[Vision2020] women in authority and leadership

[Tom Hansen]

Matt -

I never stated that "women should be put into combat situations."  The
absence of "front lines" in today's wars has pretty much accomplished that. 

I am simply suggesting that women should be afforded the opportunity to
enter combat arms occupational specialties.  There already are female MPs.
I'll leave you to research and discover the mission of a line unit military
police company.

In response to your questions:

1)  Infantry training no longer focuses strictly on lengthy forced marches
with 50-pound rucks.  Those days disappeared hours after George Sr.'s Iraqi
War Part 1.  Don't get me wrong.  The primary method in accomplishing an
infantry unit's mission is, has always been, and will always be "Shoot,
Move, and Communicate."  However "Shoot, Move, and Communicate" had been
modified with "expediently and efficiently", two characteristics a majority
of female soldiers are fully capable.  And one other thing, Matt:  The army,
and the world around it, has changed since Korea.

2)  You stated:

"Let's say that a unit consists of 45 people 35 of those are male, I will 
promise you that 6 of those will be pregnant within six months. With a bunch

of horny males jerking off too sears catalogs, what else would you suspect."

In addition to your comment being sexist beyond credence, just where do you
get your information that states 60% of women in a unit become pregnant?  If
60% (or, for that matter, any sizeable amount) of the female soldiers in a
unit became pregnant primarily because of the overactive libidos of the
males in that unit, I don't believe the problem is with the female soldiers
as much as it is their chain of command and the adolescently immature males
of that unit.

3)  Concerning fraternization, you stated:

"I have seen way too many times women humping upper ranks to get their goals
met, what ever that be."

These are serious unfounded allegations you are presenting, Matt.  In my
twenty years of service, I have experienced only cases of fraternization.  

One involved a male CW2 and a female E2.  On a Saturday morning (at about
2:00), the MPs were informed that somebody in the barracks had obtained
pharmaceutical contraband (illegal drugs).  The company commander decided to
lock down the barracks and escort the MPs room to room.  Can you imagine the
surprise when they opened the door, entered the room of the PV2, and found
her au-natural in the sack with the unit motor officer.  Within the next
four months, the PV2 was processed for a general discharge and separated
from the service.  The CW2 was discharged "for the good of the service"
three years before he was eligible for retirement.  He got off light (as far
as the Army is concerned) compared to what his wife had waiting for him
stateside.

I say this to highlight that fraternization is dealt with severely in the
Army.  Fraternization is also punishable under the Uniform code of Military
Justice.

So . . . you see, Matt, these items are either already "fixed" or on their
way to recovery. 

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 

--Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.