haring U.S. Marine Corps (Andrew J. Good) U.S. Marine Corps (Andrew
Marine prepares to depart on security patrol, Helmand Province INSIGHTS FROM THE Women in Combat Symposium
By Ellen L. Haring
hen the U.S. Army Sergeant Bringloe rescued 11 soldiers despite invaded Iraq in 2003, suffering from a fractured tibia sustained Specialist Williams had a during the third rescue of the 11 evacuations. W skill set that was desper- At a recent event in Washington, DC, ately needed: Arab linguist. In 2009, Major Specialist Williams described translating Hegar’s skills as a medical evacuation pilot during combat foot patrols in Iraq without were in high demand. And in 2011, combat the benefit of Small Arms Protective Insert medics Olson and Bringloe spent days on plates in her vest because women were not foot patrols or dropping into hot spots in expected to be in combat, and Major Hegar Afghanistan rescuing wounded soldiers. In calmly described being shot down by insur- a particularly demanding 40-hour period, gents and the ground fight that ensued before
Colonel Ellen L. Haring, USA, is a Reserve Civil Affairs Officer at the U.S. Army War College.
ndupress.ndu.edu issue 70, 3 rd quarter 2013 / JFQ 55 COMMENTARY | Women in Combat Symposium a rescue team arrived to extract the Medevac from Canada and Norway. The third panel deployed in current operations is likely to end team. All these Servicemembers share a included men and women who studied the up in combat and must be trained and ready common trait. All are women and all hold combat exclusion policy and had important for that possibility. The panelists included “noncombat” military occupations. observations based on those studies. The last an Arab linguist who participated with the In February 2013, these women—along panel included members of the military who infantry in combat foot patrols in Baghdad, with members of partner militaries who have had challenged the exclusion of women from a cook whose convoy was attacked in Iraq, fully integrated their forces, as well as women combat units in the United States and abroad. a rescue pilot whose helicopter was shot who were among the first wave of earlier A post-event survey revealed that many down in Afghanistan, a medic from a Female integration efforts—gathered in Washington, audience members, including members of the Engagement Team who was wounded during DC, to share their experiences. The event military, do not know the extent of female an outreach mission, and another medic organizers’ objective was to collect lessons for Servicemembers’ participation in combat who survived numerous encounters with the integrating combat specialties as the Services operations. There was extensive discussion enemy while hoisting wounded soldiers out move to eliminate combat restrictions that about the need to document the experiences of operations in the Korengal Valley in north- have previously limited the military service of these women to capture the lessons as the eastern Afghanistan. Three of the women of women. military moves forward with full integration. were awarded Purple Heart Medals, two the The event was organized around several Panelists provided many important insights Distinguished Flying Cross, and one the Pris- panel discussions. The first panel included and lessons, but common themes resonated oner of War Medal. testimonials provided by U.S. women whose throughout the day including unique experi- The second panel included U.S., actions in combat are documented with ences that highlighted lessons across a range Canadian, and Norwegian women who awards and decorations. The second panel of involvement. served in the wake of the removal of previ- included women from the United States ous exclusionary policies. Both the first and and abroad who had been in the first wave Common Themes the second panels were asked to identify of earlier integration efforts such as U.S. One of the key lessons of the first panel traits critical to success in combat. The fighter pilots and female combat soldiers was that anyone, male or female, who is most common response was teamwork. A
Marine Female Engagement Team officer provides security as Afghan residents are questioned and their vehicle searched for weapons and drug paraphernalia, Helmand Province U.S. Marine Corps (Robert R. Carrasco)
56 JFQ / issue 70, 3 rd quarter 2013 ndupress.ndu.edu haring close second was the ability to stay calm and lost important interactions that sometimes Unique Experiences focused in tense situations as well as the led to misunderstandings and the perception Specialist Shoshana Johnson, USA requirement for mental and physical endur- that they were not as committed to mission (Ret.), presented the first testimonial. She was ance. Also mentioned was good leadership accomplishment as their male teammates. wounded, captured, and held as a prisoner of and technical competence. Physical strength Panelists recommended that women never war during the invasion of Iraq. Ms. Johnson was discussed at length since this is a com- be separated from their teams under any revealed an unintended effect of the Geneva monly advanced reason to keep women out circumstances because it negatively affects Convention rules on her captivity.2 Because of combat specialties. While all of the panel- team cohesion. she was the only woman captured, she was ists acknowledged the role of physical fitness, Another key discussion centered isolated from the rest of her team. This segre- none believed that physical strength was a on comments made by General Martin gation had a significant psychological effect predictive factor to success. The panelists Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on her ability to withstand captivity. While she understands the reason for the rule, she believes it should be exercised judiciously and all the women objected to the requirement for a on a case-by-case basis. “critical mass” and believed it is an undefinable Specialist Heidi Olson, USA, a combat medic, provided a personal experience that and therefore unattainable concept is perhaps not uncommon for many young women in the military. Because of the combat exclusion policy and notions of what agreed that physical standards must be set of Staff, during a Pentagon press briefing women should or should not do in combat, and that women and men should be held to on January 25, 2013, where he announced she often had to petition her unit leaders for the same physical standards. None thought, the lifting of the combat exclusion policy. permission to leave her operating base and however, that upper-body strength was a sig- General Dempsey stated: go out on missions. nificant indicator of an individual’s success in any combat operations. In order to account for [women’s] safety Recommendations Also discussed was the behavior of and their success in those kinds of units we The role leadership plays in any suc- men on mixed-sex teams when that team need to have enough of them so that they cessful integration was a recurring theme is engaged in combat operations. Over and have mentors and leaders above them. You that could not be overemphasized. Time over, the women stated that there is always wouldn’t want to take one woman who can after time, participants provided examples of some trepidation during the first mission meet a standard and put her in a unit where leaders and peers who tried to sabotage the with any new team member, but there is she is one of one. We have to work the stan- integration and careers of women. The panel- nothing like a combat mission to clarify dards and the “critical mass,” if you will, to ists then juxtaposed those experiences with who can and cannot function when a situ- make this work.1 leaders who set examples simply by showing ation becomes dangerous. They further respect for the women and by demanding of stated that the first mission is always a test The “one of one” and the “critical mass” them the same high performance they did of and that after a member proves himself comments generated great consternation for men. Ultimately and unsurprisingly, success- or herself, everyone expects him or her to many participants at the symposium. Univer- ful units are led by people who are demand- perform just like the rest of the team. None sally, the panelists stated that many times in ing, fair, and respectful of all subordinates. of the women ever experienced any men their careers they were “one of one.” However, Many mixed-sex combat support units trying to protect them in any way that jeop- they did not believe that this situation should have missions that are inherently predis- ardized mission accomplishment. be a barrier to any woman who meets the posed to engage in combat. Since the inva- Privacy and hygiene requirements were standards from being accepted into jobs for sion of Iraq in March 2003, military police also discussed. All the women asserted that which they are qualified. Panelists stated units have over 10 years of experience with living conditions only became problem- that a woman does not have to be in a unit to women who have engaged in combat opera- atic when they were arbitrarily separated act as a mentor for other women; men make tions. The dust-off community has extensive from their male team members by socially good mentors, too. experience dropping in and out of kinetic imposed efforts to segregate men and While all the women objected to operations. Moreover, women have been women. In austere environments, they lived the requirement for a “critical mass” and flying combat aircraft in all of the Services and slept in the same rooms and shared the believed it is an undefinable and therefore for almost 20 years. These successful units same bathrooms with their male teammates unattainable concept, Colonel Ingrid Gjerde, reveal that high standards have remained even if the room was a bombed-out school a Norwegian infantry officer on the panel, in place and that there is no adverse effect with no roof and the bathroom was a slit noted that she had had better experiences on the teams attributable to the presence of trench. Any privacy requirements were easily in units where she was not the only woman. women. Morale does not suffer and mission resolved with the judicious use of a poncho Thus, while women have succeeded on teams success is not threatened. These units have or a turned back. The panelists noted that when they were one of one, the inclusion of already dealt with many of the challenges when women were separated from their more women improves their experiences on associated with including women in combat teams while they were on a post or base, they those teams. operations, and they should be studied ndupress.ndu.edu issue 70, 3 rd quarter 2013 / JFQ 57 COMMENTARY | Women in Combat Symposium
■■ Interview men and women who have fought together to find out what worked and what did not. ■■ Interview returning combat arms soldiers to determine what physical require- ments they had to meet to accomplish their missions. ■■ Provide the same kind of training and awareness that was provided in preparation for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” ■■ Develop a narrative that educates sol- diers about what women add to the dynamics and capabilities of combat units. ■■ Remove leaders who attempt to undermine integration efforts.
Conclusion Integration is not new to the U.S. military. We have done it well in the past and we can do it well now. What it requires is an honest commitment from leaders who, even if they do not agree with a decision, are duty-bound to carry out the policy to the best of their abilities. Successful integration is wholly dependent on the committed support U.S. Marine Corps (Holly A. Williams) Marine participates in obstacle course during physical training, Camp Johnson, North Carolina of leaders throughout the Services. Service- members will follow the example set by their leaders. JFQ since they represent communities of suc- midgrade women voluntarily reclassify cessful integration. into combat arms. Many women now have Notes Representatives from Canada, Norway, combat experience in a multitude of deploy- 1 “Panetta, Dempsey on the Women in and Sweden talked about their militaries’ ments. Allowing those who are qualified Service Implementation Plan,” Pentagon press move to full integration. All three countries to move laterally into combat units would briefing, January 25, 2013, available at
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