COMMUNITY
SALTY SERGEANTS Buckeye veteran joins all-women’s Rebelle Rally BY MICHAEL MCDANIEL I n the cold, dark hours before dawn, some 9,000 feet above sea level on Mammoth Mountain, headlamps will flicker across frosted ground as women stir from their tents, the air sharp enough to sting their lungs. For Buckeye's Heidi Bailly, the scene will feel strikingly familiar. Bailly and teammate Kristie Levy of Ahwatukee, both veterans, know what it means to push through early-morning missions where discipline, trust and precision mean everything. Only this time, the mission isn’t military — it’s the Rebelle Rally, an eight-day, 1,550-mile off-road navigation event across California and Nevada that demands as much mental grit as mechanical skill.
At 5 a.m., navigators huddle by lamplight, plotting coordinates with compasses and maps, while drivers check gear and prep vehicles. By 7 a.m., engines rumble to the line, sending competitors into up to 12 hours of unforgiving terrain. The Rebelle is the first women’s off-road navigation rally in the U.S., and unlike speed races, victory here comes from precision. Sixty- five teams compete without GPS, phones or smartwatches — just old-school tools and grit to guide them from the high Sierra to the Mojave Desert near Needles, Calif. For Bailly, former Marine now calling Buckeye’s Sienna Hills neighborhood home, the rally feels like a natural extension of the skills she sharpened during service. “Our military service has taught us discipline, resilience and the importance of teamwork, all skills that translate to the Rebelle Rally,” she said. Bailly serves as navigator for Team No. 167, the Salty Sergeants, while Levy takes the wheel of their Jeep, nicknamed “Atropia.” The pair met less than a year ago when Levy posted in a
Left: Driver Kristie Levy finds peace in remote landscapes. Above: Atropia is a true rally rig with storage and a sleeper compartment.
women veterans’ group seeking a rally partner. A test run in California’s Glamis dunes proved their chemistry, and Bailly signed on. Training since then has taken them everywhere from Johnson Valley to Big Bear in California, sharpening their navigation, off-road driving and vehicle recovery skills. “Prepping for the Rebelle Rally over the past nine months has been exhausting at times… but it has also been a blessing,” Levy said. “Heidi and I have improved our communication and understanding of each other through all these efforts.” That bond is crucial. Bailly will be responsible for plotting daily coordinates, tracking time limits and guiding the Jeep through wilderness routes, while Levy drives and keeps the vehicle in shape. Their shared military background sets the tone. “If Heidi says she will do or handle something, that’s all I need to hear. It’s part of the baseline expectation of fellow veterans,” Levy said. The Rebelle tests both body and mind. Teams endure long days inside their vehicles, navigating everything from freezing mountain mornings to punishing desert heat. Bailly anticipates the mental toll will be steep. “Long days in the Jeep, varying terrain, navigating without GPS, and making constant decisions under pressure can be mentally exhausting,” she said. Representing Buckeye on the global stage is something Bailly doesn’t take lightly. “It’s both exciting and an honor to represent Buckeye and the veteran community on such a unique stage as the Rebelle Rally,” she said. “Competing on a global stage allows us to highlight resilience, teamwork and grit, and we hope to inspire others, especially women and veterans, to take on challenges that push them beyond their comfort zones.”
Kristie Levy and Buckeye's Heidi Bailly (right) pose on top of their Jeep, Atropia, on a cloudy August afternoon in Buckeye.
KRISTIE LEVY
HEIDI BAILLY
Occupation: Federal agent Residence : Ahwatukee Rebelle role: Driver
Occupation: Senior research project coordinator at HealthPartners Residence: Buckeye (Sienna Hills) Rebelle role: Navigator Military highlights: Served 14 years on active duty as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist, achieving the rank of staff sergeant; assignments included Japan, Korea, Guam, Australia and multiple U.S. postings.
Military highlights: Drill sergeant, first sergeant, ROTC instructor at Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University Family: Married to a retired U.S. Army vet of 27 years; proud mom of a son, 21, studying at Eastern Kentucky University Fun fact: She’s an avid trail and ultra- runner who finds peace in remote landscapes and has completed multiple endurance races. Rebelle experience: Fourth year
Family: Married, mom of three (son, 18; daughters, 24 and 26) Fun fact: Earned the nickname
“Super Navi” during Rebelle U training for her exceptional precision in plotting
coordinates and map reading. Rebelle experience: Rookie
InBuckeye.com | September 2025
September 2025 | InBuckeye.com
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