The Taliban Are Not The Enemy, American Women Are

[BaburCM]

"You're entitled to your opinion..."

No. I'm quoting western-biased media polls and the best available historical data on Afghan wars of recent past. Can you do better?

I won't defend my army. I don't think there's a need, actually. We'll survive Abu Ghraib, Bagram, and Guantanamo knowing that somehow there's far worse done to muslims by muslims and others-

Russian Death Squads "Pulverise" Chechans-Times of London

No worries about it on this board, though. Or maybe most of Islam is scared sh!tless that the Russians will do the same elsewhere. Perhaps photos would help to dramatize the malice. I guess pictures tell a thousand words, eh? They did at Abu Ghraib. Of course, there's not much left to photograph after a 152mm projo strapped to a corpse goes off.

Just blood, guts, and slop sprayed everywhere.

Either way, we've really got a lot to learn on the finer points of murder/mayhem for the hell of it from others.

OTOH, we've been a long time since we had our azz handed to us like the Chechans did to the Russians in Grozny.

They could really use some anger-management training.

How's that for "kosher" behavior or do they receive special dispensation for Russians being ever so terribly "Russian"?

Spot on master! No, please don't say that. We should defend the US army at all cost! We cannot condone the wrongdoers, but shall praise the virtuous crusaders and warriors amongst us. Yes, let it be known that it's our right to do as we wish because we can and are justified to do so. Even God is on our side. You're so right! Your tongue is the truth, holy and sacred. These wicked and evil Muslims! The things they do makes me boil. How dare they point fingers at others. Whatever is coming at these Muslims is justified and they fully deserve it! It's their destiny and it's God's will.

Spot on, master just spot on! I seek forgiveness for any past disagreements on my part. How foolish and ignorant I was. I repent and prostrate.

PS. I've deleted my previous posts master. I hope that you take that as a token of appreciation on my part.

 

[S-2]

"So, if you are attached to a "Light Infantry" unit, it would probably be wise to actually be proficient at the things light infantry does."

Within all the constraints present, I'm certain every effort is made to assure they've a clear role and expectations in all aspects of a given operation.

Personally, I wouldn't expect proficiency in breaching a fortified structure under fire, as example, but that's just me. Secondly, their primary purpose on those given missions likely doesn't entail anything of such.

As to being prepared for all possible contingencies that might arise, that's a challenge for ANY soldier when first facing something other than the "one-way range".

"The policy of the US DOD is that women are not allowed to participate in "Combat operations" or "Combat Arms"."

If you say so. I'm confident that we expect women in combat support or combat service support functions that bring them to the battle-zone to perform their assigned tasks. They are soldiers. Their preparation will be equal to the male peers of their units.

This is exceeded only where additional women are necessary to process female detainees, suspects, etc and the needs of service exceed the abilities to locate proper language, M.P. or intelligence female soldiers that are readily available to assist and for which they've likely been trained.

"These things don't come up very often if you are in a logistics convoy, or protecting an ammo dump, but they sure as hell do come up when you are busting down doors looking for insurgents."

Gross generalization. If mission intent includes expectations of extensive"door busting", then your mission is far different from patrolling activities or neighborhood searches. OTOH, log convoys receive EXTENSIVE additional training at this point for everybody that MIGHT find themselves in a vehicle. Any personnel traveling in vehicles now receive specific training on exiting rolled vehicles in the midst of a firefight, tactical responsibilities of turret gunners, drivers and vehicle commanders for ALL types vehicles, and convoy control procedures.

That's everybody, to include combat arms battalions.

My former brigade is pre-deployment for Iraq now. They'll do work-ups in Camp Roberts, Ca. for six weeks, Ft. Benning for two months, and Kuwait again for a month before in-country deployment.

This in addition to being MOS SQT qualified, PT and rifle marksmanship certified, and of sufficient physical/emotional health to deploy.

"My argument is really with DOD policy..."

That's correct.

"They just mean you have time to hit the gym 3-4 times a week..."

Those are exceptional standards for any woman-especially 10 pullups. Perhaps the pushups too. Any number of women unchallenged by the run times. Any number who are. So too many of our guys.

Same with respect to men in combat support/CSS functions. Their training levels as proficient light infantry will lag relative to their bayonet peers. So too, even artillery units until they've received extensive workups by peer infantry units. Even then, not a primary mission and, again, not the first choice for active breaching operations in MOUT conditions.

So you broach multiple issues that leech over to their male peers. In the interim, you'll forgive me if I view your standards as a moving target to which we'll hopefully aspire-time, money, and resources available.

Thanks.

 

[S-2]

"Spot on, master just spot on! I seek forgiveness for any past disagreements on my part. How foolish and ignorant I was. I repent and prostrate."

Then go forth, my son, and sin no more...

"PS. I've deleted my previous posts master. I hope that you take that as a token of appreciation on my part."

So noted and beyond the call of civil human behavior, you've identified the transgressions of each better than I could hope. For that, America's eternal blessings upon you.

Keep up the fine work.

Thanks.

 

[BaburCM]

"Spot on, master just spot on! I seek forgiveness for any past disagreements on my part. How foolish and ignorant I was. I repent and prostrate."

Then go forth, my son, and sin no more...

"PS. I've deleted my previous posts master. I hope that you take that as a token of appreciation on my part."

So noted and beyond the call of civil human behavior, you've identified the transgressions of each better than I could hope. For that, America's eternal blessings upon you.

Keep up the fine work.

Thanks.

Thank you my God!

I owe you my infinite gratitude my holiest master! I bestow upon you infinite blessings and salutations for the kindness that you have shown!

 

[Tang0]

"These things don't come up very often if you are in a logistics convoy, or protecting an ammo dump, but they sure as hell do come up when you are busting down doors looking for insurgents."

Gross generalization. If mission intent includes expectations of extensive"door busting", then your mission is far different from patrolling activities or neighborhood searches. OTOH, log convoys receive EXTENSIVE additional training at this point for everybody that MIGHT find themselves in a vehicle. Any personnel traveling in vehicles now receive specific training on exiting rolled vehicles in the midst of a firefight, tactical responsibilities of turret gunners, drivers and vehicle commanders for ALL types vehicles, and convoy control procedures.

That's everybody, to include combat arms battalions.

I am aware that motorized transport statistically speaking is one of the most dangerous jobs in the US military these days, but I think you will agree "as dangerous as infantry" != "same requirements as infantry", but I will leave it there.

You I think, have made my point for me in a slanty sort of way.
With a shifting definition of "Combat Role" many more soldiers outside of the combat arms are dealing with situations that necessitate traditional "Infantry" skills than at any time since at least Vietnam, possibly WW2.

However, in order to meet manpower needs in an all volunteer force, the army's strategy leading up to the GWOT was to make the bar for entry fairly low, and then work on training people for a specialization. So, the Infantry are "athletes with a license to kill", while admin clerks are "Ninjas with a spreadsheet". In addition, the army has flat out refused to admit women into the combat arms training schools. (NO RANGER SCHOOL FOR YOU!)

So, the DOD in reality is willing to let women run all the risks that men do as far as death in combat is concerned, but because of some theoretical constraint imposed by regulations from 1992, is unwilling to allow them the chance for the same level of training.

"Stupid" is my verdict on this one. Females get the Combat Action Badge all the time, but never the Combat Infantry Badge.

Oh, and same verdict on the fact that males and females have diffrent standards for the same physical fitness test. A minumum requirement is a minimum requirement. Again, double standards are bad...

 

[S-2]

So, the DOD in reality is willing to let women run all the risks that men do as far as death in combat is concerned, but because of some theoretical constraint imposed by regulations from 1992, is unwilling to allow them the chance for the same level of training.

ALL the risks? Temper your vehemence.

Never seen an artilleryMAN wear the CIB either.

 

[Tang0]

ALL the risks? Temper your vehemence.

Never seen an artilleryMAN wear the CIB either.

These are admittedly isolated cases, but once you start allowing exceptions to the rules, the rules have a way of becoming not so rule like after all. Anyway, rant over.

 

[BaburCM]

Very relevant to this thread.

Most US female soldiers are sexually assaulted by their own troops.

Women at war face sexual violence

In her new book, The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq, Helen Benedict examines the experience of female soldiers serving in the US military in Iraq and elsewhere.

Here, in an article adapted from her book, she outlines the threat of sexual violence that women face from their fellow soldiers while on the frontline, and provides testimony from three of the women she interviewed for her book.

More American women have fought and died in Iraq than in any war since World War II.

Over 206,000 have served in the Middle East since March 2003, most of them in Iraq. Some 600 have been wounded, and 104 have died.

Yet, even as their numbers increase, women soldiers are painfully alone.

In Iraq, women still only make up one in 10 troops, and because they are not evenly distributed, they often serve in a platoon with few other women or none at all.

This isolation, along with the military's traditional and deep-seated hostility towards women, can cause problems that many female soldiers find as hard to cope with as war itself - degradation and sexual persecution by their comrades, and loneliness instead of the camaraderie that every soldier depends on for comfort and survival.

Between 2006 and 2008, some 40 women who served in the Iraq War spoke to me of their experiences at war. Twenty-eight of them had been sexually harassed, assaulted or raped while serving.

They were not exceptions. According to several studies of the US military funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs, 30% of military women are raped while serving, 71% are sexually assaulted, and 90% are sexually harassed.

The Department of Defense acknowledges the problem, estimating in its 2009 annual report on sexual assault (issued last month) that some 90% of military sexual assaults are never reported.

The department claims that since 2005, its updated rape reporting options have created a "climate of confidentiality" that allows women to report without fear of being disbelieved, blamed, or punished, but the fact remains that most of the cases I describe in my book happened after the reforms of 2005.

Source: BBC NEWS | Americas | Women at war face sexual violence

For complete article please visit link.

 

[BaburCM]

CHANTELLE HENNEBERRY

Army specialist Chantelle Henneberry served in Iraq from 2005-6, with the 172nd Stryker Brigade out of Alaska.

"I was the only female in my platoon of 50 to 60 men. I was also the youngest, 17.

Because I was the only female, men would forget in front of me and say these terrible derogatory things about women all the time.

I had to hear these things every day. I'd have to say 'Hey!' Then they'd look at me, all surprised, and say, 'Oh we don't mean you.'

One of the guys I thought was my friend tried to rape me. Two of my sergeants wouldn't stop making passes at me.

Everybody's supposed to have a battle buddy in the army, and females are supposed to have one to go to the latrines with, or to the showers - that's so you don't get raped by one of the men on your own side.

But because I was the only female there, I didn't have a battle buddy. My battle buddy was my gun and my knife.

During my first few months in Iraq, my sergeant assaulted and harassed me so much I couldn't take it any more. So I decided to report him.

But when I turned him in, they said, 'The one common factor in all these problems is you. Don't see this as a punishment, but we're going to have you transferred.'

Then that same sergeant was promoted right away. I didn't get my promotion for six months.

They transferred me from Mosul to Rawah. There were over 1,500 men in the camp and less than 18 women, so it wasn't any better there than the first platoon I was in. I was fresh meat to the hungry men there.

I was less scared of the mortar rounds that came in every day than I was of the men who shared my food.

I never would drink late in the day, even though it was so hot, because the Port-a-Johns were so far away it was dangerous.

So I'd go for 16 hours in 140-degree heat and not drink. I just ate Skittles to keep my mouth from being too dry.

I collapsed from dehydration so often I have IV track lines from all the times they had to re-hydrate me."

Source: BBC NEWS | Americas | Women at war face sexual violence

 

[BaburCM]

MICKIELA MONTOYA

Army specialist Mickiela Montoya served in Iraq for 11 months from 2005-6, with the California National Guard. She was 19 years old.

"The whole time I was in Iraq I was in a daze the whole time I was there 'cause I worked nights and I was shot at every night.

Mortars were coming in - and mortars is death! When they say only men are allowed on the front lines, that's the biggest crock of ****! I was a gunner! But when I say I was in the war, nobody listens. Nobody believes I was a soldier. And you know why? Because I'm a female.

There are only three things the guys let you be if you're a girl in the military - a *****, a ho, or a dyke. You're a ***** if you won't sleep with them. A ho if you've even got one boyfriend. A dyke if they don't like you. So you can't win.

A lot of the men didn't want us there. One guy told me the military sends women soldiers over to give the guys eye-candy to keep them sane.

He told me in Vietnam they had prostitutes, but they don't have those in Iraq, so they have women soldiers instead.

At the end of my shift one night, I was walking back to my trailer with this guy who was supposed to be my battle buddy when he said: 'You know, if I was to rape you right now nobody could hear you scream, nobody would see you. What would you do?'

'I'd stab you.'

'You don't have a knife,' he said to me.

'Oh yes I do.'

Actually I didn't have one, but after that, I always carried one.

I practiced how to take it out of my pocket and swing it out fast. But I wasn't carrying the knife for the enemy, I was carrying it for the guys on my own side."

Source: BBC NEWS | Americas | Women at war face sexual violence

 

[BaburCM]

MARTI RIBEIRO

Air Force Sergeant Marti Ribeiro was assaulted by a fellow serviceman while she was on duty in Afghanistan in 2006.

"It's taken me more than a year to realise that it wasn't my fault, so I didn't tell anyone about it.

The military has a way of making females believe they brought this upon themselves. That's wrong.

There's an unwritten code of silence when it comes to sexual assault in the military.

But if this happened to me and nobody knew about it, I know it's happening to other females as well.

Adapted from The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq by Helen Benedict, just released from Beacon Press."

Source: BBC NEWS | Americas | Women at war face sexual violence

 

[S-2]

A serious problem that is enduring to our military and American society. The larger problem of stigmatization suppresses accurate reporting data.

Here's the 2009 report-

DoD FY08 Report On Sexual Assault in the Military

You're fortuate to be Pakistani and muslim. I doubt such issues exist within your society or military.

 

[Keysersoze]

Well this has been a worthwhile thread Closed!