Afghanistan’s first female pilot to serve the Air Force since the fall of the Taliban has defied many odds.
Niloofar Rahmani, 23, became the first female fixed-wing Air Force aviator in Afghanistan’s history and also the first female pilot in the Afghan military since the demise of the Taliban in 2001.
23-years-old Rahmani and her family have been forced to move several times after receiving death threats from the Taliban.
Last week, Rahmani and 9 other inspirational women from across the world were awarded the US Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award 2015.
“Now my goal is to help my country have a bright future and stand up for females. I helped break down the doors for them after me,” Rahmani said in a story published on the website of the US Air Forces Central Command.