the possibility of being shot down or forced to ditch their aircraft in hostile territory.

She said: "If we are required to man the weapons it is to provide covering fire in a high threat situation to allow the aircraft to safely evacuate. In certain situations we will also be accompanied by an Apache or Lynx helicopter”.

Head of Sixth Form, Graeme McQueen commented: “We are not at all surprised to hear of Stephanie’s achievements. As a pupil and Head Girl here she didn’t settle for second best and her ambition to succeed in a high risk but rewarding career was always part of her plans”.

We are proud of her achievements thus far and are sure that all connected with Warminster School, both past and present, wish Stephanie and her colleagues all the best in their essential mission to this war-torn country.

Headmaster, Martin Priestley, extended an invitation to Stephanie on her return from combat duty overseas. “Stephanie was clearly an exceptional student in her time here and that has continued since she left the school. I hope to welcome her back to Warminster School in the not-too-distant future so that she can share her experiences with our students, for many of whom I am sure she will prove to be an inspiration.”