5/29/2010

By DAVID CLOUSTON

Growing up in a family of three brothers, Erienne Kriesch tried and succeeded in playing just about every sport her brothers did, including wrestling.

That competitiveness turned out to be good preparation for a future that includes breaking a military gender barrier that has stood for 110 years — the prohibition of women serving in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service.

“She likes challenges,” said her father, Jerry Kriesch, of Abilene, about his daughter.

Kriesch, 23, a Chapman High School graduate, is joining 18 other women who’ve been picked as pioneers to serve on the nation’s ballistic and guided missile submarines.

* To read more of this story, pick up a copy of Sunday’s edition of the Journal.