Are you aware of the presence of the all female cultural support team?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:13:07 -0400

Ashley White was the first female soldier to die in combat as part of an elite cultural support team sent to Afghanistan to engage women and gather information unavailable to male.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/11/nation/la-na-cultural-20111212

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 30 at 2015 12:26 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:26:56 -0400

A huge step for women in the military. RIP Ashley.

Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jun 30 at 2015 12:36 PM

SSG Izzy Abbass — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:36:06 -0400

It was a great read. I read it and I also read Solider Girls by Helen Thorpe. Two different perspectives and I would hazard to say at both ends of the spectrum. In talking with many female Vets, most had an experience somewhere in the middle.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 30 at 2015 1:08 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 13:08:58 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member This was a very good article (sad for the loss of of Ashley White), but this really sheds some light on the more increased roles and level of participation in the combat zone for women. I had no idea that this was even being done. Thanks for sharing.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 30 at 2015 2:31 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:31:49 -0400

Similar to the Female Engagement Teams, a combat multiplier by having a female present on the objective.

For those interested, the Army RANGERS were SFC Kristoffer B. Domeij and PFC Christopher A. Horns. SFC Domeij was on his FOURTEENTH DEPLOYMENT!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/tk_n_1035286.html

Army Ranger Who Made Historic Rescue Killed During 14th Deployment

By JULIE WATSON, Associated Press SAN DIEGO — A soldier who was killed in a bomb explosion last week in Afghanistan was on his 14th combat deployment – including four tours in Iraq and

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jun 30 at 2015 5:18 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 17:18:20 -0400

Yes CPT Private RallyPoint Member --- check out:

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/a-band-of-sisters-on-the-special-ops-battlefield-your-thoughts

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

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

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 6:40 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 18:40:52 -0400

She was from my BCT. She was a member of the North Carolina Army National Guard. It was a sad loss. I am really not much of a fan of these Cultural Support Teams. I am not taking anything away the soldiers that served on it but I haven't see any really reflecting their impact in Afghanistan. They did get some information but I am not really sure if this program was as a success as it is made out to be.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jun 5 at 2017 5:27 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 17:27:26 -0400

FYI, SPC(P) Alexandra Hinds