It may come as a surprise to know that only three Canadian women are flying Griffon helicopters in combat missions over Afghan skies.

Even more surprising is that these soldiers are among the first female helicopter pilots to ever serve in combat roles for the Canadian forces.

Pilot Tressa Olson is one of these three Canadian soldiers. But she doesn't like being identified by her gender.

"I don't like to be singled out as a female," Olson told CTV News.

"And I don't think it's necessarily a big deal to be a female here."

But it took a long time for the women of the Canadian Forces to get the respect that they deserve.

For generations, women were not allowed to serve in combat roles when they joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. They were told it was too dangerous to get near the front lines.

It wasn't until 1981 that the Canadian Forces allowed women to pilot military choppers.

Today, only three women are flying combat missions over Afghanistan, providing aerial cover for their fellow soldiers and ferrying their colleagues to and from the battlefield.

And they are among the best in the Canadian Forces.

One of the women says that even over her career, she has seen significant changes.

Capt. Andie Gallagher said she remembers when the air force used to be much more close-minded towards women in their ranks.

"The number of those dinosaurs, if you will, that are around now are few and far between from what they were only seven years ago when I got my wings," Gallagher told CTV News.

"And seven years from now, it's going to be even more different."

Col. Christopher Coates, the commander of Canada's air wing, said the women serve as examples for the people of Afghanistan.

"We stand up for the right things and I think that's what we're doing here in theatre is we're trying to bring those same values to the people of Afghanistan," he said.

With a report from CTV's Steve Chao