First Lt. Misa Matsushima Says She Was Inspired By 'Top Gun'

Japan has named 26-year-old 1st Lt. Misa Matsushima as the country's first female fighter pilot. She will be stationed at Nyutabaru Air Base and fly F-15J fighter jets.

In a news release, the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) said that after graduating from the National Defense Academy in 2014, Matsushima became one of the 13,707 servicewomen who make up a mere 6.1% of all Japanese troops. She finished her training last week, and was officially named a fighter pilot in a ceremony on Friday.

CNN reports that that Lt. Matsushima talked with reporter on Thursday, and aid that she has seen the movie "Top Gun" while in primary school, and that made her want to become a jet fighter pilot. "As the first female (fighter) pilot, I will open the way. I would like work hard to meet people's expectations and show my gratitude to people who have been supporting me. I want to become a full-fledged pilot, no different from men, as soon as possible," she said during the news conference. "I hope to be the one to inspire more people to become a pilot."

Matsushima first earned her pilot certificate in 2015, and advanced into fighter training.

Women have been part of the JASDF since 1993, but positions as fighter and reconnaissance aircraft pilots were not available to women until 2015. The move was part of government program to increase the number of women in the workforce, according to a statement from the JASDF.

(JASDF image)

FMI: Original report