A Tribute To My Sisters In Arms

| Read Our Blog Read Our Blog Blog A Tribute to My Sisters in Arms Bridget Altenburg November 12, 2015 Veterans Forward, Workforce zero Two months in the past, I received to meet the first two girls to graduate from Ranger School â€" arguably one of many hardest leadership schools on the planet. About ninety ladies graduates from West Point, representing almost each class since the first one in 1980, flew to Fort Benning, Ga. to welcome these newest trailblazers. Some of us smiled via bittersweet recollections of the occasions that doors had been slammed in our faces during our personal military careers. As the army finally seeks to end the arbitrary segregation of women from various roles, I thought I would pay tribute to some of the other female “firsts”: 1782: Deborah Sampson served in General Washington’s Army. Her gender was discovered after she was wounded. She was honorably discharged and was the first girl to obtain a army pension. 1866:Dr. Mary Walker acquired the Medal of Honor for disregarding her own health and safety as a battlefield doctor. She stays the one lady to have earned this award. 1948: The first ladies are welcomed into the Regular Army as the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps turns into the Women’s Army Corps after the unqualified success of women serving in World War II. 1968: Command Sgt. Maj. Yzetta L. Nelson becomes the first girl to earn the rank of Command Sergeant Major. 1971: Brigadier General Anna May Hays and Elizabeth Hoisington turn into the first girls common officers. 1973: Women graduate from Navy flight faculty for the first time. 1978: The Coast Guard opens all assignments to girls. (To date servicewomen are nonetheless restricted from serving within the following positions: Army: Infantry, armor, special forces, combat engineer firms, ground surveillance radar platoons, and air protection artillery batteries. The Department of Defense will resolve in early 2016 whether or not to open all roles to women or to continue arbitrarily segregating sure ro les.) 1980: The first ladies graduate from the service academies. 1991: LCDR Darlene Iskra becomes the first girl to command a U.S. Navy ship. 2004: Colonel Jeannie Leavitt turns into the primary woman to command a combat fighter squadron. 2005: Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester becomes the first lady to earn the Silver Star for valor in shut combat. 2008: General Ann Dunwoody becomes the first woman to make 4 star common. 2015: 1LT Shaye Haver and CPT Kristen Griest turn into the first women to graduate from Army Ranger School; two months later MAJ Lisa Jaster turns into the primary mother to graduate from Army Ranger School. As we have fun all veterans this week, please bear in mind our ladies veterans. Honor them for his or her service. Thank them for being a part of the 1% who served during these two wars. Your e mail handle won't be revealed. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Subscribe me to your mailing listing Receive our newsletters, breaking information al erts, and more! Veterans Forward Orientation Careers by National Able Network: An Online Orientation for Nebraska Residents! Careers by National Able Network: An Online Orientation for Illinois Residents! View More…