Posted on Feb 2, 2015
SGT Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
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Recently, My cousin who is veteran of the Marine Corps sent me a message asking me to sign a petition for the BMV of our state to make woman veteran license plates available. She asked me to pass the information on to other female veterans.
I have mixed feelings about this.
Not too long I came across a story about a female veteran who was put to shame in a parking lot for parking in spot meant for veterans. The assumption of the observer being that since the person parking in this designated spot is female, this person is not a veteran. That assumption was wrong and seems to me to border on sexist. Women have been proudly serving in the military since World War I.
However, on the other side of this argument, our state already offers veteran license plates. Shouldn't that be enough? Why would we feel the need to distinguish between the genders? Isn't everyone who volunteered equally as valuable? As a female I feel like making a separate license plate is promoting sexism.
The other issue I take with veteran license plates in general is security. In today's climate with extremist groups making threats every other day, Does it seems smart to have a license plate telling the world that veteran is in that vehicle? It seems to me, at least, another way of making yourself and your families soft targets.
I would very much like to hear the community's thoughts on these issues
Posted in these groups: Images Women in the MilitaryDriving2 Driving
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Responses: 325
PV2 Senior Web Designer, Web Team Lead
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Sadly I think despite the number of women currently serving, there is still a vast perception that women driving a vehicile sporting military decals or wearing a military shirt, the assumption is that she is wearing her boyfriend or spouse's shirt or driving their car. I was on my way to kickboxing wearing my long sleeved grey Army PT shirt and someone told me thank your husband for his service. I politely said I am no longer married but as a veteran myself I appreciate your support. Their mouth dropped and they walked away. Not even an apology!
So yeah, I'd be all for this.
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SSG David Kaelin
SSG David Kaelin
4 y
I know I'm not the only one.

My brothers feel the same way. As do quite a few of my friends.
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COL Jon Lopey
COL Jon Lopey
4 y
SSG & Other Veterans: I appreciate it when people thank me for my service because I was in the USMC during the Viet Nam Era and that didn't happen very often. Even if people are less than sincere I feel they are at least attempting to recognize our service and sacrifices, which also extends to our families, so I take it and I bank it because in reality, we have been at war since 9/11/01 and the vast majority of our nation appreciates us and our service, which hasn't always been the case. Many older people from my generation learned that they were wrong vilifying service members during Viet Nam and they have largely made amends, which, in my humble opinion, is a good thing. I thank my buddies for their service and I mean it. Most of them appreciate it. I once landed in a small airport on the US East Coast on my way to Iraq with my unit and it was 0200 hours in the morning. There were 200 civilians, including veterans and kids waiting there for us to welcome us, thank us, and give us pogey bait. It was the first time anything like that ever happened to me and although I was unaccustomed to such gratitude, I learned to embrace it and appreciate it because for once someone seemed to care. I think they got a greater kick out of it than we did. Thank you, COL L
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SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA
SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA
4 y
I have a next door neighbor who is a Viet Nam Vet. I raz her because she is Navy. We both sport Viet Nam stuff on our cars.
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SFC Joseph Behmke
SFC Joseph Behmke
4 y
I have a friend who was a Air Force Nurse stationed in 'Nam. She has copies of her orders, Polaroid pictures and other proof she was "In Country". After she separated then joined the Army several years later she had to fight for almost 12 years before she got the acknowledgment and awards she deserved. I don't think any more than Veteran and/or Retired is needed; no gender required. If someone can't accept a female Veteran it's their personal problem or issue not yours.
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SFC Detachment Ncoic
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FYI, women have been serving (not necessarily legally) since the Revolutionary War, not just since WWI.
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CPT Special Forces Officer
CPT (Join to see)
4 y
MSgt Joseph Holness - I agree, however when I was in Israel 99.9% of female soldiers served in what we term "Combat Support" or "Combat Service Support". In 2001 all branches of the IDF were opened to women however in 2014 the IDF reported that 96% of all serving women continued to serve in a supporting role. Just as in our military all functional areas take casualties because military service is innately dangerous. As far as the heathen Russians, I could not care less what they do.
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CPT Special Forces Officer
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COL Jon Lopey
COL Jon Lopey
4 y
Great point! Women have been serving since our nation's inception, often under very trying and impossible odds. COL L
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SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA
SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA
4 y
Molly Pitcher. She was promoted to Sergeant and had her artillery section. Florence Nightingale, the Army Nurse's Corp.
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SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
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Edited 9 y ago
wait, will it say "Female Veteran"? Does that mean we need "Male Veteran" also? As far as a security, issue, I woudl not worry about that, there are approximately 23 Million Veterans in the USA, most are proud and will not refrain from showing it for security reasons, I know I dont and I am in Europe
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MAJ Field Artillery Officer
MAJ (Join to see)
4 y
SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA

You: “As stated above, I do understand...”

Also you: “ai never claimed I did know...”

I’m not a MD but I think you need to get your meds checked.
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SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
4 y
Read it again. I understand discrimination and I specifically said I was not comparing. Good day.
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MAJ Field Artillery Officer
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SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA

You don’t understand gender discrimination. Cut the crap.
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SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
4 y
Now you're just instigating.
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