News
Military Injustice: Politics, Machismo, Structural Defects
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 | Category: Military Justice - National
This opinion article highlights the vulnerability of the military justice system to inappropriate Congressional pressure. USAF Lt. Col. Rachel Van Landingham (ret.) notes that the "generals and admirals in whom the greatest prosecutorial and quasi-judicial authority is vested not only must be confirmed by the Senate for their next promotion, but three and four-star generals must receive Senate approval for their next assignment as well. This approval process starts, and can easily end, in the Senate Armed Services Committee." She suggests that Congress enact reform that instills transparency and accountability into prosecutorial discretion in the military vice unlawfully influencing individual cases.
Women and The Military Prepare for Combat
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
All the military Services must submit plans to integrate women into combat positions by January 1, 2016 with over 220,000 positions opened by April 2016. Lieutenant General Barno commanded a brigade including hundreds of women. He tells The Takeaway that the armed forces will only improve by including women as long as the services maintain their high standards for combat roles.
Pentagon's Women-in-Combat Push Faces Chilly Headwinds
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
The Pentagon, under Secretary of Defense Carter's leadership, must open all military occupations to women beginning in 2016. Challenges are expected, particularly within the special operation forces units.
Two Big Army Salutes to Military Women's Equality
Tuesday, December 22, 2015 | Category: History/Heritage - National
This blog's article commends the promotion of two women to senior U.S. Army positions. She believes these "firsts" are potentially important steps to positively transforming women's military experiences to include serving with respect and dignity.
Air Force Veteran Joins Columbia College Board
Monday, December 21, 2015 | Category: Military Justice - National
Retired Air Force Lt General Richard Harding joined Columbia College’s Board of Trustees. He noted that while in the Air Force, he was most proud of his work on policies regarding representation for military sexual assault victims and laws of war. He currently lives in Columbia, Missouri.
The Military's Culture of Retaliation Against Rape Victims
Saturday, December 19, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - New Hampshire
The article's author shares her experiences of trying to write an article about sexual assault in the military. Contacts who were not currently in the military were afraid to speak freely and openly, acknowledging the military's "culture of silence." Retaliation continues even after legal reform as the 2014 RAND report documents: 62% of women who reported unwanted sexual contact experienced some form of retaliation including adverse administrative actions, professional actions, punishments for other infractions, and/or mental health diagnoses.
Senators of Steel: Gillibrand And McCaskill Make A Formidable Team
Friday, December 18, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Senators McCaskill of Missouri and Gillibrand of New York have blazed sexual assault reform impacting military personnel and students on college campuses. They understand there is much, much more to acccomplish to reach out and give a hand up to victims who still live in silence. As role models for women, they recommend women "own their ambition."
West Point Names Diana Holland as First Woman Commandant of Cadets
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 | Category: Department of Defense - National
Brigadier General Diana Holland will become the 76th Commandant of Cadets at a January 5, 2016 ceremony at West Point. She is an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran and the first woman appointed to this position.
What the Female Veterans in Congress Think About Women in Combat
Friday, December 4, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
The four women currently serving in Congress, one senator and three representatives, share their positions on Secretary of Defense Carter's announcement that alll military occupations, combat and noncombat, would be open to women in 2016. The decision came after a two-year review of jobs in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command that were only open to men.
All Combat Roles Now Open to Women, Defense Secretary Says
Thursday, December 3, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
On December 3, 2015, Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter announced that the Pentagon would open all combat occupations to women. This historic change to the U.S. military overturned the 1994 Pentagon rule that restricted women from artillery, armor, infantry and other combat roles in all of the Services. In reality over the past 14 years, military women often found themselves in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.