Eagles cheerleader Rachel Washburn who now carries an M4 carbine instead of shiny pompoms is set to be awarded the title "Hometown Hero" by the Philadephia Eagles on Sunday.

She cheered for the Eagles from 2007 to 2009. The daughter of a military man, former NFL cheerleader now serves the United States Army as a first lieutenant. Also the recipient of the Bronze Star, Washburn previously served two hours of duty in Afghanistan, including an hour as part of the new Cultural Support Program.

Being a solder was both stressful and dangerous, as the former Eagles cheerleader would take on missions with special operations forces and assist in searching and interviewing Afghani children and women.

"We could be their voice during missions for engagement to ensure security on objectives, and we could help search and secure the females and the children during missions," Washburn shared through the Philadelphia Eagles website. 

Washburn's father, Lon, had served a long time in the Army and the Air Force as one of their pilots.

The 25-year-old former Eagles cheerleader shared that during her Army training she used to focus on her happy place every time she experienced being confronted by stress. Washburn used to think of her first time cheering for the Philadelphia eagles and called it one of her best memories. She recalled the beautiful August day wherein she had been lined up for the pregame program.

The former cheerleader of the Eagles shared memories of trips to Philadelphia hospitals and one USO trip to Iraq.

Washburn said during her interview that she believed that cheerleading was more than dancing on the sidelines and looking glammed up and pretty. "We're all beautiful women who are there to be entertaining at games, but also, we are incredibly involved in the community, which is something that I am incredibly proud of," the former cheerleader told the Eagles.

Rachel Washburn did not call herself a Philadelphia native and described herself as "from a little bit of everywhere." She has moved from place to place at least a dozen times during her childhood and teenage years. 

The former cheerleader of the Eagles shared that she loved Philadephia from her visits from time to time and thus applied for Drexel University. She got in with an Army ROTC scholarship.