Tianna Langdon is the U.S. Army's first female combat cannon recruit from the state of Washington. The 19 year old is a 2014 graduate of Sedro-Woolley High School. A self-described tomboy, she's never been much of a girly girl, preferring dirt bikes to dolls and hunting deer with dad to shopping at the mall.
You can now add American soldier to that list.
"To me, it's just about making a difference," she said.
Tianna wanted to follow her grandfather's footsteps and thought she'd become a member of the military police, but when the Department of Defense opened up combat to women earlier this year, she could fully realize her dream.
"It was perfect," she said. "It's all I ever wanted."
Tianna, all 5'7" 140 pounds of her, will be a combat cannon operator, blasting massive munitions at the enemy. She is one of 36 women who have signed up for that duty nationwide. Tianna hopes she will inspire even more.
"My goal is to pave the way for women and show them you can do it," she said.
As for those who still believe women don't belong in combat, Tianna is eager to accept that challenge and prove them wrong.
"Women can be just as valuable as men," she said. "We can perform the same, if not better, and benefit the Army just as much as men can."
