Anonymous
12-31-1969, 08:00 PM
I spent 10 years in the Field Artillery and would do it
all again. And where I pushed myself more than the
men around me, it was justifiably to prove that I not
only could be just as good an Artillery Officer, but could
pull my own weight - it was the commitment and effort
in doing that that when I couldn't do it or if any man couldn't,
we all pulled together to help each other out. The physcial
capabilities are B.S. There are men in the same branch
who could do less than me but I worked at it - weights,
extra running, extra alert to what's going on around me....
What would hinder us in combat with women directly
there? The way men are protective of us. No matter
what training I was in - ABN, AAS, Flight Tng, Artillery
Tng - the guys around me were always looking out for
me. I knew it - which made me work harder at trying to
do things under my own power - I didn't want to take
advantage of my friends and fellow soldiers. But they
do it anyway.
Old male friends from as far back as ROTC have maintained
contact with me over the past 13 years to make sure I'm
okay; my NCOs that worked directly with me were always
looking out for me (more so than a male officer) I was a
good observor. Can we necessarily fight a good fight
if our men inherently are dividing their focus? It's not that
men care less for their male buddy in combat, but sooner
or later, no matter how much they might grit their teeth
and try to convice themselves if we're going to be there
we'll have to make it on our own - they will eventually
turn around - look for us - cover us - that one pause, or
turn, or delay, can cost them their lives -
I've linked up again with a good man I knew 13 years ago
in college/ROTC. He knows my background. He respects
what I've accomplished. And he's the first man I've been
with that has brought me back to connecting with my feminine
needs. I've worked so hard at being the officer; being the
uniform; being the soldier that I successfully confused most
people. They - men and women - would see an attractive
woman, but a uniform. It was that serious to me - I could
not afford to draw any - if as little as possible - attention to
the fact that I was a woman. I wanted to be there as a
leader and mentor not as a woman and uncomfortable
( some men ARE uncomfortable talking or being around
a woman due to situations that have come up with some
woman making sexual harrassment charges out of nothing)
....yet another issue that keeps men sorta edgy around
women - just what we need in combat.
But then, this is just my opinion as everyone elses (the
Infantry have a phrase about that.....about everyone having
one.......). Just sharing what THIS combat branch officer
came away from it feeling............ "Automatic Steel" :-)
<hr size=7 width=75%>
PRENDEC@HQDA.ARMY.MIL
all again. And where I pushed myself more than the
men around me, it was justifiably to prove that I not
only could be just as good an Artillery Officer, but could
pull my own weight - it was the commitment and effort
in doing that that when I couldn't do it or if any man couldn't,
we all pulled together to help each other out. The physcial
capabilities are B.S. There are men in the same branch
who could do less than me but I worked at it - weights,
extra running, extra alert to what's going on around me....
What would hinder us in combat with women directly
there? The way men are protective of us. No matter
what training I was in - ABN, AAS, Flight Tng, Artillery
Tng - the guys around me were always looking out for
me. I knew it - which made me work harder at trying to
do things under my own power - I didn't want to take
advantage of my friends and fellow soldiers. But they
do it anyway.
Old male friends from as far back as ROTC have maintained
contact with me over the past 13 years to make sure I'm
okay; my NCOs that worked directly with me were always
looking out for me (more so than a male officer) I was a
good observor. Can we necessarily fight a good fight
if our men inherently are dividing their focus? It's not that
men care less for their male buddy in combat, but sooner
or later, no matter how much they might grit their teeth
and try to convice themselves if we're going to be there
we'll have to make it on our own - they will eventually
turn around - look for us - cover us - that one pause, or
turn, or delay, can cost them their lives -
I've linked up again with a good man I knew 13 years ago
in college/ROTC. He knows my background. He respects
what I've accomplished. And he's the first man I've been
with that has brought me back to connecting with my feminine
needs. I've worked so hard at being the officer; being the
uniform; being the soldier that I successfully confused most
people. They - men and women - would see an attractive
woman, but a uniform. It was that serious to me - I could
not afford to draw any - if as little as possible - attention to
the fact that I was a woman. I wanted to be there as a
leader and mentor not as a woman and uncomfortable
( some men ARE uncomfortable talking or being around
a woman due to situations that have come up with some
woman making sexual harrassment charges out of nothing)
....yet another issue that keeps men sorta edgy around
women - just what we need in combat.
But then, this is just my opinion as everyone elses (the
Infantry have a phrase about that.....about everyone having
one.......). Just sharing what THIS combat branch officer
came away from it feeling............ "Automatic Steel" :-)
<hr size=7 width=75%>
PRENDEC@HQDA.ARMY.MIL