You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby—More Combat Opportunities for Women
“You’ve come a long way, baby," was a famous advertisement in the 1970s, and the same applies to the current role of women in the U.S. military. Our society and laws have evolved considerably in favor of sexual equality both at home and in the workplace; and employment discrimination based on non-job related factors is outlawed in most places. At the same time, the nature of warfare and the line between combat front lines and rear support - along with which jobs are required in which locations - have also changed and blurred. Yet, the artificial rules that exclude women from combat based on location and job specialty remain.
I applaud the Pentagon’s latest efforts to open more jobs to women and create gender-neutral standards for roles and assignments. To naysayers who claim it is a slippery slope to military ruin, I say, "Just look at the successful record of women over the past 200 years." To those who say it doesn’t go far enough or fast enough, I say, "The road to success is always under construction; keep working to make it better by setting the best example possible, and keep pressuring Congress to end archaic rules."
American women have served in the military since the Revolutionary War, but the first official recognition did not occur until after the Spanish American war when legislation was passed to create a Nurse Corps, first with the Army in 1901 and then the Navy in 1908. During WWI in 1917, more than 12,000 women were enlisted in clerical positions only to be disbanded in 1918 when the war was over. In WWII, 400,000 women served as officers and enlisted members as nurses, service pilots, mechanics, radio operators, intelligence specialists and many clerical roles. Success during WWII resulted in the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, increasing the opportunity for women to serve, albeit with significant restrictions, particularly regarding the combat roles.
In 1967, changes in society, opposition to the draft, and pressure from the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service removed the two percent ceiling on the number of women who could serve, opened promotions to general, admiral, colonel and captain, and equalized retirement rules. In 1957, similar changes had already allowed women holding medical specialties to directly join the Army and Air National Guard. Finally, in the 1970’s, the Supreme Court charged the Department of Defense with discrimination in its treatment of women and forced personnel policy changes requiring the equal application of allowance and benefits for women with dependents and precluded the involuntary discharge of pregnant women.
Women’s military education finally went co-ed with ROTC programs in 1972 and Military Academies in 1976. Women began entering non-combat aviation training in 1972 and expanded to almost every aviation role after repeal of the 1948 restrictions in 1991. It took 30 plus years for similar restrictions to be removed at sea, from the first women being assigned to noncombat vessels in 1978, to the removal of combat vessels restrictions in the mid-1990s, to the first woman commanding a Carrier Strike Group in 2010 and named the 2010 Shiphandler of the Year. Ironically, women have served on all Coast Guard ships since 1977. Privacy issues banned women from submarines until 2010, and they have successfully served since 2011.
When I entered Navy ROTC in 1978, many strides had been made in equality of education, but scholarships to women were still limited to about 50 per year nationally. Likewise, the career paths available after graduation were still largely limited to logistics, training and human resources with a few slots open at sea on noncombat ships. Summer training cruises introduced midshipmen to career opportunities but clearly highlighted the limitations for women at the time.
After studying engineering for four years and achieving the top NROTC leadership position of Battalion Commander, I turned down the Navy’s offer to serve as Administrative Officer on a repair ship (a 3rd rate assignment for any man) and accepted a commission in the Civil Engineer Corps, which was expanding the role of women and would make better use of my education. The 1980’s presented many opportunities for construction and facility management assignments on bases in the U.S. and overseas, but restrictions to combat engineering assignments with the SEABEEs were not removed until the end of the decade.
In 1989, I became one of the first women assigned to the SEABEEs working with the Marine Corps in support of forward operating bases around the world. In 1990, I was an engineer company commander in Saudi Arabia just eight days after Iraq invaded Kuwait, landing ahead of the Marines, armed only with a .45 sidearm and a gasmask. No one questioned my ability, dedication or leadership when I said, “Follow me”. Later assignments from overseas disaster recovery in a hostile area to 9/11 in the Pentagon proved that danger is present in every assignment, regardless of gender or job, and the military rewards excellent performance with promotion and top assignments. Things weren’t always perfect or fair, but by and large, sustained superior performance was always the key to success.
Military leaders in the field over the past 20 years have recognized the value and need for women closer to the “front” and have found ways to work around these rules by assigning women to battalion level roles such as military police, transportation, intelligence, communications, artillery and engineering. In Afghanistan, the Army and Marine Corps have used Female Engagement Teams with Infantry units since 2004 in response to cultural concerns.
Today, America’s servicewomen are doing whatever they are trained to do, with the courage and pride that has been the hallmark of the nation’s military women, beginning with the American Revolution. Now is the time throw off the artificial restrictions to assignments which prevent our military from achieving its full potential.
About the Author: Captain Heinze served on active duty in the Navy from 1982-2005 as a Civil Engineer Corps officer expanding the integration of women into the non-traditional fields of construction and engineering. In 1993, she became the third woman ever promoted to Captain in her specialty. Today she continues to serve in local government as the Director, Department of General Services, for the County of San Diego, CA where she is responsible for operation of more than 8 million square feet of public buildings and a 1 billion dollar construction program. She is co-chair of the SLDN Board of Directors.
02-12-12 By Captain April F. Heinze, U.S. Navy (retired) |
