G.I. Jane Breaks the Combat Barrier as War Evolves

[tocqueville]

Sgt. Theresa Lynn Flannery during an attack in April 2004 near Najaf, Iraq.

Before 2001, America’s military women had rarely seen ground combat. Their jobs kept them mostly away from enemy lines, as military policy dictates.

But the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, often fought in marketplaces and alleyways, have changed that. In both countries, women have repeatedly proved their mettle in combat. The number of high-ranking women and women who command all-male units has climbed considerably along with their status in the military.

“Iraq has advanced the cause of full integration for women in the Army by leaps and bounds,” said Peter R. Mansoor, a retired Army colonel who served as executive officer to Gen. David H. Petraeus while he was the top American commander in Iraq. “They have earned the confidence and respect of male colleagues.”

Their success, widely known in the military, remains largely hidden from public view. In part, this is because their most challenging work is often the result of a quiet circumvention of military policy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/us/16women.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

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[nadinbrzezinski]

1. GOOD, women have proven that indeed they can hack it

Sergeant, I am sure the highest honor was when the boys told you you are one of the boys.

Trust me, been there, done that... and the day them boys said that I knew the days of proving myself beyond what was required of them were mostly over.

:patriot:

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. I was always interested in serving in the Navy or Air Force

I've never looked into it, as I've always assumed my medical history would keep me out, but especially now that Junior is gone and the job market sucks, I'm giving it a hard second thought.

Thanks to you and these brave women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan for breaking down the barriers for us girls :patriot:

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I didn't break them in Iraq or Afghanistan

but I was among the first women to serve as medics with the Red Cross in Mexico. And trust me, just like these gals, we had to prove ourselves, every day we showed up for duty from the first day we showed up for training.

One of the most comical ones regarding this came years later, I was a training officer and a kid (male) shows up to volunteer, he had already signed on to take the course, mix of EMT, rescue and paramilitary trainig.

So I overhear him say to my partner, "Women should not be allowed in the Red Cross, I mean they can't do the job."

I took out my trauma kit from my car... put it together, and then the airway bag and the rescue bag. Told him to come over. since well you know women could not hack it. I told him, "take this orange box to the ambulance." (It is about twenty feet away)

He tried to lift it, could not would not budge. The box was about sixty pounds of medical gear. So I told him, take the airway bag.

He again could not. It wasn't that heavy.

So I took airway bag and on one shoulder it goes, then took the rescue bag, on the other... and then took the trauma kit to the ambulance, all together, about oh ... eighty pounds of gear and did not even break a sweat. Then came back to the car and got the rest of the crap (gear)

Then I turned to him and told him, "welcome to the Red Cross. You are new, I am your instructor, and I will not tolerate this. Here we have only one species. I don't care if you are male or female. If you cannot hack it, you will not finish the course. I guarantee it." To say that he did lose all kinds of color would be under rating it. It was actually fun to watch.

But what women have faced in the military is not unlike other areas of life where women have opened gates. Now as to your enlisting in the military... for many reasons I'd consider the USN first, it has less issues than the AF re women and rape. That said, the AF is the least intense intro to military life. Oh and back after 9.11 they were willing to overlook a lot, and allow me into the AF... except one. Hubby was an active duty Chief on the front lines.

[WildEyedLiberal]

20. HA - great story

:thumbsup:

Thanks to you and your husband for all you do.

[juno jones]

10. As another woman in a mostly male field, my hat is off to you

and to the Sgt. as well. It's is a shame though, that it has taken an illegal war for our female soldiers to get the recognition they have deserved all along.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Well you then know exaclty how this does not change

regardless of place or country.

And it is a shame that it took a war, alas taking away that nasty color line from the AF would not have happened without Korea either.

As much as I hate these two wars, some few positive things will come out of it. Granted, we could use only the fingers of one hand, but I suspect this will lead to also the end of DADT. At least I can hope...

[juno jones]

18. I hope so too. n/t

[Strong Atheist]

2. Women can now be part of our killing machine. I guess that is

progress...

I am all for the ERA btw, just not for killing...

[Rex]

4. Well that only took decades and decades and decades...

:eyes:

[BlooInBloo]

5. Too bad they get raped in absurd numbers by their own fellow servicemen.

[Odin2005]

23. I was going to say the same thing.

:cry:

[liberaltrucker]

6. "I am woman, hear me roar...."

:patriot:

[Drunken Irishman]

7. I saw that movie.

Demi Moore was kind of hot in it.

[RB TexLa]

8. "Their jobs kept them mostly away from enemy lines, as military policy dictates."

That policy needs to be changed.

[MichaelHarris]

12. I had a guy cite

the movie G.I. Jane in my Constitutional Law class last semester. All I could do was look at him and say, "Dude, do you realize you just used a movie, a fictional one at that as a source for an argument?"

I think he had said, "If we look back at G.I. Jane the movie we can see woman have no place in the military."

Sometimes I really wonder if some of these kids should really consider other forms of education, maybe macaroni inspector?

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. What about a term of enlistment? That would be a hell of an education

and I'd love to be the DI to that kid

:evilgrin:

Trust me I had fun once, could have fun twice.

:-)

[MichaelHarris]

14. I would love to see

some of the kids do "a little time" humping a ruc. They go on and on about freedom, let them provide some. I go to a sort of right-wing school.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I'm sorry for you

but yes a hump would be good for them, full kit... otherwise would not be fun.

:-)

You know the sad part is that over the last few years I have developed even less patience for them...

Between hubby who is a retired chief and what I did as a younger woman, my level of patience is really low.

One of my military age neighbors is really, and I mean this, REALLY right wing, going over freedom this freedom that. He no longer does that. We both asked to see his mickey mouse canoe park card (DoD card), after he could not present it, I gave him a DD-4 and offered to take him to the recruiter who'd gladly help him fill it up. (enlistment papers).

He no longer speaks to us... and gosh darn it, we blew his conceptions to hell and a hand basket, I mean vets (of two different countries) and neither of us a republican.

Go figure.

[MichaelHarris]

16. I hand-pick

my friends now, I also have no time for conservatism. I've actually asked people I knew to not call anymore because of their politics. I feel better doing it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Me to. My cirlce of friends is very small these days

oh well, but I cannot stand these people, and I realize it is mutual.

So be it.

Now to the historian in me this does not bode well for the future of the US, but that is a whole different kettle of fish.

:-(

[BlooInBloo]

24. Um, what's the average lsat of that school?

[MichaelHarris]

26. dunno

but there are quite a few idiots.

[krispos42]

25. I'd like to him say that to Demi Moore, circa filming that movie.

She was pretty damn buff. I wouldn't mess with her.

[JackDragna]

19. I'm against women in combat!

...because I'm against anyone being in it except only the most dire of times for a country.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. I'm against war, but not women in the combat arms

they can hack it, go for it... ladies.

[Lithos]

22. Well said

There is a standard. If a man or a woman meet it, then so be it.

For those who still doubt:

http://www.lothene.demon.co.uk/others/women20.html

[daedalus_dude]

27. lol. she's got a psycho look to her that gives me the chills.

"KILL KILL KILL BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD"

:rofl:

[Aviation Pro]

28. Everyone here does realize that the women proving their mettle in combat....

...is based on proximity and not job/MOS/rating category. I hate to use the word never, but women will never serve as line personnel in the following:

1. Infantry (USA and USMC)
2. Armor (USA and USMC)
3. Special Forces (USA, one exception, Kathleen Wilder, who was awarded the tab but never served with a unit)
4. SEALs (USN)
5. Force Recon (USMC)
6. Any Ranger Battalion (USA)
7. PJ (USAF)
8. CCT (USAF)
9. Artillery (USA and USMC)
10. ANGLICO (USN)

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. This is not meant to detract from the accomplishments of women on the battlefield, but to remind everyone that direct combat missions, not police action engagements, are still the realm of combat arms and exclusively restricted to men.