Combat Exclusion

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual harassment and sexual assault. 

Dr. Stephanie Bonnes joins us to discuss her research on women in the armed forces. She discusses the pervasive issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault within the military's ranks based on years of study.

CPT Jordan Kelly, Engineer Officer and 2018 West Point Grad, speaks about her experiences serving as a combat engineer in a recently integrated unit. As the only female officer in her unit, she often had to prove herself over and over. She offers her perspective on the new Army Combat Fitness Test, insight into what it means to be a dual military couple, and critiques of the Army senior leadership selection process. As she looks forward to a career in the military, CPT Kelly reflects on what the Army needs to do to improve and how she very well could be a part of being the change she wants to see.

Glossary: 

NTC – National Training Center, located at Fort Irwin, CA. Units train here to certify they are prepared for combat operations.

BEB – Engineer Battalion attached to a brigade combat team

This week we’re joined by SGM Fisher and CSM Blanchett to offer us a critical perspective from the backbone of the Army - our NCO Corps. Between the two of them, we have over 40 years of experience leading men and women. They offer critical wisdom and advice to our young leaders and empower us all to be the change we want to see in our Army. 

Erin opens us about becoming one of the first “double tabbed” women in the US Army. Frequently the only woman in the room, Erin focused her energy on accomplishing the task ahead of her to achieve mission success across an array of challenges. She emphasizes that a mission-oriented mindset yields the best results, especially in the face of potential naysayers to gender integration. Her warrior mindset inspires us all to just “go straight for what you want.” 

“This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War” by T.R. Fehrenbach 

When Erin says, “we need them to be good right here” when speaking about cyberwarriors, she was air-typing, signaling that cyber warrior should possess high computer skills. 

Find Erin McShane’s oral history interview at West Point Center for Oral History: 

https://www.westpointcoh.org/interviews/i-want-that-soldier-on-my-team-adversity-perseverance-and-commitment 

This week Hilary Thomas, a “double tabbed” Army Engineer Officer, shares her story from a motivated Cadet to a highly decorated Officer. She speaks about her intense purpose and passion in seeking out combat roles and inspires us to be deliberate in how we pursue those goals. She focused her energy on preparing herself for the job she wanted and trained accordingly. Her example reminds us that we can achieve our goals if we are disciplined and deliberate. Her mentorship transcends the uniform and compels us all to be the best version of ourselves, no matter where we’re starting out. 

Glossary:

BSTB 

BEB

Bat Boys: Ranger Battalion Soldiers are frequently referred to as “Bat Boys”

LTC Frederick joins us this week to offer his experiences serving in units where women were integrated at all echelons. He shares his experience deploying with a recently integrated unit prior to the combat policy being repealed, and illustrates how a positive command climate breeds excellence among our formations. As a Professor of Military Science at University of North Carolina Charlotte, he is inspiring the next generation of young leaders, and his example of creating an inclusive environment is one we can all emulate. He highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with quality leaders and building a diverse team. 

**since recording, BG Kelly has changed positions. He is now the Commander of Fort Jackson**

BG Kelly sits down with us to discuss his experiences across the years. One of the early pioneers of gender integration, BG Kelly placed women into positions that were coded for men. He speaks at length about making it personal and provides an important perspective about developing a diverse team. His message is one of hope and encouragement – develop a talented, diverse pool of individuals and those people will naturally matriculate through the system. He highlights the obstacles that exist must be removed to achieve this, and offers some key ways we can achieve greater retention of our junior officers.