She is the first woman in the Serbian army to fly an “eagle”, while two young children await her at home.

Ana Perišić, Photo: Printscreen / RTS

Ana Perišić, one of the few female military pilots in Serbia and the first to take over command of the “eagle” in the 241st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron. Until this year, she was the only female pilot in the 98th Air Brigade in Ladjevici.

The first generation of female pilots in the Serbian army will also deliver the first pilot on the “eagle” aircraft. Ana Perišić is the first to go from the “seagull” school to the “eagle” assault.

– There is a retraining plan and program, first it is the theoretical part where we take the exam, then the flight part, there is a retraining plan and program that defines exercises and flight hours, the retraining ends with a flight exam, with an examiner – says Ana Perišić for RTS.

Although she is one of two women flying military aircraft in Serbia, that did not affect her job duties.

– We have the habit of saying that the plane does not know if you are a man or a woman, if you are a lieutenant or a general, you have to go through everything the same as men, there can be no difference – says Ana Perišić.

There is no difference when it lands. You are up to the task even when you are not flying a plane that flies at an average of 500 miles per hour. Then, together with his wife, also an officer, he takes care of two children.

– It’s complicated, I have two small children, my husband is constantly absent from the field, with good organization, I succeed. Sacrifices are needed, sacrifices, I try not to make the family suffer, but social life suffers a lot. The children still don’t know what to say, they know that their mother is flying and that is normal for them, when they see the plane they get excited but they don’t realize what it really is – says Ana Perišić.

There is a difference compared to other occupations. Military pilots, with training, skill and knowledge, must be healthy and in good shape.

– All I try to do is spend that time learning when I have time. When the children sleep in the afternoon, I study on weekends, but in terms of lifestyle there is not much difference, I take care of my health like everyone else – points out the first woman who will handle the “eagle”.

Although Ana has been dealing with this call for almost a decade, there are still those who are surprised by her choice. She admits, less than in 2007, when she was in the first generation of women to enroll in the Military Academy.