What is your opinion of women veterans?

SPC Diana D. — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 16:22:51 -0400

I have had more than one bad experience with a derogatory remark made from men in reference to me serving in the military. My personal opinion is that I loved my country enough to enlist in the military and do my part. And I have noticed that most of the remarks are made from men that did not serve in the military. I wonder if some of the other women veterans have had the same experience that I have??

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Oct 27 at 2017 4:24 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 16:24:44 -0400

SPC Diana D.: I haven't had any problems with male veterans making derogatory remarks to me. -Margaret

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 27 at 2017 4:29 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 16:29:15 -0400

Those that that make the tasteless remarks are no better than a Neanderthal.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2017 5:01 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:01:35 -0400

To quote my Senior DS, "You don't have a gender, your color is green, and you're all equally fucking worthless" You're a Soldier Specialist Dobbs, and when you get out you're a Veteran, you'll never be a Civilian again. Those guys that are saying it, they've got nothing on you and they know it.

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Oct 27 at 2017 5:12 PM

SGT Mark Halmrast — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:12:13 -0400

Not cool for anyone to degrade anyone else for serving. It says more about them than it does you, SPC Diana D..
Thank you for serving.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Oct 27 at 2017 5:13 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:13:35 -0400

SPC Diana D. When I hear men making derogatory comments about women in the military I believe they have the "short man syndrome!" Do I need to explain what that means? If you signed on the dotted line and served your country then that is awesome!

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Oct 27 at 2017 5:20 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:20:03 -0400

I'm more curious to know what the problem with female Veterans is. I don't see why there would be a problem with female Veterans. If it was coming from other servicemembers, I would say that it sounds like the standard dick wagging contest over who is "the real Veteran". Kinda like the rivalries between branches or grunts versus POGs etc. But since you said the majority of these remarks are coming from men who never served in the military, it's most likely they perceive you as a threat. After all, military service is looked at as a "macho" career path. So they probably feel emasculated by your presence and feel the need to "knock you down a peg". If that is the case though, if I were in your shoes, I might feel the need to throw it right back at them with a "At least I had the balls to serve my Country".

There's no reason you should have to put up with anyone's crap whether it's from a civilian or a fellow Veteran. You don't need to validate your service to anyone but yourself. But be careful around people like that. If they feel threatened by you, they may be quick to act. Their moral compass is clearly already skewed as it is.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2017 6:41 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 18:41:27 -0400

SPC Diana D. I served from 1968 to 1972 and did not have the opportunity to work with Women Marines. During my civilian career I worked with active duty and veteran women. I was extremely impressed with their dedication and commitment to accomplish the mission. My hat is off to all women who have served or are currently serving.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2017 6:54 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 18:54:16 -0400

SPC Diana D. Way back when there was a very negative view about females in the military. People were wrong. Women have served and served very well.

That said old ideas die hard and I am sure some younger folks are just parroting old views learned from their older dads and uncles.

I am glad you can blow them off. Thanks for serving our country.

Response by SPC Woody Bullard made Oct 27 at 2017 9:51 PM

SPC Woody Bullard — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 21:51:44 -0400

SPC Diana Dobbs: I must second what U.S. Marine CPL Justin Goolsby said in his comment.
You enlisted in the Army and served your nation with honor which is more than those "Jody
Boys" who never served did so to hell with them. You stand tall among all your brother and
sister military veterans and active duty members today. You know what you did and that is
what counts.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2017 10:22 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 22:22:29 -0400

My Mom was a Marine during WW-II. I was brought up, without a word, with respect for ALL veterans.

Response by SSG Jessica Bautista made Oct 27 at 2017 11:30 PM

SSG Jessica Bautista — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 23:30:56 -0400

Girl, might as well just leave that Pandora's box alone.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 28 at 2017 3:37 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 03:37:37 -0400

SPC Diana D. I graduated with the USMA, West Point Class of 1980 which is the first class which had women cadets. Those were challenging times for bot the women and the men in my class. We started out with about 1,460 or so cadets and 913 graduated. The attrition rate for the women was about 50% while the overall attrition was about 40%. I am friends with most of the women graduates from my class. We went through a lot together in the late 1970s and mutual respect is common.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CW5 Private RallyPoint Member SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt Private RallyPoint Member SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Private RallyPoint Member SrA Christopher Wright SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Gregory Lawritson SGT Cynthia Barnard Capt Sabrena Goldman

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Oct 28 at 2017 3:54 AM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 03:54:23 -0400

SPC Diana D. I have served with a lot of women. Most were top of the live. Hard workers. Most joined for some of the same reasons I did. A lot were one termers, but many were making a career. All were and still are Veterans.

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Oct 28 at 2017 4:00 AM

TSgt Melissa Post — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 04:00:06 -0400

I don't ever receive any derogatory remarks from really anyone about being a female serving. I have had a boyfriend that felt threatened by the fact I was in the military needless to say that did not last. I'd probably say something to the extent of "Oh and what have you done today to protect your freedoms and our great nation? Nothing? Ok then. Oh and by the way, the only reason you can belittle my service is because I actually did serve unlike some others...you're welcome." Then walk away. It really irritates me when ignorant people do crap like that. I am sorry you have to deal with it and I do appreciate your service.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2017 12:13 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 12:13:03 -0400

SPC Diana D. I think that women have more than proved their value to our military. Might be a slight bias on my part since I have a daughter who served 10 years US Army time and took part in Desert Storm. She is proud of her service and I'm proud of her and all that she has accomplished. Don't let any small minded (probably would have qualified for 4F draft status) louts have a negative effect on you. Thanks for serving.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 28 at 2017 1:04 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 13:04:29 -0400

Maybe I'm old school, but a veteran is a veteran, gender, time, etc. True I'll migrate closer to a combat Vet than peacetime, but just because we have so much more in common. But any Vet is my brother/sister and that's that. Admit not fond of the idea of women in the Infantry/Rangers- but if they can meet the same standards I did, then go for it, and I'll respect them too.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2017 1:18 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 13:18:39 -0400

SPC Diana D. - Just being a woman, volunteering, serving, and being a veteran are matters of personal honor, integrity, and pride which cannot be denied or diminished by some know nothing or worse yet jealous neanderthal. Pay them no mind - unless you really feel like challenging them to meet you on the combat range or some other competition in which they will be humiliated. Best to ignore them because they are not your friends and if you strip away what little pride they may have in themselves they may become overly aggressive in a wee effort to defend their manhood - and put the "little lady" in her place. I, frankly, feel no obligation to engage in pissing match with any such neanderthal. In my generation many men did not know how to react - and I forgave them once they were schooled. Today I am just as likely to tell them I am armed and they best go back to their friends while they can - before I get pissed off about their rude and threatening behavior. Then again I am often with friends who would school them - or just ignore them or walk away because I know where and what I did that they quite obviously do not know - and I care not to waste time on these lay abouts. Much Love, Sandy :)
p.s. Why care about them? Don't waste your time or energy - make more worthwhile friends.

Response by CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr. made Oct 28 at 2017 2:21 PM

CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr. — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 14:21:00 -0400

Women are welcome as much as men here as long as they perform to standard.

Ask my WIFE, SFC (Retired) ;)

My mother, as well, served as a WAC in Europe during WWII. Would I DARE say anything else???

Not if I wanted to live. ;)

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Oct 28 at 2017 2:33 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 14:33:53 -0400

When shopping the other day I stopped at a local Harris Teeter. I was really surprised to find special parking spaces for Veterans, but one thing I noticed was that it didn't say MALE Veteran Parking. Need I add more?

Response by SFC Christopher Taggart made Oct 28 at 2017 2:49 PM

SFC Christopher Taggart — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 14:49:07 -0400

"I have had more than one bad experience with a derogatory remark made from men in reference to me serving in the military"...those men that say stuff like that, are about to get themselves into big trouble, in the military or in the civilian world. Those guys are a**holes! I don't remember the number of months it takes to be considered a veteran, but basically, if you've served at least one enlistment honorably...YOU are a veteran!...gender does not make a difference.

Response by SSG Diane R. made Oct 28 at 2017 4:21 PM

SSG Diane R. — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 16:21:28 -0400

Perhaps I have just been lucky but most of the civilians I've encountered that have seen my resume or service record seem pretty impressed. I have had few, if any derogatory comments in that regard.

I agree with one poster hear who mentioned some generational differences. Women veterans were quite rare before World War II, and we only see them entering the services in large numbers after Vietnam.

My last war service was a 1991 and being outnumbered ten-to-one I can remember getting a lot of attention from the guys, some of which bordered on sexual harassment. I did find that aspect to be distracting and quite annoying. There were also quite a few rapes in Saudi Arabia and we began escorting each other to latrines and showers.

I participated in the Victory Parade up Broadway in New York City in the summer of 1991 and I can remember a company of New York fireman buying us all a beer. That was one of my best memories, the war itself being so horrible.

sorry to be so long-winded, I do believe women have an important place in the military, however I am not so certain that placing them in a direct line of fire in armor, field artillery or infantry is necessarily the best use of female personell. We should play to our strengths, not our weakness.

Response by LtCol Brent Norquist made Oct 28 at 2017 11:56 PM

LtCol Brent Norquist — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 23:56:22 -0400

A veteran is a veteran. Gender is immaterial. I served with mostly males however, I also served with plenty of patriotic and heroic females. #meganmcclung.

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Feb 17 at 2018 11:11 PM

MSG Louis Alexander — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 23:11:36 -0500

What’s important here is that women like men, serve their country out of love, devotion and the dedication to secure the freedom of our future generations. Gender is irrelevant. What’s aggravating is the harsh reality of both Alt feminism and the Adam syndrome circulating within our culture pitting one against the other. Men on most part look upon the woman, not so much as a weak link, but as their defender, while the women protected most of their lives seek and want that free independent spirit and taste of adventure. Regardless how often any of us attend sensitivity training, we must remember we will never, ever, understand the opposite sex. You’ve heard the saying: Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars. Overall, women and men are both acceptable as Veterans and should be respected as such.

Response by SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter made Feb 18 at 2018 2:11 PM

SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 14:11:17 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSLSMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" ThomasLTC Stephen F.SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SFC George Smith CPT Jack DurishSSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"PO1 William "Chip" Nagel TSgt Joe C.SP5 Mark Kuzinski Maj Marty Hogan MSG Private RallyPoint Member SSgt Private RallyPoint Member LTC Stephen C. LTC Private RallyPoint Member Capt Seid Waddell Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS My opinion is they should be respected as anyone else who wears the uniform.

Peace!

Response by MSG Charles Turner made Feb 18 at 2018 11:31 PM

MSG Charles Turner — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 23:31:20 -0500

Thank God for them! I just think HOW MUCH BRAVER THEY ARE THAN ALL THE MEN THAT DID NOT ENLIST OR TRY TO ENLIST!

Thank God for them!