Afghanistan Through My Eyes - WREI Conference 2011

Speaking at the WREI Conference was amazing. I was so impressed with all the women who attended. I could probably write a book on each one. Their bravery, courage and advocacy for women in combat was astounding.

Photo: Maj Peter Shinn

My presentation went really well. I spoke about the question: If women should serve on COPs? (Combat Outposts). Once the policy to allow women to be assigned to combatant positions is changed this will be a probability.

Right now only 1/2 to 1% of the US population is on active service. This is down from 9% during WWII. We NEED women to serve, otherwise we will not be able to fulfill the missions. Both Brigadier General Rebecca Halstead and CSrgMaj Andrew Spano agree!

Photo: Sgt Mark Burrell

My other issue is that regardless of where women serve in the military the issue of consensual sex needs to be addressed. This was a HOT topic! The women who were speaking 'on record' denied this, but the women in the audience agreed! No one wants to talk about this. We talk about sexual assault, which is very different, but with women assigned to important positions where there is no one to take their place if they become pregnant this is a real issue.

Photo by Sgt Poppe

I thought it was interesting how no one wants to talk about it. Let's ignore it is dangerously passive-agressive behavior when it can be easily rectified. I don't understand how you can take 18 and 19 year-olds who are probably having sex to begin with and then expect them to be abstinent in a combat zone when their adrenaline, hormones and anger is making them all extremely agitated.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - More Women In Combat

Going over all the studies about women in combat I'm not sure if I should smile or yell! Especially after reading the Executive Summary for Diversity Leadership for the 21-Century Military.

This Diversity Commission was established in 2009, has 20 recommendations and a new definition of diversity, but...a big BUT recognizes that presidential and congressional guidance and support are necessary if success is to be realized.

Photo by Doug Lindner

The crux of my frustration comes because in 1948...1948...Harry S. Truman, then President issued the Executive Order 9981 that called for "equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services".

So here we are.

Here is where I agree with Justice Clarence Thomas (I never thought I'd be writing this). He believes there should be NO segregation when implementing laws or criteria. There should be no deliniation of race, color, creed or gender. This is how the Constitution was written and meant to be interpreted.

Photo by Pete Shinn

There is enough paperwork, (63 years worth at least) to support this. Can we move on!

Photo by Mark Burrell

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - Women In Combat

I don't really even like this title as I believe there should be no gender recognition in combat. You are a warrior and until the military treats all it's warriors with the same standards we are going to have problems.

In my book: Bullets In My Pocket, that my agent has yet to read the proposal on, I do not have a chapter dedicated to women. This is because a warrior is a warrior.

However I am honored to present a paper at the WREI Conference on Women In Combat focusing on Women at COP's (Combat Outposts); so women are on my mind.

Here are some of my favorite photos of women.

I hope everyone out there has a safe weekend...in war there is no weekend.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - Military VS Civilian Friends

A FB friend posted this and I had to take put some of the highlights in my blog...I have never met so many wonderful people as I have with the US military. This just sums it up.

Civilian Friends: will listen to your relationship problems and hope it works out.
Military Friends: will listen to your relationship problems over a long hard march and will help you straighten it out better than Dr. Phil

Civilian Friends: know a few things about you.
Military Friends: could write a book with direct quotes from you.

Civilian Friends: might try and hit on your girl behind your back
Military Friends: have spooned with you in the field more than your girl has, and would never even think about doing that

Civilian Friends: will wish you had enough money to go out with them
Military Friends: will share their last dollar, drag you along and try to work free drinks all night

Civilian Friends: Want the money they loaned you back
Military Friends: can't begin to remember who owes who money after taking care of each other for so long

Civilian Friends: will tell you they'd take a bullet for you
Military Friends: will actually take a bullet for you.

This footage is pretty raw...it's hard to shoot a camera and a gun at the same time.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes

I've been writing about Afghanistan for over a year. A place that I used to just read about, now has a special place in my heart. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about the US military and other military factions from around the world fighting there.

The first time I went through Abbey Gate in Kabul, I was on foot, lugging my 85 pound duffle bag. I remember distinctly the cold biting my exposed face and hands as I tried to negotiate with the Dutch guards speaking English with their thick accents. I was better at understanding their body language and gesturing with their loaded guns...get back and wait out past the first check point.

It was as if it was yesterday, even though it was 0600 January 1, 2011 and I had been traveling since December 30th with nary a layover and not a wink of sleep.

This was another check point in my adventure as I stared up at the crescent moon and star pinned in the sapphire blue sky as a reminder of the Russian occupation 35 years ago.

What was it going to be like inside? Abbey Gate was a vortex, a gateway into a combat zone. It's boundaries definitive, unlike the blood spilled within.