A 'Band of Sisters' on the Special Ops Battlefield. Your thoughts?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 23 May 2015 20:14:30 -0400

Even before women were allowed in combat roles, a group of female soldiers gained crucial information for special operations units.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/23/opinions/lemmon-band-of-sisters-special-ops/index.html

A band of sisters on the special ops battlefield - CNN.com

Even before women were allowed in combat roles, a group of female soldiers gained crucial information for special operations units.

Response by SGT Edward Perez made May 23 at 2015 8:22 PM

SGT Edward Perez — Sat, 23 May 2015 20:22:43 -0400

Well Gunny Ekblad. I'll just put it like this: My Wife and my 26 year old daughter said. Dad why wont they just let the men be men and the women be women. I say did any females make it through the Army's Ranger School. no Please leave the spc ops alone.

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 23 at 2015 8:43 PM

SFC Stephen King — Sat, 23 May 2015 20:43:24 -0400

I am all in. We all serve and if it is conducive to the mission and the results are positive. Great job.

The story is coming out Reese Witherspoon is going to star in Ashley ' War. A book I am looking forward to reading as well.
http://outsidethewire.armytimes.com/2015/03/17/report-reese-witherspoon-to-produce-ashleys-war-story-of-fallen-1lt/

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 9:35 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 21:35:37 -0400

Amazing...I definitely feel a sense of pride while considering Ashley's service and sacrifice.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 23 at 2015 9:41 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 23 May 2015 21:41:44 -0400

Just watched this on CNN. This Book and the Movie are definitely getting added to my Library.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 10:15 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 22:15:05 -0400

Recently the lines of non combat and combat roles have been very blurred for women. They have been doing an outstanding job in not so defined conditions.

Response by PO2 Alana Nielson made May 23 at 2015 10:46 PM

PO2 Alana Nielson — Sat, 23 May 2015 22:46:31 -0400

I think this is great. Women should absolutely be utilized strategically, especially in situations where they can accomplish something men can't. Like it or not, gender roles exist and will continue to exist. If someone wanted to exploit the fact that I'm decent(ish)-looking woman in my mid twenties for an undercover mission....military, FBI, ICE, or otherwise....I'd jump at the chance!

As far as women on the front lines....if they want to do it and they prove they have what it takes, what's the big deal?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made May 24 at 2015 12:28 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 24 May 2015 00:28:18 -0400

I want the right person for the job. Mission accomplishment is first and foremost. Period. GET IT DONE! I could care less who pulls it off, but GET IT DONE!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made May 24 at 2015 12:35 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 24 May 2015 00:35:23 -0400

When we sign the contracts to join the military, it needs to state very publically, that everything is open to everybody, but you are all expected to perform the same tasks. If you wash out in training, we will find a job for you, and you may not like it. These jobs are considered the most challenging.....these jobs are not as hard..........these jobs are considered to be the least physically challenging, but mentally exhausting..........these jobs are considered to be doable by anyone who makes it out of basic/boot. THAT is true equality.

Response by SGT Anthony Rossi made May 24 at 2015 1:07 AM

SGT Anthony Rossi — Sun, 24 May 2015 01:07:41 -0400

There are always those special circumstances where we need to be creative in our aproach. The video was impressive. Yet, I still think that you can't treat male and female soldiers truly equal, because if we did the PT test and hight and weight standards should be exactly the same. Until we are willing to do this it's not really equality. However I truly believe that there is a difference between make and femal and therefore it should be addressed accordingly. Thanks for the question.

Response by SGT Edward Perez made May 24 at 2015 1:17 AM

SGT Edward Perez — Sun, 24 May 2015 01:17:20 -0400

Ashley i am so sorry for sounding rude mean inconsiderate i really am. I came from an army that did not normally use a women. We did many missions in the jungle and wooded area's. I guess it was a dog eat dog when it came to getting are ass's remotely close to a female soldier, let alone her come to our rescue. Really i commend those females in harms way. I do respect you women now a days. I just put down the way i feel about the situation. Maybe i am thinking of a different place and time.

Lt. Annala Thank you for your service. In respect to my wife and daughter, they know exactly what they say. they have been with me from the get go. They know, believe that. As far as the female soldier evolved in the military, Props. The woman hell make as much money as you want. Big the biggest house you desire, became president. Get on choppers, stop the blood from a wounded soldier. Fly a fighter jet. Be what ever!. Utilize the best of the best to get the job done. BUT and be offended if you want. We are not built the same, And when you are in a covert operation, i am sorry we all ripe differently.
Call me what you will, think of me ill. I don't believe the same as many that are on here. Many wont even back me up thats fine too. But i do respect our female service from the lowest to the highest. You really do have my respect.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 24 at 2015 1:16 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Sun, 24 May 2015 01:16:45 -0400

Sensational story, GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad. Tragic ending, but she was needed and heeded the call. Requiescat in pace.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 6:55 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 May 2015 06:55:48 -0400

Let me tell you about this over-hyped CST program. It was a disaster. There were a small handful of good things that came out of it but for the most part, it was a failure. I will not go into great detail, but they had more issues and problems than successes. The database that detailed the problems the program had in Afghanistan was absolutely legendary.

I can sum up the CST program with one quote. It came from a petite LT who missed her link up time and she asked a Green Beret tasked with supporting a part of their training....

"Excuse me, excuse me sergeant, I gotta tinkle."

Not to take anything away from some of the women who lost their lives supporting SOF units, it is just that they shouldn't be championing the merits of the program on so few contributions.

Response by SGT Felicia King made May 24 at 2015 7:29 AM

SGT Felicia King — Sun, 24 May 2015 07:29:01 -0400

In the words of that annoying Disney song 'Let it Go'.
Females can and are able to do military police, as well as combat medic. They can be attached to all male units, and some even serve quite well going above and beyond. But females do not and should not ever belong in combat all male units. Just like God said in the book of Leviticus, 'it is confusing'. And besides, why take every little thing the man does and has? Females are greedy, males leave the females alone and don't try to join in their groups. Men were made by God as bigger and stronger. Yes, females can do a lot, but many things they cannot and should not. Heck, even some males, or a lot of males do not have the strength and ability.
Just saying to Let it go already. I don't believe it worked out for females at Fort Sill, they were quite annoyed by us. Didn't work out for those 101 males and 8 females either.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 8:36 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 May 2015 08:36:08 -0400

I watched this and I really didn't agree on the take of this. 2LT Ashley White was a member of the North Carolina Army National Guard, just as I am. She bore the same patch as I do as she was with the 30th ABCT. She volunteered to do a great service for her country and paid the ultimate price. She is a hero.

What I am objecting to is that I feel that she is being used for something other then what is going on. The Cultural Engagement Teams are not a Special Operations Force. They are an attachment that has been usually used to help the women in Afghan. They received great training and pulled their weight but it just seems to me that they are being posed as something other than what they are. They were there to fulfill a unique mission. It almost seems to be they portrayed as a stand alone force or there were there as operators. We do the same thing with HUMIT and Civil Affairs. I wouldn't call them operators by any means. Are they in the Special Operations community, yes. But that is only part of the story.

This just seems like another political piece to me. They did a job that no man could do. They were great at it. I am sure they accomplished a lot while they were there. From what I know about the CETs this piece really don't portray them in the same light. Maybe it is just me. She was a great National Guard Soldier but that wasn't even mentioned about her. I guess it didn't help out the story. I think this story did better to really portray her.

NC National Guard soldiers honor fallen comrade with memorial

Family, friends and fellow soldiers from the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard, gathered to remember 1st Lt. Ashley White-Stumpf during the unveiling ceremony of the fallen soldier memorial dedicated in her honor at the Goldsboro National Guard Armory here, Sept. 15. 2013.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 12:25 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 May 2015 12:25:18 -0400

Isreali women service with distinction in front-line combat and some special ops roles. Our women in combat have done the same. I've very proud of these US and Isreali women that have served with distinction in those respective armed forces!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 7:14 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 May 2015 19:14:40 -0400

I think it's great, but....
All women aren't combat unit material. I think that any female being chosen to be "assigned" in a combat arms should be carefully selected to be apart of such an elite group. Women have always been "attached" and will continue to do do. My concern of being "assigned" is the disruption of cohesion that exists amongst the band of brothers.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 9:35 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 May 2015 21:35:40 -0400

The FETs & the CSTs could be utilized far more than they were. They have played a little known and highly significant role in Intel collection, and civilian engagement. I have heard talk of them slowing down the recruiting for them because of things winding down, but I personally think that is a mistake.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 11:28 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 23:28:17 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, for the life of me, I can't find where you tagged me.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2015 11:49 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 11:49:24 -0500

i had a female medic attached to my detachment in Kandahar in 2010, she was awesome and like one of the guys. I really doubt this story about LT White, it sounds like a combat inexperienced female should not have been assigned until she had gotten experience and likely led to her death. Male LTs are not even selected to serve with the 75th until they pass RASP or the Ranger Selection and you cannot even join a team until you have been through the Q course.