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2006-08-14 Iraq
Female General Looks Back on Her Climb
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Posted by Steve White 2006-08-14 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Having to overcome being West Point must have been one hell of a struggle. Most of the good ones I knew hid their rings and changed the subject. The bad ones were so rotten that they didn't bother to hide the fact.
Posted by Anonymoose 2006-08-14 00:59||   2006-08-14 00:59|| Front Page Top

#2 Yes sir'ee, she squared that old Vietnam vet (stupid, sexist, male, dinasaur) away. He was laughing because he knew he was PHUECHING WASTING HIS TIME with you dingbat. Her favorite hip-pocket lecture story..... when she was a no-nothing 2LT. Then twenty plus years later and several plume schools and assignments, War College, maybe a BZ promotion or two or three (no gendor preference or quotas of course) and.... shazam, a general officer in a combat zone. Her book will be out soon no doubt. Yep, quite an "inspiration."
Posted by Besoeker 2006-08-14 07:32||   2006-08-14 07:32|| Front Page Top

#3 Does the army still have that ticket punching system in place ?
Every idiot officer gets a chance at every position, and so long as he or she doesn't screw up real bad, they are evaluated too well and moved along. Recipt for disaster. By now the army should have come up with some way of finding the exceptional combat officers and keeping them where they can do the most damage to the enemy.
Posted by wxjames 2006-08-14 07:53||   2006-08-14 07:53|| Front Page Top

#4 Or something. I've nothing against a woman General as long as she's qualified to lead troops in combat and I don't hear Helen Reddy songs in the background.
Posted by mcsegeek1 2006-08-14 08:47||   2006-08-14 08:47|| Front Page Top

#5 Besoeker, wxjames -- maybe it would be worthwhile if you had some actual specific data to base your snark on.

I've met BG Halstead. She's earned her rank, and her soldiers -- and more importantly, the battlefield commanders who rely on her to ensure their units have the logistical support they need -- think very highly of her. Her unit is strac in the right ways - i.e. for effectiveness, not for show - and she has been personally in the middle of the fight on more than one occasion.

Moreover, she comes from a family with a lot of Army service. Her cousin's a field grade officer of my acquaintance and there have been combat-experienced officers in her family for a good while.

It's all well and good to bemoan loss of standards etc. It's even better if you do it when it applies.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 09:28||   2006-08-14 09:28|| Front Page Top

#6 I second LOTP's statement. While I have not had the privlidge of meeting her in person, I have seen the results of her works. She's one of the good ones.
Posted by N guard 2006-08-14 09:33||   2006-08-14 09:33|| Front Page Top

#7 Forgive me, Besoeker, but I have the feeling that General Halstead could rip you a new one.

And perhaps should.

I don't like seeing our good military people beng disrespected. So put a sock on it.
Posted by Steve White">Steve White  2006-08-14 09:33||   2006-08-14 09:33|| Front Page Top

#8 In defense of Besoeker and Wxjames, while the military is not academia, there are politically-correct types there, there is ticket-punching, there is an attitude (among some, not most, but some) of "evening things up."

General Halstead may have come up the hard way and be as good as any other General and better than most.

But, the corrosive effect of affirmative action puts a shadow behind her before she even gets a chance to do what she does. It's the same way as a black or hispanic who gets into a high-ranked college. He may be better-equipped than most people and blow the curve. But, since we know they are giving preferences to less-capable people for "diversity," people will naturally be skeptical.
Posted by Jackal">Jackal  2006-08-14 10:04|| http://home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]">[http://home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]  2006-08-14 10:04|| Front Page Top

#9 True nuff, Jackal. But maybe after a couple decades of women with commissions, and 5 years of active combat operations, it's time to set some of that presumption aside -- at least, start with the NEUTRAL assumption that women MAY have earned their rank.

These aren't the Clinton years. While any organization tends towards politics for top level promotions, a lot of people are getting their rank right now because they're doing things that matter where the bullets are flying and IEDs exploding. The knee-jerk assumption of politically-correct promotions based on affirmative action is getting pretty threadbare at this point.

SGT Hester earned her silver star the hard way. BG Halstead earned her rank too. They're not the only ones out there.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 10:09||   2006-08-14 10:09|| Front Page Top

#10 I don’t know too many NCO’s that have been “straightened out” by a 2Lt but I am sure they exist. Not to nit pick the story too much but I have always found logistic officers a lower anal retentive species and the real work is done by the Senior NCOs. Anyone that has had to draw gear and turn it in will understand my statement (the paperwork is often heavier than the gear). Also the more anal the officer the quicker they are promoted! Logistics officers love rules, regulation, and TONS of paperwork.
Posted by Cyber Sarge 2006-08-14 10:46||   2006-08-14 10:46|| Front Page Top

#11 I know a bunch of the Army people who did the logistical analysis for the invasion of Iraq and afterwards. I can say from personal experience they, at any rate, were neither anal nor nitpicking. Instead, they were figuring out how to flow critical materiel through very extended supply lines in the face of rapidly changing battlefield conditions.

Conditions in Iraq have shifted since then, but the challenges are still quite real. We're not talking low-level paperwork here, Sarge -- we're talking something a little closer to the leadership and incisive analysis that earned George Marshall his stars in WWII and made him so indispensable that Eisenhower was given command in the European theatre instead under Marshall as Chief of Staff -- despite the belief by both FDR and Churchill that Marshall was a brilliant and courageous leader.

And that work - which was based very much on Marshall's genius as a logistical analyst and leader - is what earned him his 5 stars.

As the quintessential logistics leader, Marshall was scarcely an anal, paperwork kind of guy. Nor was he a "didn't make waves" kind of promotee.
long excerpt deleted. But those who don't know how absolutely central Marshall's leadership and vision were to our victory in WWII should check out speech about him at the link.
.

I'm not saying Becky Halstead rises to that level --- very very few people do. But I'm suggesting she's of that school a lot more than she is of the paper-pushing, account for each roll of toiletpaper school.


Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 11:03||   2006-08-14 11:03|| Front Page Top

#12 Annecdote about Marshall and logistics. FDR called both Marshall and Leahy(chief of naval operations) to ask them what they needed to be ready for deploying troops to Europe.

Marshall, who needed to reconstitute a hollowed out army quickly, listed his top priorities, how much he needed when and what units he could have ready by what date.

Leahy, who wasn't nearly so well prepared, went back to his staff and said, "Gentlemen, I'm not sure what this logistics stuff is all about but the Army has it and we need some too."

Told to me by a close friend who is *retired* navy. LOL
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 11:10||   2006-08-14 11:10|| Front Page Top

#13 Marshall was scarcely an anal, paperwork kind of guy.

He certainly did not hide behind paperwork as a defence for shortcomings, but there was this little black book he kept while commander of the GSCS...

And Forrest Pogue has this to say:

"The surprising thing is not that initially the two men held eachother at arm's length, but that Roosevelt had ever selected Marshall as Chief of Staff. In temperament, methods of work, approach to domestic and international problems, general viewpoints, even forms of relaxation, they differed remarkably. Roosevelt's mercurial nature, flashy intuitiveness, and helter-skelter handling of administrative problems contrasted sharply with Marshall's reserve, careful judgements, and passion for orderliness. Regarding clearly defined channels of authority and tidy organization almost as articles of faith, the Chief of Staff was appalled by Roosevelt's policy of retaining subordinates who quarreled among themselves and who gave only a dubious loyalty to the President himself."


Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-08-14 12:12||   2006-08-14 12:12|| Front Page Top

#14 This article sucks! She comes from a generation of West Pointers that handcuffed women to toilets and harassed them, she’s the first “Woman” to make general, so what!!! She is a survivor and not a woman card whistle blower, hat tip to her but again so what. She deserves more credit for her actions, not for getting in the limelight for straightening out an old NCO and for being a woman. This degrades her and just pisses me off. All those F$%king Helen Reddy types revel in - this woman overcame the obstacles - crap and missed the point that this “Officer” comes from a long line of officers and is not only supporting a very complex combat environment, logistically, but doing it well. Do the math, the log toads are getting hit almost every day. They are completely engaged in the fight. And when in this war did you hear of a troop in need? You haven’t. Let’s not confuse a soldiers love to complain with the reality. This war is not being fought like Gulf I where dock workers were in new desert BDU’s and the troops out front were in woodland BDU’s. Every single slice of support available for the troops gets to the front lines first. When soldiers have complained about lack of equipment it was not due to the rear guard wearing it all, it’s because there wasn’t any available, period. This officer has done a great job in her career and should be noted for it, the author of the article should be jack slapped.
Posted by 49 Pan">49 Pan  2006-08-14 12:23||   2006-08-14 12:23|| Front Page Top

#15 My only beef is that the article emphasises her being female, not the quality of her service. For a blanket-folder to run a base in a hot zone, and do it well is a hell of an accomplishment, to do it over there in Iraq is even more. That's the real "heroic" thing here - she's making logistics work in a pretty nasty place. I've been to LSAA (Balad) and its a nasty place - used to be called "Mortaritaville" - the prior commander was truly a blanket folder. When I was there they still needed someone to secure the place properly though. OPSEC precludes me from talking any further, but they had some major screw-ups in the security setup and plan, mistakes that an combat arms officer would never have made. Apparently she may have fixed some of that or else was in a tenant unit there.

FYI - "blanket folder" is a somewhat derisive nickname we had for logistics officers - and perhaps I should not have applied it here.

We never applied that term to our supply NCO's - those guys kept us rolling, and they could trade snowballs to the Eskimos and come up with parkas in return. No better friends to have in the S-4 than the supply Sgt and the cook.
Posted by Oldspook 2006-08-14 12:45||   2006-08-14 12:45|| Front Page Top

#16 Agreed on both points - the article's slant is lousy.

And NS, do you really WANT a mercurial, disorganized quasi-aristocrat actually planning and executing things??? ;-)

But what I was really pointing to in the excerpt I originally included was that Marshall wasn't afraid to make waves by challenging the consensus agreement - including when he was a much more junior officer, disagreeing with seniors publicly. He could be pretty confrontational, but he tended to have his facts and figures analyzed before he did it and could make the case for his position.

Yes, he was appalled by the infighting that Roosevelt encouraged "tolerated". But he was also quite loyal and accepted the chief of staff role when EVERYONE, from Churchill and Roosevelt down through the ranks, though he was the obvious best to lead the invasion. It was a real disappointment to him to be asked if he would accept the staff job instead. He could easily have demanded and gotten the job that went to Eisenhower and noone but he himself would probably have criticized him for it.

Of course, the Army wouldn't have been trained, supplied and deployed nearly as well as it was if he had done so ...
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 12:51||   2006-08-14 12:51|| Front Page Top

#17 Ok Dr. Steve, she can "rip me a new one" right after she finishes counting canteen cups and picking rags, and telling stories about the enlisted Vietnam vets she squared away. You can come along to assist. See you on the drop zone mate.
Posted by Besoeker 2006-08-14 12:58||   2006-08-14 12:58|| Front Page Top

#18 Are you really that dense or do you just pretend to be so, Besoeker?
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 13:00||   2006-08-14 13:00|| Front Page Top

#19 I luves fight'n wumen
Posted by Captain America 2006-08-14 13:02||   2006-08-14 13:02|| Front Page Top

#20 what Cyber Sarge said...without the enlisted all the services would be nothing but paper and ribbon.

yes sir, you'll have to lump it! >::
Posted by RD 2006-08-14 13:04||   2006-08-14 13:04|| Front Page Top

#21 Well, duh! It goes both ways: without leadership the enlisted aren't an effective army either.

And while the NCO role is crucial, it is NOT the totality of leadership. Both non-commissioned and commissioned officers are needed, both should be respected for their leadership roles IMO.

WRT her impact in Iraq, OS what I've heard is that the base was a lot tighter and more combat effective after her than before her and that the difference was due in part specifically to her.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 13:05||   2006-08-14 13:05|| Front Page Top

#22 try sum humor ma'am.
Posted by RD 2006-08-14 13:09||   2006-08-14 13:09|| Front Page Top

#23 Besoeker - don't trash someone you don't know.

I have been to Balad ("Camp Anaconda"), and 3rd SupCom is doing damn good work (as long as they stay out of the JSOC compound, heh). I had no idea its commander was a female until I read this article - and she's doing a better job than the previous (male) base commander who was an idiot looking for a ticket punch and who had no concept of how to secure an area. If she managed to keep her units going and secure the place better than the previous commander then BZ to her.

On a more personal note:

As for her "counting canteen cups" - kiss my ass and hers too. Those supply people were under 24*7 intermittent harassment fire from mortars and sniper fire from the ville (as were all at the base); when they left on supply runs, they ran a gauntlet of IEDs, ambushes and so on. Id like to mash your face into the bloodstains on those demolished vehicles sitting at the wrecking yard on the west side of LSAA across the runways (anyone that has been there can back me up on this - the Army doesn't publicise it, but they are there). Those kids put it out there, and she apparently did a good job commanding them. As for "meet me on the DZ", pray that the logistics people like her have proper riggers, or you're going to get to the ground a lot faster than me.

So from this riled up old soldier and old spook: you just back the f*ck up - if you can't apologize then just shut up.
Posted by Oldspook 2006-08-14 13:19||   2006-08-14 13:19|| Front Page Top

#24 humor .... hmmm. Do they issue that standard???

LOL. Guess I got a little intense on this one. It just pissed me off when a really talented, brave and effective officer got dissed right out of the box because some idiot reporter's slant fit so well with prejudices.

BTW I mentioned this discussion over lunch today with a woman O5 I know who is a pilot and one of the first female grads of some of the Army's more advanced combat courses. Her comment: "Oh for goodness sake, people aren't still stuck on THAT sort of thing, are they?"
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 13:19||   2006-08-14 13:19|| Front Page Top

#25 "...she's looking forward to life without constantly humming generators and F-16 fighter planes roaring overhead,.."

I bet she'll miss it.
Posted by BrerRabbit 2006-08-14 13:19||   2006-08-14 13:19|| Front Page Top

#26 My turn: while the comments regarding PC/gender-based quotas for promotion are true, it is also true, at least in the Navy I was part of, that eventually the system worked. Now whether the system was the official one or the real one is up for another discussion, I have both worked for and had women work for me that were true professionals. There were also some of those quota fillers but we usually got them washed out before they did too much damage. The fiasco with fighter pilots and the loss of life and aircraft frying to force feed unsuitable individuals into the cockpits has, to a large extent, been rectified.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the Civil Service side of the gov't. The loser I had to work under in another life made a bad job unbearable and it took the TSA over 2 years to figure it out and move her to a job she was better suited for ( pushing paper in Seattle, rather than phuequing up a whole airport.
Don't denigrate her unless you have walked in her shoes.
Posted by USN, ret. 2006-08-14 14:34||   2006-08-14 14:34|| Front Page Top

#27 She's a class act and she does her job right. What else matters?
Posted by Mike 2006-08-14 14:39||   2006-08-14 14:39|| Front Page Top

#28 Spook: Been to Balad my damn self and will be going back again soon as well! I'm not saying nothing about the Spt Cmd, I never mentioned it. I've counted my share of kit as well. Crack troops that enjoy quota promotions, assignments, and play Rambo are my beef, along with wise cracks and crappy war stories about.... telling soldiers off as a stumpy 2nd LT. A senior officer should pick a career story or target other than combat veteran enlisted man. I'll match my jump log with yours, shake your chute, and buy the beer if I lose.
Posted by Besoeker 2006-08-14 14:43||   2006-08-14 14:43|| Front Page Top

#29 When the tanks were lined up for Gulf I the med helos went cross flot to wait on any injured. Makes sence to only fly cross flot one time when the fighting starts. They sat outside Bagdad, the closest any conventional forces ever got to Bagdad, for that war anyway. There was a female pilot in one of the aircraft relaying the fact that the support went deeper into the fight and that a woman was with them deeper that the main battle force. There are also stories of the fuelers bypassing the Division so the tanks could ROM, again with women in the ranks. In more current ops both my in country contact and guide were women who risked everything fo us.

Lets not confuse what we want with the reality. I do not want women in combat. I am a bigot in this regard and feel it is no place for a lady. My govenment feels differently. I don't like it, too bad, I soldier on. But the women I have worked with both in combat and out performed as well as any other soldier and as in the 50 plus that have paid with their lives.

Besoeker, your just wrong on this one.
Posted by 49 Pan">49 Pan  2006-08-14 14:44||   2006-08-14 14:44|| Front Page Top

#30 Of course combat is no place for a lady! She can be a lady before, and again after, but during combat she damn well better be a soldier just like everyone else wearing a uniform. ;-)
Posted by trailing wife 2006-08-14 14:59||   2006-08-14 14:59|| Front Page Top

#31 I can give a rat's butt if she a women, but she did her job and that is all that matters. Congrats to her and may she have a presporous future.
Posted by djohn66 2006-08-14 15:02||   2006-08-14 15:02|| Front Page Top

#32 A senior officer should pick a career story or target other than combat veteran enlisted man.

Based on my limited experience being interviewed, and then reading the results, there's a very good chance BG Halstead never said things quite the way they were reported. I've had quotes pulled out of context and used to make exactly the opposite point from what I clearly intended -- even had it done with AUDIO, which is a lot harder than a print story to edit that way.

I agree with you 100% on one thing, Besoeker -- the story as written is condescending towards a veteran who earned the right to be treated and spoken of with deep respect. I should have made that clear up front.

While my generation and their kids have mostly served as commissioned officers, my father and his brothers saw combat in WWII as enlisted and junior NCOs. Of those who stayed career after WWII not one accepted an offer to "upgrade" to a commissioned status. The one highly decorated combat veteran in my close family - Silver Star, multiple Bronze Stars, 3 Purple Hearts all won during the fiercest fighting at Bastogne - was a young SGT at the time. Years later his youngest brother served as a senior NCO in Nam. I respect them deeply and you're right to take offense at the dismissive attitude the writer shows towards a Viet vet. Just don't assume that reflects Becky Halstead's attitude accurately.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 15:05||   2006-08-14 15:05|| Front Page Top

#33 One more comment before I go, an example... only one. When I went in the "fireman's carry" was a mandetory event on the PT test. Why you ask? because it was deamed essential that YOU be able to pick up your buddy and pull his wounded ass out of the line of fire. The fireman's carry is no longer a Physical Training requirement. Most wouldn't even know what you're talking about... unless you're a fireman. A lot of other standards have been dumbed down over the years in an effort to be more "inclusive" more available to wimin. Combat ain't for wimin, sorry. And assymetric warfare has the potential to make the entire planet a combat zone. It ain't likely to change, I know that. That don't mean I have to like it.
Posted by Besoeker 2006-08-14 15:31||   2006-08-14 15:31|| Front Page Top

#34 Well, how far back should I go ?
The Civil War ? How about WW2 ? Ike sat Patton in the corner and let Mark Clark get 8,000 American men killed at Angio. Then, there was Nam.
Officers and politicians alike had Americans killed by the hundreds for assinine decisions.
I guess the army learned real well during all those years of peace....doubt it. There may be some great combat officers around, but the whole idea of officers and gentlemen (you know the college elite) vs. the common grunts sucks. And today, there is the practice of making the decisions while well behind the action. No Chesty Pullers here. I'll believe it when I see it. Till then, it's the army of Nam in my mind.
Posted by wxjames 2006-08-14 15:37||   2006-08-14 15:37|| Front Page Top

#35 Not liking it is one thing, Besoeker.

Snarking at a particular woman in uniform who is doing a great job and earned her rank -- and the respect of those she leads and those who depend on her leadership for the wellbeing of their own units -- is quite another thing.

Hold whatever views you want on women in combat. But if you're going to spew uninformed snide snark about someone whose service I and OS and others KNOW to be superlative, you will be called on it again and again.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 15:38||   2006-08-14 15:38|| Front Page Top

#36 Wow, wxjames -- and that's all Halstead's fault?

today, there is the practice of making the decisions while well behind the action

Read OS's comments above, wxjames. Halstead has been leading from inside the zone that's getting regular fire. She's leading soldiers who are under fire daily. And her command's effectiveness is not only recognized, it's highly appreciated by the combat commanders in theatre.

I'll say to you what I've said to Besoeker -- hold whatever opinions you want in general, but when you dismiss the service of someone I know to be an outstanding officer I'll call you on it.

Y'a know??
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 15:41||   2006-08-14 15:41|| Front Page Top

#37 Please stick to your delicious milk tarts lotp.... ( only kidding )
Posted by Besoeker 2006-08-14 15:45||   2006-08-14 15:45|| Front Page Top

#38 When soaked in gas it's not smart to play with matches there B. Someone get a chain and restrain Lotp. LOL
Posted by 49 Pan">49 Pan  2006-08-14 15:47||   2006-08-14 15:47|| Front Page Top

#39 I only met Halstead once, about two months ago, while we were waiting for a the Palace exit to open again during one of the closures for bomb scares around the parking lot that are becoming more frequent. Had a nice brief chat, asked her about convoy security and the level and kind of attacks they were seeing now.

I remember that she was very friendly and smart, very short, had two stars, and I had never seen her before (which is unusual around here, where you get used to recognizing most of the brass).

I have to second all those here who salute her service and that of her people, who face most of the s**t this place has to offer and keep everyone so well supplied. I have nothing but gratitude, respect, and affection for everyone in uniform out here.
Posted by Verlaine in Iraq 2006-08-14 15:49||   2006-08-14 15:49|| Front Page Top

#40 Whahahahaha, amen to that.
Posted by Besoeker 2006-08-14 15:50||   2006-08-14 15:50|| Front Page Top

#41 No need for chains, 49Pan. B's attitude is neither unique nor particularly provocative at this point. As my pilot friend said over lunch today, "Oh for goodness sake, people aren't still stuck on THAT sort of thing, are they?"

I do take exception, though, when it results in direct dissing of a fine officer.

Verlaine -- thanks for reminding me. I did see Halstead's name on the Major General promotion list, forgot about that.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 16:00||   2006-08-14 16:00|| Front Page Top

#42 Halstead April 2006 interview

Interesting stuff.
Posted by mrp 2006-08-14 16:12||   2006-08-14 16:12|| Front Page Top

#43 Lotp, the LOCs around the world were outlined probably during the Spanish American War. The world hasn’t gained any new oceans, seas, or rivers. Yes there is an Air component but that is marginal compared to Sealift. Logistic Officers have very little to do unless they are making life tough on the enlisted force. Planning for deployments and re-supply is done at the Pentagon and not in Iraq. General Nuisance is only there to (hopefully) smooth over any wrinkles that may gum up the Logistics trail and possibly to foster some cooperation within Iraq with the locals. Yes the troops working in Logistics are tops (as are all today) and you can’t run an Army without them, but most of the orders/shipments (work previously done by Officers) are handled by computers which leaves the Officers free to help load or keep out of the way. If I am wrong please correct me and give me the daily routine of your typical supply officer.
Posted by Cyber Sarge 2006-08-14 17:28||   2006-08-14 17:28|| Front Page Top

#44 Stand down about those milk tarts I made, Besoeker dear, or I won't let you have any. Lotp doesn't have time for such things just now -- she's got people to train now that you may well appreciate later.
Posted by trailing wife 2006-08-14 17:29||   2006-08-14 17:29|| Front Page Top

#45 Or not, it would seem TW. ;-)
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 17:41||   2006-08-14 17:41|| Front Page Top

#46 Read OS above, Sarge, as to what MG Haltead's troops actual do in Iraq -- and what they face.

As far as the planning goes, as I mentioned I know some of the analysts involved. It isn't QUITE as simple as "computers do it all". A complicating factor right now is the move to the brigade as the deployable unit of action, unit as opposed to single soldier rotation and the rapid rotation of reserve and national guard units who will use some of the equipment left behind and who have very little in the way of organic logistics capability or experience.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 17:42||   2006-08-14 17:42|| Front Page Top

#47 From MG Halstead's review linked above:

Now, on a daily basis, what that means is, we move over 120 combat logistics patrols. That is, on average, over 17,000 trucks a week. We produce over 7 million gallons of bulk water a day. We distribute over 1 million gallons of fuel, over 9 million short tons of ammunition and over 80,000 cases of water. That's a day.

Now, I am pleased to report, however, that we have just begun production of water at our second water bottling plant in Iraq.

... We also prepare over 500 pallets of supplies that are flown each day. ... In the month of March, for instance, we reached an all-time goal of moving over 16,000 pallets by air. . ...

Another aspect of our mission is to support and train the Iraqi security force. As you would imagine, there are different levels of logistics units in the Iraqi army, just as we have in our own forces. So in the 3rd COSCOM, our mission is to partner with the Iraqi army's motorized transportation regiments. We call those MTRs. We also provide technical support and assistance to the Iraqi army national depot and the regional support units. They provide maintenance and supply support.

... We receive MTRs when they are 85 percent equipped and manned and when they've completed their individual training. So then our focus becomes on the unit level collective training, and that is everything from transportation operations to maintenance to force protection to soldier discipline. Our goal is to bring them to a higher level of readiness in preparation for them being assigned to their Iraqi army division.

...For the (Iraqi) national depot and the regional support units, our focus is mainly on training them on warehousing operations, assisting them with the development of their logistics concepts for their support systems, like ordering parts and supplies, prioritizing their work and their maintenance and coordinating the distribution to support their army units and sustain their readiness

This is happening, as a reminder, in Iraq and headquartered at Balad. (REF: OldSpook re: casualties her troops absorb due to IED, mortar and other attacks.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 18:00||   2006-08-14 18:00|| Front Page Top

#48 I've never met the general in question so I can only go off what those of you say who have met her. I usually get sick of articles based on gender and the whole overcoming obstacles bullshit. Just tell me how she improved the situation on the ground for those in the fight and she will have my respect regardless of what she has or doesn't have between her legs.

BTW - I'm prolly one of the most un-p.c. neanderthal guys you'll ever meet. I did a tour in Iraq and am looking to go back again next year for another. I have no issue with any Marine of any background who can pack their gear, and that includes females. However, I will admit I personally have seen at Recruit Training how standards are physically different for women. (they get to climb the knotted rope, do the flexed arm hang, only have to run 31 minutes for 3 miles to pass a pft, etc.) I do not condone lowering (or the p.c. differing standards due to body type horse hockey) for one sex and not the other if we are working toward the same promotion as well as wearing the same title. I believe standards should be congruent no matter what the sex as a bullet does not discriminate. From personal experience, I am not an advocate of women in the Marine Corps as I've seen many in just the past couple years get pregnant over and over to avoid deployment - yes, a lot of you won't believe that but it is 100% true. I have also met those females that pound for pound were more mature, more articulate, and could multi-task better then their male counterparts. I have met many who are very earnest about their job and are proud to serve. I absolutely have no issue w/those that do their job in that manner, but I think the sytem is not built for them, nor are they built for the sytem, and nor really should it be. The military in a lot of respects has turned into a daycare center. In general I'm a huge fan of women and when I was single I slept w/as many I could ;) However, I am not sold on them in a deployed environment though I know first hand as anyone who has been there can attest those who did perform well under fire.

BTW - I also think it is silly at least from a Marine perspective to bitch about logistics officers or REMF's. I saw a lot of Marines in support MOS's take a helluva a lot of fire, IED dets, and UXO cleanups while I was deployed. I've also deployed w/the grunts and can attest to the MOS expertise of both types. I've seen every stereotype and cliche of the pogue who never goes to the front but wears the best gear as well as I've seen grunts who whine about every goddamned thing under the sun. So as my ole' man used ta say: if they ain't bitchin' they ain't happy. It's when they stop bitchin' and get real quiet ya need to be worried.
Posted by Broadhead6 2006-08-14 18:20||   2006-08-14 18:20|| Front Page Top

#49 The pregnancy-to-get-out-of-deploying happens in the Army too sometimes, I'm afraid. Totally unprofessional and inappropriate -- not to mention that the women in question usually are not mature enough to make good mothers in any case.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 18:24||   2006-08-14 18:24|| Front Page Top

#50 lotp, don't jump to conclusions. I made only 2 comments, and never blamed anything on this lady general. Let's just say with me, respect must be earned, and by army officers, twice.
Throughout our history, we have a dismal record of bad officers getting their men killed in battle. I'm not aware that has changed. I would like to be wrong, but things tend to stay the same.
Posted by wxjames 2006-08-14 18:55||   2006-08-14 18:55|| Front Page Top

#51 Broadhead6: The gals are fully capable of meeting and exceeding the most stringent PT standards--given the right training. Check out the "Nasty Girls" workout video. These ladies have smoked many a PT bad ass:

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/051204.wmv

Even the moms and daughters will make it up the unknotted rope if you train 'em well:

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/mom_daughter.wmv

(warning: mature lyrics and images)



Posted by Classical_Liberal 2006-08-14 18:59||   2006-08-14 18:59|| Front Page Top

#52 Got the link thingy wrong.

CrossFit Nasty Girls

Mom and Daughter
Posted by Classical_Liberal 2006-08-14 19:02||   2006-08-14 19:02|| Front Page Top

#53 CL - If that were the case then I'd have never made the initial post. Thanks for the video submission though anyway.
Posted by Broadhead6 2006-08-14 21:20||   2006-08-14 21:20|| Front Page Top

#54 lotp, I concur. I encourage my single first termers to stay single. I also tell them not to buy a new car from one of the rip off dealers out in town but they often do not listen. Unfortunately a lot of them get married too early, have kids they cannot afford, & make poor economic decisions (or their economics are dictated by the aforementioned factors).
Posted by Broadhead6 2006-08-14 21:31||   2006-08-14 21:31|| Front Page Top

#55 I guess we'll learn how this plays out over time. I do understand both your experience and your concern Broadhead. Whatever else, the mission must not be sacrified.

OTOH I also know one of the women who have now graduated from air assault school, in almost entirely male cadre and meeting the exact same requirements as the men. Those 10 days aren't exactly a cakewalk for most soldiers, although I would *not* want to get into the Army vs. Marine comparison .... ;-)

Thanks for your comments on this thread, all. An important topic and one in which the data are still out I suspect -- for either side.
So we'll see how this plays out over time. And male or female, I am deeply grateful to ALL of you who sacrifice and serve.
Posted by lotp 2006-08-14 21:34||   2006-08-14 21:34|| Front Page Top

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