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Captain Jessica M. Moore, US Marine Corps

 

2005 Military Women of Merit - Capt Jessica Moore, USMC By: Laurie Brindle - North County Times -

Captain Jessica Moore is one of the few women in the world to fly Cobra helicopters, the attack aircraft that provides overhead support for military operations, including protecting convoys and medical evacuations. Moore is currently in Iraq on her second deployment to the Middle East. She answered questions by e-mail.

Moore lives in Poway and graduated from UC San Diego with a bachelor's degree in history. She is an accomplished lacrosse player and equestrienne, and was the 1996 Poway Rodeo Queen. Moore says that joining the U.S. Marine Corps was a last-minute decision for her. She had planned to get a teaching credential, but part way through her studies she decided she didn't want to teach. She looked at the military as an option, partly because her father had been a radar intercept officer (F-4 RIO) in the Navy.

Moore said, "I had always been impressed with the Marine Corps, and despite encouragement from my father to join the Navy or the Air Force, I chose the Marine Corps. My father did, however, convince me that I had to fly. At that time, I had no idea that I would be flying Cobras or that I would eventually find myself first in Afghanistan and then now in Iraq,"

After joining the Marine Corps, Moore was sent to Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va. For the next six months, she attended The Basic School, also in Quantico. She attended flight school in Pensacola, Fla., then went to Milton, Fla., and started flying with the VT-3, a fixed-wing training squadron that flies the T-34 training aircraft. Moore chose to fly helicopters and stayed in Milton, transferring to a helicopter training squadron. Moore arrived at Camp Pendleton and spent another six months learning how to fly attack helicopters. She joined her fleet squadron, "The Warriors," in Jacksonville, N.C. Moore flew combat missions during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

When asked what her most memorable experience was, she said, "I think that was flying in the mountains of Afghanistan last spring. I was fortunate to be flying with a great combat crew, and it was awesome to support the Marines as they were providing security for voter registration for the upcoming elections." What is her biggest challenge? "Getting flight gear that fits! I don't think the Navy and Marine Corps had me in mind when they designed the flight gear. Everything is always too big! Plus, trying to find small flight boots and gloves in the supply system is always a challenge. Luckily, our squadron has a great flight equipment shop and they do their best to make my gear fit."

Moore is proudest of her accomplishments as a Marine, but modestly adds, "I don't think of what I have done as any different from what the other guys in my squadron have accomplished." When asked what advice she has for others, Moore said, "don't limit what you can do. While growing up, I never would have guessed that I would ever be capable of being a Marine, let alone a Marine Cobra pilot. But if you work hard, have a good attitude, and keep trying, there really is no limit as to what you can accomplish."

Moore would like people to know that "every Marine out here is doing the best to serve our country. Make sure you thank them every opportunity you get. It really means a lot to know that our country supports us." Moore concludes, "I would like to thank my family, especially my parents. Without their love and support, I would not be the person that I am today."

California paper adds 2nd MAW pilot to list of '2005 Military Women of Merit'
Oct. 4, 2005; Submitted on: 10/04/2005 11:28:47 AM ; Story ID#: 2005104112847
By Cpl. James D. Hamel, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 4, 2005) --

Capt. Jessica M. Moore is one of a handful of female AH-1 Cobra pilots. As the daughter of a Navy radar intercept officer, Moore had never planned to join the military, and even if she had, the Marine Corps seemed the least likely option.

"My dad wanted me to join the Navy or the Air Force," she said. "But, I was always impressed with the Marine Corps, and when I decided to join the military, the Marine Corps was the only branch I wanted to join."

Perhaps it was the choice to join the Marine Corps, or maybe it was a successful deployment to Afghanistan and a successful first month in Iraq. Regardless of reasons, the North County Times, a large San Diego area newspaper named Moore one of its 2005 Military Women of Merit, an award recognizing outstanding female service members.

Moore was notified of her award in mid-September, and though the Poway, Calif., native is proud, she's not the type of Marine to brag.

"I've kind of kept it on the down low," she said. "It's one of those things, you don't want to highlight yourself."

Moore's low-key personality is evident in the way she conducts herself around the squadron. She's not condescending when dealing with junior Marines. Neither is she arrogant when dealing with her superiors.

"She's kind of quiet, very focused and hard working," said Lt. Col. Lawrence E. Killmeier, the commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, the unit Moore belongs to. "She wanted to keep this under the radar because she said she was just doing her job."

Killmeier took command of the squadron a short time before the deployment. In that time, he's realized that in a squadron of elite pilots and officers, Moore holds her own.

 

"A slightly above average officer falls behind the pack in HML/A-167," he said. "With my pilots, we don't care about male or female. They perform well and do their job."

For Moore, the award is as much about her parents as it is about her. Because she was deployed, her parents accepted the award at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. For her mother and father to accept the award in her stead is a quiet tribute to the two people who have had the greatest impact on her life.

"I'm really lucky to have such good relations with my family," she said. "They are my inspiration."

Though she would have enjoyed receiving her recognition in person, Moore said the real honor is being able to perform the tasks that won her recognition in the first place.

"I'm glad I'm here," she said. "We train really hard to do our job and it's good to support the guys on the ground."