PORT ORCHARD, Wash. (AP) — A Port Orchard woman has signed on to be among the first female tank operators.

The Kitsap Sun reports (http://bit.ly/1NcOxZG ) that 18-year-old Levani Ilasa enlisted Wednesday in the Army as an M1 armor crewman. Armor, cavalry and other combat jobs opened to women April 1.

Ilasa says she wanted to make an impact by being among the first female tankers, but also that she understands it’s just like any other job.

Ilasa will report for duty in March once facilities at Fort Benning, Georgia, are refitted for women.

Another Port Orchard woman is enlisting as a fire support specialist for a field artillery team but she hasn’t been formally sworn in.

___

Information from: Kitsap Sun, http://www.kitsapsun.com/

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.