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From: Army Times
No one disputes that Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, served with the National Guard in a combat zone.
So the recent round of questions about whether she counts as a "combat veteran" has made more than a few former service members uncomfortable and upset.
But they aren't necessarily surprised.
"This kind of stuff has been going on for generations," said Phil Carter, director of veterans programs at the Center for a New American Security. "We've seen conversations about peacetime service as opposed to wartime service. We've seen veterans from different wars trade stories about who had it tougher.
"But so few people have an appreciation for what military service is that these arguments start to take on a controversial quality about what 'counts' as service."
Earlier this month, the Huffington Post questioned Ernst's characterization of herself as a "combat veteran," noting she had not been involved in a firefight during her 14-month Middle East deployment.
The Iowa Guard lieutenant colonel commanded the 1168th Transportation Company during the 2003-04 deployment, overseeing transportation runs in Kuwait and southern Iraq and running a protection detail in Kuwait.
She touted her "combat veteran" status in numerous campaign stops during the mid-term elections last year, and noted in response to the recent criticism that both Veterans Affairs and Defense Department guidelines classify her as one.
Fellow Senate Armed Services Committee colleague Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. — himself a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war — called Ernst a combat veteran "by any definition."
"Malicious claims to the contrary denigrate not only her service, but that of countless current and former service members who served honorably in a range of roles in our military," he said in a statement.
Carter echoed that sentiment, noting that honoring only certain kinds of military service — in this case, battlefield fighting — risks alienating other troops who have served honorably.
"There's always someone harder than you," he said. "There's always someone who has seen more combat, or had tougher tours. But that doesn't erase someone's war record."
Since the Ernst piece was published and picked up by other news outlets, most veterans' groups have declined comment on the criticisms, other than to offer official statements saying it's clear the senator served honorably in a designated combat zone.
Mark Seavey, new media manager at the American Legion and an an expert in stolen valor cases, said he worries that criticisms like those leveled at Ernst confuse actual cases in which troops or imposters claim military honors they never earned. Ernst has not claimed any medals or campaign awards beyond her record.
"You don't want to see real crimes get watered down because of some people's semantics about service," Seavey said.
He also sees the continued buzz over the issue as underscoring the lack of understanding by many civilians about what the recent wars were really like.
"I can't think of a place, the entire time when I was in Afghanistan, where I thought, 'Wow, I feel really safe here,' " he said. "Everyone who has served over there was in a dangerous area.
"A minuscule number of individuals ... were involved in firefights. But it's still a combat zone."
http://www.armytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/02/19/ernst-combat-veteran-criticism/23666043/
No one disputes that Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, served with the National Guard in a combat zone.
So the recent round of questions about whether she counts as a "combat veteran" has made more than a few former service members uncomfortable and upset.
But they aren't necessarily surprised.
"This kind of stuff has been going on for generations," said Phil Carter, director of veterans programs at the Center for a New American Security. "We've seen conversations about peacetime service as opposed to wartime service. We've seen veterans from different wars trade stories about who had it tougher.
"But so few people have an appreciation for what military service is that these arguments start to take on a controversial quality about what 'counts' as service."
Earlier this month, the Huffington Post questioned Ernst's characterization of herself as a "combat veteran," noting she had not been involved in a firefight during her 14-month Middle East deployment.
The Iowa Guard lieutenant colonel commanded the 1168th Transportation Company during the 2003-04 deployment, overseeing transportation runs in Kuwait and southern Iraq and running a protection detail in Kuwait.
She touted her "combat veteran" status in numerous campaign stops during the mid-term elections last year, and noted in response to the recent criticism that both Veterans Affairs and Defense Department guidelines classify her as one.
Fellow Senate Armed Services Committee colleague Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. — himself a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war — called Ernst a combat veteran "by any definition."
"Malicious claims to the contrary denigrate not only her service, but that of countless current and former service members who served honorably in a range of roles in our military," he said in a statement.
Carter echoed that sentiment, noting that honoring only certain kinds of military service — in this case, battlefield fighting — risks alienating other troops who have served honorably.
"There's always someone harder than you," he said. "There's always someone who has seen more combat, or had tougher tours. But that doesn't erase someone's war record."
Since the Ernst piece was published and picked up by other news outlets, most veterans' groups have declined comment on the criticisms, other than to offer official statements saying it's clear the senator served honorably in a designated combat zone.
Mark Seavey, new media manager at the American Legion and an an expert in stolen valor cases, said he worries that criticisms like those leveled at Ernst confuse actual cases in which troops or imposters claim military honors they never earned. Ernst has not claimed any medals or campaign awards beyond her record.
"You don't want to see real crimes get watered down because of some people's semantics about service," Seavey said.
He also sees the continued buzz over the issue as underscoring the lack of understanding by many civilians about what the recent wars were really like.
"I can't think of a place, the entire time when I was in Afghanistan, where I thought, 'Wow, I feel really safe here,' " he said. "Everyone who has served over there was in a dangerous area.
"A minuscule number of individuals ... were involved in firefights. But it's still a combat zone."
http://www.armytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/02/19/ernst-combat-veteran-criticism/23666043/
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Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 52
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Its obviously political. No stolen valor that I see. Where is the controversy? The criticisms stem from politicians and media from across the aisle. In this case the Democrats; even though i consider myself a Democrat, I would not tolerate any Democrat that is trying to make a political ploy by invalidating her genuine military record. The way I see it a combat veteran is anyone who served in a combat zone. If they were lucky not to be involved in a firefight; that's great but the danger that she could be is there if shes in the combat zone. She had responsibilities of commanding troops and making sure they are accomplishing the mission yet being taken care of and protected. Every job in the military service is important, some may be easier and others harder, but to command a company in a combat zone is definitely not an easy job! Even though I may not agree with all of her political opinions, I am proud to have her as part of the US Senate and Congress.... and I would, of course I stand with her core values that we embrace in the US Army and the other services and the United States of America! of Senator Ernst, Thank you for your service and congratulations on your election!
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SPC Mickey Bennett
If these concerns are from non veterans, they are about as meaningful as a man speaking on child birth based on experience, translation: their criticisms mean NOTHING!
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SSG (Join to see)
Sir thank you for having different political views and still respecting who someone is. This is really refreshing to see today.
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She as done more, honorably, than 99 per cent of the population. Kudos to the Senator.
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Combat is combat. Not everyone involved in WW2 in Europe was shot at, does that mean they aren't combat veterans? My second deployment was as a Combat Adviser to 5th Iraqi Army Division, I wasn't shot at, mortared, or IED'd the whole time (unlike my other two) does that mean it wasn't a combat tour? If she served in Iraq in OIF I, she served a combat tour no matter what the critics say.
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I'm not a fan of JOhn Mccain at all, but if he says shes a combat vet, then she's a combat vet. that kind of thing i don't see as something that should be argued with a guy who was a POW.
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Many Veterans are in war zones. But never fired a shot or was shot at. Maybe the distict ion should be War zone. Vs. Combat. Not combat zone.
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Her time in DIRECT support of troops is grounds enough for combat veteran status. She doesn't have a CAR, that's not the justification for being a combat vet. How many supply caravans have been hit? Would people be saying otherwise if her convoy got hit? If it was possible to be in a firefight then they are a combat vet.
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The people that always want to talk trash are the people who don't have the intestinal fortitude to raise their right hand and swear to Defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic! Usually some damn academic who thinks the military is made up of people incapable of performing any other service.
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SGT Anthony Bussing
I say she is NOT a combat vet...and I raised my hand several times in the 25 years I served...I also did multiple combat tours...so I can voice my opinion...I wear the US Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon. I rate
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SSG Stacy Carter
SGT Anthony Bussing I would like to know your reasoning for her not to be a combat vet when the VA and the DOD say she is. She was the commander of the 1168th Transportation company based in Arifjan Kuwait.. Last time I saw the ALARACT that said what the combat zone was for OIF it included Kuwait. Whether or not she was involved in a firefight or any other type of combat missions while in theater are irrelevant.. She could have been the biggest FOBBIT in the Military and as long as she served any amount of time in a combat zone (which her records state 14 months) she is in fact a combat veteran.
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SGT Anthony Bussing
the last time I knew of any "combat" in Kuwait...was in Feb 1991....which, oddly enough, is where I earned MY CAR...look...I dont give a damn what you or anyone else says...ok? TO me...and to many other actual "COMBAT VETS" we consider being a combat vet as "locating, close with and destroying the enemy by fire and maneuver"...simply "being there" does not make one a "combat vet"...did I ever deny her service? not at all, in fact, if you go back up and read, youll see where I stated "at least she went"...
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She has a valid War Service record and people, especially civilians who never served or did something greater with their lives, have no right to say a word... She was in transportation and was supplying front line troops along roads that were not all that secure. Look at Jessica Lynch? She was in transportation and got captured and had to be rescued. And I dare say a woman who is in this line of work is in more danger if captured considering how Muslims have a dim view of women's rights and a poor record when it comes to treatment of women at best.
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SSG Eddye Royal
I am so sick of people who sit behind a DESK and give a COMMENT(S). I have even had to show my Military ID with my DAV TAGS, in hadicap parking, because of the stroke!!
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As a public representative and speaker, she should know better than to throw around terms like this. She's only getting what comes with being a Senator. She pimped out her service pretty hard during the campaign trail; it's only natural that she would get some flak for it. When the general public hears "combat" they don't think of running logistic operations in Kuwait.
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SGT (Join to see)
Maybe she was just so proud she served, that she wanted everyone to know about it. After all, she is female and female soldiers don't get deserved credit. I don't have on blinders in that I think she didn't use her military career to progress. I'm sure she did but so have other politicians who served in combat or non combat situations. Senators,Presidents, congressmen have all used their military record to give them an edge up.
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Seriously, I am not a "real" combat veteran...I was in the crosshairs area ,those who did serve over there came thru us, those who came back came thru us, before during and after the wars ..the mission of a training area is roll the box and kill shit.. We see fake combat as we dish it out, but we also see live combat as these soldiers put on their game faces.. PTSD and just another rotation for the "OPFOR- men in black" but I was in service as non combat combatant before and during 9-11 how do I fit was wasn't was wasn't ,separate me between all groups! Except the ones that used live rounds and had live rounds fired at them,and those who should have their own distribution of awards "The Fallen" segregation should be the dead who died to protect, and the living still ready to serve and protect...
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