DEOMI News Highlights
DEOMI News Highlights is a weekly compilation of published items and commentary with a focus on equal
opportunity, equal employment opportunity, diversity, culture, and human relations issues. DEOMI News
Highlights is also a management tool intended to serve the informational needs of equity professionals and senior
DOD officials in the continuing assessment of defense policies, programs, and actions. Further reproduction or
redistribution for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions.
Advocates see more work ahead for integrating women in combat, military roles [Leo
Shane III, Military Times, 5 April 2017]
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Former Marine Corps Capt. Greg Jacob says when women entered his company, everyone’s training scores
went up.
On Wednesday, Jacob was part of a group of advocates on Capitol Hill to discuss ongoing issues with women
in the ranks, with a focus on the challenges still remaining 16 months after then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter
announced plans to drop gender restrictions on all military jobs.
Already, more than 640 women in the Army and 180 women in the Marines have entered previously closed
artillery and combat engineer jobs, said Ellen Haring, retired Army colonel and a director at the Service
Women’s Action Network. Another 250-plus women in those two services have entered or finished infantry
training.
Advocates see more work ahead for integrating women in combat, military roles
Gay rights organizations hail court ruling as “game changer” [Michael Tarm, The
Associated Press, 5 April 2017]
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Companies cannot discriminate against LGBT employees in the workplace because of their sexual
orientation, a federal appeals court said, in a ruling that a gay rights group called a “game changer.”
The 8-to-3 decision Tuesday by the full 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago is likely to lead to a
battle before the Supreme Court over the interpretation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This is because a threejudge panel in Atlanta ruled the opposite three weeks ago.
In an opinion concurring with the majority, Judge Richard Posner wrote that evolving norms call for a change
in interpretation of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, national
origin, or sex.
Gay rights organizations hail court ruling as ‘game changer’
Rebooting Workplace Harassment Prevention Efforts [Sheri Petras, Government
Executive, 4 April 2017]
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Workplace harassment continues to be a problem in the United States. In fiscal 2016, the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission reported 28,216 incidents of workplace harassment, 5,336 of which were found to
have merit. EEOC helped employees recover $125.5 million in workplace harassment claims in fiscal 2016,
which represents a significant cost for government agencies and the private sector.
In June 2016, the EEOC’s Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace reported results of
an 18-month study on harassment. Co-Chairs Chai Feldblum and Victoria A. Lipnic said they were “deeply
troubled” by what they learned in the course of this study. After 30 years of effort to address and reduce
workplace harassment, there seems to have been only nominal progress. According to Feldblum and Lipnic, it
is time for employers, including federal agencies, to “reboot workplace harassment prevention efforts” to
ensure a safe and healthy workplace environment.
The key point is that if agencies focus on prevention, they can address issues before they evolve into serious
matters. Prevention involves identifying training opportunities, providing counseling services, and ensuring
that the proper resources are available for employees who are experiencing harassment in the workplace.
Rebooting Workplace Harassment Prevention Efforts
7 April 2017
Page 1
DEOMI News Highlights
Culture
Historical marker dedicated to MLK at Memphis airport
No more burials at Arlington in 25 years? Famed cemetery is running out of space
Discrimination
Gay rights organizations hail court ruling as “game changer”
Marchers demand equality on anniversary of MLK’s death
Diversity
Advocates launch new campaign to highlight “badass” women vets
Advocates see more work ahead for integrating women in combat, military roles
El Paso native retires after making Army history
Karen Pence emerges as the Trump administration’s liaison to military women
“Served Like A Girl”: New documentary tracks female veterans in a pageant with purpose
Study: Military service narrows racial wage gap among women
Two women, the first since October 2015, graduate from Army Ranger school
Vet hiring preference hinders police diversity
Miscellaneous
Air Force honors 50 years of the chief master sergeant of the Air Force
CSM: The Army wants to put drill sergeants back in AIT in 2019
Fort Hood designates April as Month of the Military Child
Gold Star Spouses Day: Honoring spouses of fallen service members April 5
How post-traumatic stress can open paths to personal growth
In her own words: How a Marine veteran amputee conquered Mount Kilimanjaro for charity
Lawmakers take aim at tobacco use among troops, veterans
Top teens: VIPs praise honorees at Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year award gala
Wounded soldiers honored at White House
Misconduct
4 U.S. servicemembers arrested over the weekend on Okinawa
Delayed firing of a porn-watching VA staffer could speed up new accountability legislation
Marine Corps drill instructor accused of slapping recruit who leapt to his death to face court-martial
Navy says Iowa State cadets put inappropriate photos online
Noted Air Force command chief master sergeant faces 15 UCMJ charges
Rebooting Workplace Harassment Prevention Efforts
U.S.-German liaison officer under scrutiny for Facebook comments about Merkel
Racism
Mourners gather for funeral of Black victim of sword slaying
Nivea’s “White Is Purity” ad campaign didn’t end well
Oklahoma cop: Race didn’t factor into shooting of Black man
Religion
Group Files IG Complaint Over Blog on Incoming Academy Commandant
Sexism
#BlackWomenAtWork highlights daily challenge of race, gender
Sexual Assault/Harassment
Women taught at boot camp to endure sexual harassment from male Marines, veteran says
7 April 2017
Page 2
Culture
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/e6b51a37d9464baf856ebcd07b1f7fe0/historical-marker-dedicated-mlkmemphis-airport
Historical marker dedicated to MLK at Memphis airport
By Adrian Sainz
The Associated Press, April 3, 2017
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, second from left, and Andrew Young, second
from right, pose for photos after the unveiling of a historical marker at
Memphis International Airport commemorating the final flight of slain
civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, April 3, 2017 in
Memphis, Tenn. Also pictured are Operation Hope founder and CEO
John Hope Bryant, far left, SunTrust Bank executive Johnny Moore, far
right, and Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board member
Pamela Clary, third from right. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A yearlong series of events taking place
ahead of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, kicked off
Monday with the unveiling of a historical marker commemorating the civil rights leader's final flight.
Two aides and confidantes of King, former Atlanta Mayor and U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young and the
Rev. Jesse Jackson, helped dedicate the marker at Memphis International Airport. The unveiling is one of
many events scheduled in this west Tennessee city leading up to the 2018 observance of the 50th
anniversary of King's death.
King flew into Memphis 49 years ago — on April 3, 1968 — to support a sanitation workers strike. Eastern
Airlines Flight 381 landed in Memphis late after the plane was delayed in Atlanta due to a bomb threat.
That night, King delivered his now-famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech at Mason Temple
Church of God in Christ. He was assassinated the next day while standing on the balcony at the old
Lorraine Motel. Young and Jackson were both at the motel when King was shot.
In addition to his roles as ambassador and mayor, Young went on to become a U.S. congressman. Jackson
founded the Rainbow Push Coalition, a civil rights group, and he twice ran for the Democratic nomination
for U.S. president.
King's visit to Memphis in April 1968 was his second in less than a week. On March 28, he had led a
protest on iconic Beale Street that turned violent when police and protesters clashed.
When the sanitation workers went on strike several days later to fight for better pay and working
conditions, the reverend was in the midst of his Poor People's Campaign in Atlanta. But he decided to
return to Memphis anyway.
"Neither of us wanted him to come to Memphis," Young, speaking in the airport's ticketing area on
Monday, said, referring to himself and Jackson. "But he felt that this was where he was being called."
King had thought that his life may be nearing its end, Young said.
"He was wearing down, and he didn't want to be with us in New York, he didn't want to be with us in
Washington," Young said, adding later that King "wanted to be with the least of these God's children."
Officials said First Tennessee bank paid for the marker, which is also supported by the Tennessee
Historical Commission.
Events remembering the life and death of King are also scheduled at the National Civil Rights Museum,
located at the former site of the Lorraine Motel.
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/arlington-cemetery-space-problems-eligibility-rules
No more burials at Arlington in 25 years? Famed cemetery
is running out of space
By Claire Barrett
Military Times, March 31, 2017
(Photo Credit: Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
WASHINGTON -- When Arlington National Cemetery was
established in 1864, it served as an overflow for other Washington,
D.C.-based burial grounds overburdened by the rising tide of Civil
War casualties.
More than 150 years later, the site has become a national shrine to
the sacrifices of American military members, and faces the opposite problem: Diminishing space at the
northern Virginia site could force veterans’ families to choose other locations for their loved one’s final
resting place, if changes aren’t made in coming years.
On March 29, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a field hearing at the well-known Army cemetery
to discuss the current operations as well as future plans to honor the nation’s fallen veterans.
At the top of the list of looming challenges is the issue of space. Presently, Arlington National Cemetery is
nearing total capacity. The cemetery staff maintains a high burial pace, conducting 27 to 30 ceremonies
each weekday and 10 more on Saturdays. In 2016 alone, Arlington buried or inurned 7,140 veterans and
eligible family members.
The Millennium Project, a southern expansion of the cemetery that will add 27 acres of land and 28,000
new grave sites, is set to open in fall of 2017.
But Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries, said despite that
work, by the year 2041, “Arlington National Cemetery will not be a burial option for those service
members who served in the Gulf War and any conflict afterwards” without changes to the current footprint
or eligibility policies.
That’s a looming challenge for a cemetery already racked by scandal in recent years. In 2010, Army
investigators found more than 100 unmarked graves, numerous mistakes on cemetery maps and at least
four burial urns dumped into storage areas for excess grave dirt.
The following year, Army auditors discovered that $12 million appropriated between 2004 and 2010 could
not be accounted for, leading to the resignation of the cemetery’s superintendent and deputy
superintendent. Officials have also struggled to shift site records from paper to digital records.
But the site remains one of the most revered spaces in American military history. Founded more than 150
years ago to lay to rest Union soldiers killed in the Civil War, the cemetery has become the final resting
place for revered men and women such as George C. Marshall, Anita Newcomb, John F. Kennedy and
Thurgood Marshall.
Arlington, while an active cemetery, has become a national tourist site. It is a place for Americans to come
and honor those who have served.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, chairman of the panel’s military construction subcommittee, spoke of
Arlington’s importance in honoring veterans and providing a link between “American history, traditions
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/arlington-cemetery-space-problems-eligibility-rules
and customs.” He said whatever issues face the cemetery, lawmakers are committed to “working with you
closely to ensure the perpetual success of this hallowed ground.”
That will likely include discussions of who will be eligible to be buried at the site in years to come. That
debate is still ongoing.
Durham-Aguilera said a change in those rules could extend the life of the cemetery, but will require
conversation with the public, members of Congress, veterans and military service organizations.
Recommendations for eligibility have been put forth in a report by Arlington staff, but have not yet been
released to the public.
Budget restrictions have also capped the cemetery’s funding at the same levels for the last five fiscal years,
and officials said they are now straining their ability to keep up with civilian pay increases, annual contract
inflation and new security requirements.
At the hearing, Durham-Aguilera also acknowledged the “huge problems with accountability in the past”
but said staff have made great strides in repairing those problems. Technological improvements have
ensured every grave is now geo-mapped, with digital records to substantiate each grave site. Officials have
stressed the importance of the chain of custody to “make sure we know where every single person is buried
here.”
But those fixes don’t change the looming space problems facing the cemetery. After the hearing, senators
toured the grounds to see first-hand the new southern expansion plans, including land in the shadow of the
Air Force Memorial, built 10 years ago to honor a service that was still decades away from being born
when Arlington Cemetery was established.
It serves as a reminder of the changes the cemetery has already weathered, and the changes ahead. Sen.
Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said that Congress’ job now is “to ensure that it remains an active cemetery for
generations to come.”
Discrimination
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/1250634e4f434d2ca02a0f8f1674e624/gay-rights-organizations-hail-courtruling-game-changer
Gay rights organizations hail court ruling as 'game changer'
By Michael Tarm
The Associated Press, April 5, 2017
This Sept. 30, 2015 photo provided by Lambda Legal shows Kimberly
Hively at the federal courthouse in Chicago. A federal appeals court ruled
for the first time Tuesday, April 4, 2017, that the 1964 Civil Rights Act
protects LGBT employees from workplace discrimination, setting up a
likely battle before the Supreme Court as gay rights advocates push to
broaden the scope of the 53-year-old law. The case stems from a lawsuit by
Indiana teacher Hively alleging that the Ivy Tech Community College in
South Bend didn't hire her full time because she is a lesbian. (Lambda
Legal via AP)
CHICAGO (AP) — Companies cannot discriminate against LGBT
employees in the workplace because of their sexual orientation, a federal
appeals court said, in a ruling that a gay rights group called a "game
changer."
The 8-to-3 decision Tuesday by the full 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago is likely to lead to a
battle before the Supreme Court over the interpretation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This is because a
three-judge panel in Atlanta ruled the opposite three weeks ago.
"This decision is a game changer for lesbian and gay employees facing discrimination in the workplace and
sends a clear message to employers: it is against the law to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation,"
said Greg Nevins, of Lambda Legal, which advocates for LGBT issues.
The case stems from a lawsuit by Indiana teacher Kimberly Hively alleging that the Ivy Tech Community
College in South Bend didn't hire her full time because she is a lesbian.
In an opinion concurring with the majority, Judge Richard Posner wrote that evolving norms call for a
change in interpretation of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color, religion,
national origin or sex.
"I don't see why firing a lesbian because she is in the subset of women who are lesbian should be thought
any less a form of sex discrimination than firing a woman because she's a woman," wrote the judge, who
was appointed by Republican Ronald Reagan.
The decision comes as President Donald Trump's administration has begun setting its own policies on
LGBT rights. Late in January, the White House declared Trump would enforce an Obama administration
order barring companies that do federal work from workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual identity.
But in February, it revoked guidance on transgender students' use of public school bathrooms, deferring to
states.
Hively said after Tuesday's ruling that she agreed to bring the case because she felt she was being "bullied."
She told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that the time has come "to stop punishing people for
being gay, being lesbian, being transgender."
Ivy Tech said in a statement that its policies specifically bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and
that it denies discriminating against Hively, a factual question separate from the 7th Circuit's finding
regarding the law.
The Chicago ruling came on the anniversary of the assassination of civil rights icon Martin Luther King,
whose marches against racism prompted Congress to pass the landmark civil rights law. A GOP-majority
House and Senate make it unlikely the current Congress will amend the law.
Debate in the Hively case revolved around the meaning of the word 'sex' in Title VII, the section of the law
that deals with discrimination. Other courts have concluded that Congress meant for the word to refer only
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/1250634e4f434d2ca02a0f8f1674e624/gay-rights-organizations-hail-courtruling-game-changer
to whether a worker was male or female. They said that it would be wrong to stretch the meaning of 'sex' in
the statute to include sexual orientation.
The majority of the 7th Circuit sided with a broader meaning.
"Any discomfort, disapproval, or job decision based on the fact that the complainant — woman or man —
dresses differently, speaks differently, or dates or marries a same-sex partner, is a reaction purely and
simply based on sex. That means that it falls within Title VII's prohibition against sex discrimination,"
Judge Diane Wood, a President Bill Clinton appointee, wrote for the majority.
The dissenting opinion — written by Judge Diane Sykes, a conservative who was on Trump's list of
possible Supreme Court appointees — said the majority were stretching the meaning of the law too far.
"We are not authorized to infuse the text with a new or unconventional meaning or to update it to respond
to changed social, economic, or political conditions."
The dissent alludes to the judicial philosophy of Trump's high-court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who advocates
sticking with the original legislative texts in deciding legal disputes.
"It's understandable that the court is impatient to protect lesbians and gay men from workplace
discrimination without waiting for Congress to act. Legislative change is arduous and can be slow to come.
But we're not authorized to amend Title VII by interpretation," Sykes wrote.
Posner, though, said sticking to original meanings and cultural standards didn't make sense.
"It is well-nigh certain that homosexuality, male or female, did not figure in the minds of the legislators
who enacted Title VII," he wrote in his concurring opinion.
"(Lawmakers in the 1960s) shouldn't be blamed for that failure of foresight," he wrote. "We understand the
words of Title VII differently not because we're smarter than the statute's framers and ratifiers, but because
we live in a different era, a different culture."
SEE ALSO:
U.S. court rules 1964 civil rights law protects LGBT workers from bias [Reuters, 2017-04-04]
The Latest: Dissenting judges criticize LGBT workers' ruling [AP, 2017-04-04]
Court: Discrimination against gay workers not prohibited [AP, 2017-03-13]
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3088a227ed824a3cadef394d59c1a44f/rally-memphis-equality-anniversarymlks-death
Marchers demand equality on anniversary of MLK's death
By Adrian Sainz
The Associated Press, April 4, 2017
Demonstrators carry signs and shout slogans during a protest
Tuesday, April 4, 2017, in Boston, held to voice their concerns
about racism and call attention to low wages. Tuesday was the 49th
anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther
King Jr. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Activists claiming an imbalance in
economic and social equality prayed, rallied and marched in
Memphis on Tuesday, the 49th anniversary of the assassination of
civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Hundreds of supporters of the Black Lives Matter and Fight for $15 movements demanded higher wages
and equal rights as they walked more than a mile (1.6 kilometers), from Memphis City Hall to the National
Civil Rights Museum.
The museum is at the site of the former Lorraine Motel. King was standing on the motel's balcony when he
was shot down by a sniper's bullet on April 4, 1968. He was in the midst of his "Poor People's Campaign"
when he came to Memphis to support striking sanitation workers seeking better pay, safer working
conditions and union rights.
Led by a 220-piece band from Talladega College in Alabama, marchers chanted "This is what democracy
looks like" and held signs saying "I Am A Man." Some wore T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Show
Me $15. Real Change. No Pennies."
The Fight for $15 group wants a higher hourly minimum wage for low-pay workers, including fast food
employees and home and child care workers. The Black Lives Matter movement developed after the deaths
of unarmed black men during confrontations with white police officers and has waged protests throughout
the country.
Marchers also came from Arkansas and Missouri to join their Tennessee colleagues. Police did not
immediately have an estimate of the number of marchers who participated.
Renita Moore, a 54-year-old nursing assistant from St. Louis, said raising the minimum wage is important
because her cost of living keeps going up.
"We've all come together as one," Moore said. "It's very important that we stick together, stand together
and fight together."
The march was one of many King-related events in Memphis.
Earlier Tuesday, more than 200 people gathered at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church to hear the Rev.
Jesse Jackson and the Rev. William Barber talk about how King's fight for economic and racial equality
and social justice is far from over.
A vocalist belted out a religious hymn and another song, "The Impossible Dream," and attendees held
hands in prayer.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3088a227ed824a3cadef394d59c1a44f/rally-memphis-equality-anniversarymlks-death
Barber, known for his firebrand public speaking style, called for those seeking progress on social and
economic issues affecting poor people to help register more blacks voters and engage in "civil
disobedience."
The pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, was critical of President Donald
Trump, including his effort to suspend new visas for people in six Muslim-majority countries. He called
Trump a "narcissistic tweeter."
"We are not those who believe the terrible lies that the best way to better America is to attack public
education and attack Muslims and attack immigrants and attack living wages," said Barber, progressively
raising his voice. "How in the world can America attack refugees when we sing 'God bless America, shed
his grace on us,' but we don't have grace for immigrants? That's contradictory to everything we say we
believe."
Then, he added: "We are the crowd that believes in justice and love and mercy and goodness and hope, the
common good, the general welfare. We believe 'liberal' is a good word, and 'conservative' is a good word."
Outside the church, Sharon Johnson, 60, said she came to the rally to honor King's memory.
"He came from the right place in his heart, believing that all people are equal, that everyone should be
treated with respect, that people deserve equal pay for their work," said Johnson, a pharmacy technician.
"He sacrificed his life to make that happen."
Rallies also were scheduled in Florida, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Michigan. In Boston, dozens
of people marched through the Boston Common to call for less racism and a higher minimum wage.
Marchers held a moment of silence at 6:01 p.m. Central Time to mark when King was shot.
Diversity
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/gy6-campaign-badass-women-veterans
Advocates launch new campaign to highlight 'badass'
women vets
By Leo Shane III
Military Times, March 31, 2017
(Photo Credit: Courtesy of Got Your 6)
WASHINGTON—Got Your 6’s newest public service campaign
wants to remind Americans that military women aren’t just a key
part of America’s fighting force.
They’re also badass.
The #ShesBadass campaign, launched on the last day of Women’s
History Month, includes stories of women veterans discussing their
service, post-military life and challenges. The group, whose stated goal is to change public perceptions of
veterans in America, released a new online video Friday to spread that message.
It features short stories on four women: a former helicopter door gunner and amputee, a refugee-turnedsoldier-turned-dentist, an airman who later pursued acting, and a breast cancer survivor who became a
physical fitness coach.
“When I tell people I’m a veteran, I kind of get that look: ‘Which country?’” said Tigon Abalos, one of the
veterans featured in the video. “I have to say ‘U.S. Army veteran.'”
The campaign comes amid dramatic changes for women servicemembers in recent years, including the
opening of all combat jobs to women and the recent nude photo sharing scandal that has highlighted issues
of misogyny and harassment in the ranks.
Got Your 6 Director of Content Kate Hoit, an Iraq War veteran, said
she hopes the video serves as wake-up call for the public and a
resource for her peers.
“My goal was to help defy stereotypes and put a face to a new
generation of veterans. And I think we accomplished our goal,” she
said.
“So the next time someone says, ‘You were in the military? But
you're so small,’ or ‘you don't look like a veteran,’ just show them this video. And then tell them to kindly
f*** off.”
Lawmaker: Military has 'a cultural problem of abuse'
Women now total nearly 11 percent of veterans in America, and roughly 20 percent of all veterans under
the age of 50.
Lawmakers and veterans groups have lobbied for better Veterans Affairs services in recent years as those
numbers have risen, but advocates say the department still needs major changes in aging hospitals and
outdated policies to fully embrace the needs of women veterans.
Got Your 6 officials are also hoping that women currently serving and out of the military will use the
#ShesBadass hashtag on social media to share their own stories, bringing more public attention to their role
in their communities.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be
reached at [email protected].
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/women-combat-continued-concerns-advocates
Advocates see more work ahead for integrating women in
combat, military roles
By Leo Shane III
Military Times, April 5, 2017
(Photo Credit: Patrick A. Albright/Army)
WASHINGTON—Former Marine Corps Capt. Greg Jacob says
when women entered his company, everyone’s training scores went
up.
“The men didn’t want to get beat by the women,” he said. “So they
started lifting more weights, pushing harder. The entire standard of
the unit was raised.”
That’s why Jacob, a longtime advocate of integrating women into military combat posts, is frustrated with
slow progress on the issue in recent years. He thinks the issue isn’t one of political correctness and quotas,
but instead one of re-examining ways to make the military stronger.
On Wednesday, Jacob was part of a group of advocates on Capitol Hill to discuss ongoing issues with
women in the ranks, with a focus on the challenges still remaining 16 months after then-Defense Secretary
Ash Carter announced plans to drop gender restrictions on all military jobs.
The move has been met with praise from equal rights activists and derision from some conservative groups,
and has produced a slow and sometimes confusing mix of new integration rules for each of the services.
Already more than 640 women in the Army and 180 women in the Marines have entered previously closed
artillery and combat engineer jobs, said Ellen Haring, retired Army colonel and a director at the Service
Women’s Action Network. Another 250-plus women in those two services have entered or finished
infantry training.
She called those figures a positive step forward in a short period of time, but said military officials still
need to engage in a host of other changes to ensure the success of future women service members and the
overall health of the force.
At the top of the list of obstacles Wednesday was the Marine Corps’ continued use of separate basic
training courses for men and women, a practice which Commandant Gen. Robert Neller told lawmakers
last month is under review by service leaders.
Marines eye changes to recruit training amid renewed calls for coed boot camp
But Neller pushed back on congressional criticism that the training is “segregated” since some aspects of
the training include both men and women. Under questioning, he acknowledged that the Corps’ practice is
more separate than that of the other services.
Critics said the practice needs to stop.
“Our feeling is that in addition to giving sub-par training to women … they also come into a service where
the message is sent—to them and to their male peers—that they are second-class citizens,” said Gillian
Thomas, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union.
“If from day one that inequality exists, then real integration is not ever going to happen.”
The ACLU has had a lawsuit on military gender roles pending for several years, even after Carter’s
announcement. Thomas said the goal now is to ensure fair implementation of the new policy. A court
conference on the issue is scheduled for July.
Meanwhile, SWAN officials said they hope continued congressional pressure on the issue will force
military leaders to move forward on improvements like better gender-specific gear to troops (like body
armor and helmets) and re-examining training standards to ensure their relevance for all service members,
regardless of gender.
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/women-combat-continued-concerns-advocates
Two women, the first since October 2015, graduate from Army Ranger school
They’re hopeful those changes will lead to broader cultural shifts in the military like the ones several
women who have entered infantry roles have already seen.
Second Lt. Wednesday Nelson, a Colorado National Guard officer who was among the graduates of the
first Army integrated infantry officer courses, said she saw significant skepticism from her male peers
when she first started training, but gained respect as they saw her being held to the same standards.
Still, she expects continued pushback until women in infantry jobs becomes the norm.
“For now, anything you’ve accomplished or failed is always going to be focused on more than the men,”
she said.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be
reached at [email protected]
http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/military/ft-bliss/2017/04/02/maj-gen-brown-looks-back-historicarmy-career/99952616/
El Paso native retires after making Army history
By David Burge
El Paso Times, April 2, 2017
VIDEO: Robert Gutierrez / Wochit
Maj. Gen. Heidi V. Brown entertains and inspires those in
attendance at Friday’s Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce's
Women in Business Conference at the Wyndham El Paso Airport
Hotel and Water Park. Victor Calzada/El Paso Times
For more than 35 years, El Pasoan and Army Maj. Gen. Heidi V.
Brown has broken gender barriers and served as a role model
during a history-making military career.
She faced many challenges in the male-dominated Army, but said
she overcame them by making the most of opportunities that came her way.
“You just want to be afforded the same opportunities everyone else is afforded,” Brown said during an
interview with the El Paso Times. “That is the first step. Don’t discount me. You can pick me last if you
think I’m not good enough. Just pick me and give me a chance and let me show you what I can do.
“That’s what all of us want,” Brown added. “It doesn’t matter if it’s gender, race, religion, whatever it may
be. Just give me a chance and treat me like everyone else.”
Brown, 57, retired from the Army on Saturday.
During the Iraq War in 2003, she commanded Fort Bliss’ 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade and became
the first woman to command a brigade in combat. The 31st ADA Brigade is now headquartered at Fort Sill,
Okla.
Her most recent assignment was as the director of global operations for U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt
Air Force Base, Neb. She was the first female combatant command operations officer and the first U.S.
Army soldier to serve in that position for Strategic Command. A retirement ceremony was held for Brown
on Feb. 24 at Offutt before her official retirement.
An Austin High School graduate, Brown was also the first El Paso woman to attend and graduate from the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Brown did five tours at Fort Bliss, her hometown installation, including serving as a battalion and brigade
commander and as deputy commander for the installation.
Brown said she doesn’t view herself as a role model just for women, but for everyone.
“I don’t self-limit,” Brown said.
Brown will settle in Locust Grove, Va., where she and her wife of three years, Laura M. DeSimone, own a
house on Lake of the Woods.
DeSimone is director of acquisition with the Missile Defense Agency at Fort Belvoir, Va., and still has
about six years until she can retire, Brown said.
Brown's initial goal in retirement is to oversee a major renovation of their lakefront home. She is also
planning to write a book about her experiences in Iraq called “From Bliss to Baghdad.”
Brown had hoped to continue her service with one more assignment, but she had reached her mandatory
retirement date based on time in her current rank.
Retirement, though, is “liberating” in a way — to get an invitation, look at her schedule and now be able to
do it, she said.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/military/ft-bliss/2017/04/02/maj-gen-brown-looks-back-historicarmy-career/99952616/
While she is settling in Virginia, she will always consider El Paso, the city where she was born, to be home
and “not some place I’m from,” Brown said.
She plans to visit often and maintain the many friendships she has made in the city throughout her life.
“There is something about looking out that window and seeing the ‘A’ on the mountain and knowing that is
my high school (Austin High) and all the different memories,” she said.
“This is a very special community; I never want them to lose that,” Brown said.
VIDEO. Maj. Gen. Heidi Brown entertained and inspired those in
attendance at Friday’s 12th Women in Business Conference at the
Wyndham Hotel. Victor Calzada / El Paso Times
She visited El Paso last week as a guest speaker at the Women in
Business conference put on by the Greater El Paso Chamber of
Commerce.
She talked about successful leaders being those who show
compassion toward their subordinates, how prayer and humor helped her through some tough times, and
how she would do it all again if she could — only better.
She talked about making her parents — Maj. William G. Brown, who served in World War II and the
Korean War before retiring, and Virginia M. Brown, who worked with the Army’s Special Services —
proud. Her father died in 2002, followed by her mother in 2008.
And she talked about being a soldier who happens to be a woman, “not a woman who happens to be a
soldier.”
“Old soldiers never die, they just fade away,” Brown said. “I completed the journey. I did my best. It has
been my honor to have served this great nation. ... My name is Brown, and I will always be a soldier.”
David Burge may be reached at 546-6126; [email protected]; @dburge1962.
Then-Col. Heidi V. Brown, seated third from right, sits with thenBrig. Gen. Howard B. Bromberg, seated fourth from right, and
other air-defense leaders at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, shortly before
the start of the Iraq War in 2003. (Photo: Courtesy)
Maj. Gen. Heidi V. Brown
Education: Bachelor’s degree from U.S. Military
Academy, master’s in education from University of South Carolina
and a master’s in strategy from U.S. Army War College
Awards: Distinguished Service Medal; the Defense Superior
Service Medal; the Legion of Merit (four oak leaf clusters); the Bronze Star Medal (one oak leaf cluster);
the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal (six oak leaf clusters); the Aerial
Achievement Medal; the Army Commendation Medal (five oak leaf clusters); the Joint Service
Achievement Medal; and the Army Achievement Medal (four oak leaf clusters)
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/karen-pence-women-military-scandal
Karen Pence emerges as the Trump administration's liaison
to military women
By Leo Shane III
Military Times, April 2, 2017
(Photo Credit: Cliff Owen/AP)
WASHINGTON—Sporting the Marine Corps necklace she wears
to honor her son, Karen Pence roamed the vice president's mansion
greeting guests and thanking them for the role they play in the
military.
"I just want you to know how much we appreciate you," she told
the audience of about three dozen women representing all five
service branches. "... It’s not an easy place to be where you are, and I think we’re learning that more and
more in the position that we’re in."
The March 23 reception marked the second such event in the span of a week, the former occurring over
lunch at Fort Meade in Maryland. Days later the second lady held a similar meet-and-greet with military
spouses at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi, where her son and daughter-in-law are stationed.
The events are notable because Pence has said she wants to make
highlighting military women and families one of her main
platforms, and because they're happening as the Pentagon contends
with fallout from a vast sexual harassment scandal that has, once
again, exposed the Defense Department's enduring problem with
misogyny in the workplace. To date, President Trump and his inner
circle have stayed quiet on that issue, making Pence one of the most
senior administration officials to directly engage with military
women left wondering what — if anything — will change.
The White House has declined to address questions about its plans
for addressing the scandal, which exploded one month ago when
media reports exposed various online photo-sharing communities
where service members and military veterans have allegedly posted
nude or otherwise compromising photos of their female colleagues and, in many cases, made disparaging or
threatening remarks about them. First lady Melania Trump, who indicated cyber bullying and women’s
rights would be among her platform goals, also has declined to address the issue.
In a statement to Military Times, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said such alleged misconduct represents
“egregious violations of the fundamental values we uphold.”
Lawmaker: Military has 'a cultural problem of abuse'
Pence and her husband are the second consecutive Blue Star family to occupy the vice president’s mansion.
Joe and Jill Biden’s late son Beau served in the Delaware Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq
in 2008 when his father was elected.
A spokeswoman for Pence declined to address questions about the second lady's recent events and what she
has said to military women in response to the scandal. Related news releases indicate her goal was simply
to honor women who serve, and in remarks during her March 23 reception in Washington, she told those in
attendance “we just have such respect for you.”
Meanwhile, critics of the administration have suggested the events are a missed opportunity. "What is this
White House thanking women veterans for — our ability to tolerate harassment, or our silence while crimes
are swept under the rug?" said Trina McDonald, spokeswoman for the group Common Defense, which has
criticized the White House for its response so far to a host of military issues.
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/karen-pence-women-military-scandal
"As a female veteran and survivor of military sexual trauma," she added, "I struggle with the second lady
thanking me for my service, while Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump are doing
nothing to fix the problems that me and other women in the military face."
Military family advocates see either VP candidate as a potential ally
Women’s rights groups have questioned whether Trump, who on the campaign trail cast doubt on his
predecessor's effort to integrate women into ground combat jobs, can be a credible advocate for their issues.
It remains to be seen how the administration will act upon the information collected by the second lady
during her recent engagements, though it appears that was at least part of their purpose.
During her event at Fort Meade, Pence told the women in attendance that she sees herself as a “listening
ear” for the White House, someone who can report back to the president on the challenges they face. "My
role," she added, "is one of encouragement, it’s one of gratitude," according to a report in the Capital
Gazette.
Pence said she wished to avoid specific policy discussions, but the base's sexual assault response
coordinator appeared to challenge her on that score, asking Pence whether she is familiar with the military's
programs to address abuse among adult women and school-age children. When Pence said no, the
coordinator, Army 1st Sgt. Christina Pearson, explained how she engages with sex assault victims who, in
some cases, have coped with trauma for many years, according to the Gazette.
"God bless you," Pence told the first sergeant. "That's a tough thing to hear their stories ... and not get
discouraged yourself."
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be
reached at [email protected].
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/served-like-a-girl-new-documentary-tracks-female-veterans-in-apageant-with-purpose
'Served Like A Girl': New documentary tracks female
veterans in a pageant with purpose
By Kevin Lilley
Military Times, April 5, 2017
(Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sunshine Sachs)
One wounded warrior takes viewers of “Served Like A Girl”
through the 2005 detonation that destroyed her Humvee in Iraq and
cost her both legs below the knee, then leads a tour through a closet
of high-reflection high heels. “What girl doesn’t like sparkles?” she
says. “I can’t walk in them, but they’re pretty to look at.”
Another veteran, a Navy nurse who served in Afghanistan, lets
viewers in on her thought process regarding the talent competition of the 2015 Ms. Veteran America
pageant, the central vehicle for the documentary. “Besides putting people to sleep with anesthesia, the only
thing I can do is dance,” she says.
There are plenty of veterans wearing evening gowns while sporting combat boots. Women in tears recalling
time in the war zone or family tragedy one minute are teasing hair and applying mascara the next. The
documentary, directed by Lysa Heslov, takes on pageant contestants and other female veterans from all
angles—and that, says the pageant’s founder, is the point.
“I always cringe when Hollywood wants to do anything military- or veteran-related,” said Jaspen “Jas”
Boothe, now a major in the Army Reserve. “So when I had an opportunity to actually have my hand in it
and make sure they’re going to do it right, and also not portray us as damsels in distress or birds with
broken wings, I jumped at it.
“This is the first time that I think Hollywood has gotten it right
when it comes to woman veterans.”
The film debuted March 13 at the South by Southwest film festival
in Austin, Texas, to two standing ovations, Heslov said. Service
members featured in the documentary were in attendance, some
seeing the final cut for the first time.
“It’s kind of surreal,” said Rachel Engler, a nurse and former Navy
officer who served in Afghanistan and detailed her time in operating rooms trying to save combat
casualties—not always with success. “I’m actually speechless, which has never happened. They’ve been
filming for almost two years now, and I’ve been in this a year and a half or more, so just to see it all just
done, and we’re putting it out in the world, it’s very nerve-racking.”
Boothe founded the competition in 2012 as one of many efforts to combat homelessness among female
veterans.
“It wasn’t just some kind of pageant or competition where you walk onstage in a gown,” said Engler, a
former Washington Redskins cheerleader who, like many participants, was skeptical at first. “It had a
platform. It had a purpose. … I realized I could really have a voice for people who think they don’t.”
Boothe’s work helping homeless female veterans—her nonprofit, Final Salute Inc., estimates there are
55,000 of them—has led to feature stories on CNN, sharing a stage with Oprah Winfrey and spending more
time in front of a camera than she’d ever expected.
Survey: Women troops feel undervalued and unappreciated
“I kind of had to do it,” said Boothe, whose experience seeking assistance from the Department of Veterans
Affairs after a cancer diagnosis helped push her into this line of advocacy. “It was very terrifying, but if I
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/served-like-a-girl-new-documentary-tracks-female-veterans-in-apageant-with-purpose
don’t tell my story, then other women may not want to tell their stories. … And only through our stories
can we really heal.”
“Served Like A Girl” allows its subjects to share such experiences, oftentimes in great and unexpected
detail regarding family trauma, illness and injury—and ways to survive in the war zone.
“It really was about these women trusting me with their most intimate stories, personal stories,” Heslov
said. “And yeah, ordering a vibrator in Baghdad was a story that came up.”
As the participants prep for the 2015 pageant in Las Vegas, they also offer a window into a sisterhood—
one that allows bonding over shared experiences and exchanging of coping mechanisms. “You know, like
yoga. And wine,” Boothe joked.
Report: Services for female veterans fall short
One of the most telling shared experiences came as the women reacted to ongoing news coverage of plans
to open combat jobs to women. Marissa Strock, the self-proclaimed “glamputee” with the full shoe closet,
watches one such clip with a mix of appreciation for progress and a look bordering on disbelief.
“I mean, what the hell did they think she was already doing over there in Iraq?” Boothe said of Strock, who
was featured on a Newsweek cover in 2007 to illustrate a story on veterans health care.
It’s one of many areas where Boothe says mainstream society shows its misunderstanding of the roles
women play in service, and after it.
“When we became women veterans, we didn’t stop being Americans,” said Boothe, whose nonprofit runs
housing for female veterans outside Washington, D.C., among other projects. “I feel like they’re putting us
in this box of people where they’re like, ‘Oh my God, we don’t know what to say to them’ or ‘We just want
to hug them’ or ‘We just want to pet the vet.’ … That’s the opposite of what’s in this movie.”
Heslov says a fall release is planned and discussions with distribution outlets are ongoing. A soundtrack
release, featuring a song by Pat Benatar, also is expected in the coming months.
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/study-military-service-narrows-racial-wage-gap-among-women
Study: Military service narrows racial wage gap among
women
By Natalie Gross
Military Times, March 31, 2017
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Juanita Philip/Army)
Serving in the military can boost women’s future earnings and
quash significant racial and ethnic disparities in pay, a new study
has found.
While white women traditionally make thousands more each year
than their black, Hispanic and Native American peers, a recent
report out of Florida State University shows that veteran women of
color out-earn same-race nonveterans and also make more than white women who have not served in the
military. Veteran women of all races earn about 8 percent more than nonveteran women.
Occupation has a lot to do with it. The study notes that while women of color are overrepresented in lowwage positions, veteran women are more likely to work in management roles than nonveteran women and
also have higher representation in healthcare and protective service jobs, which include security and law
enforcement.
“It’s as though military service saved them from some of the bad opportunities that their sisters face,” said
Irene Padavic, the lead researcher on the study and a professor of sociology who has been researching
women veterans since 2000.
The study, “Aiming High: Explaining the Earnings Advantage for Female Veterans,” comes at a time when
women represent a growing share of service members. In 2015, when the Department of Defense made the
groundbreaking decision to open combat positions to women, women made up 15.5 percent of the active
duty enlisted force and 17 percent of officers – up from 14.7 percent and 14.4 percent in 2000, respectively,
according to a Department of Defense demographics report.
It’s not entirely clear whether the skills women learn in the military contribute to their higher earnings in
the civilian workforce, Padavic said. The study, to be published in the Armed Forces & Society journal in
April, is based on Census Bureau data of 18- to 55-year-old women from 2008 to 2010, which does not
include information on military occupation specialties.
One key takeaway of the study, however, is that the “veteran premium was large enough to raise the
earnings of disadvantaged minorities to be on par with white women in the civilian labor force – and
sometimes even higher,” Padavic said.
Across all races, veteran women earned more than 115 percent of what their same-race, nonveteran
counterparts earned.
After averaging variables such as education, occupation, number of hours worked and children in the home,
researchers in the FSU study determined that the predicted mean earnings of nonveteran white women were
$1,925 higher than nonveteran black women, $2,078 higher than Hispanic women, and $6,188 higher than
Native American women. Among veterans, the wage gap dramatically decreased – most strikingly down to
only $86 between white and Hispanic women.
Asian women are the exception. Both nonveterans and veterans out-earn all other groups of women, which
the study attributes to higher levels of educational attainment.
Emily Martin, general counsel and vice president for workplace justice at the National Women’s Law
Center, said one reason for the overall wage gap between men and women – 80 cents for every dollar – and
the specific wage gap by demographic group is “definitely because women, and specifically women of
color, are still being paid less for doing the same job.”
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/study-military-service-narrows-racial-wage-gap-among-women
Source: "Aiming High: Explaining the
Earnings Advantage for Female Veterans,"
Armed Forces & SocietyPhoto Credit:
Illustration by Devan Feeney/Staff
People still bring gender and racial
stereotypes into decisions about pay, even
subconsciously, she said. And women of
color experience other obstacles associated
with their race, including discrimination and
access to educational opportunities associated
with higher-paying jobs.
The Florida State study doesn’t mean that all
women would be better off joining the
military, Padavic said.
“Veteran status has a bigger payoff for
minority women than for white women,” the
report states. “These findings indicate that the
bridge to better employment provided by
military service is especially effective for women with the lowest civilian labor-market opportunities –
namely, disadvantaged minorities.”
But because white and Asian women face better labor-market prospects, military experience may not
produce the same payoff as if they had spent time investing in civilian careers, according to the report.
Padavic said this study sets up interesting questions that could use further research, such as how experience
in combat roles will affect women’s job prospects after the military.
“Nowadays when women depend solely on their own earnings to support themselves and their families, we
need to know how well they’re able to do that after a spell in the military,” she said.
https://www.armytimes.com/articles/two-women-the-first-since-october-2015-graduate-from-army-rangerschool
Two women, the first since October 2015, graduate from
Army Ranger school
By Meghann Myers
Army Times, April 3, 2017
(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Scott Brooks/Army)
Two female infantry officers completed the Army's rigorous Ranger
School on Friday, along with 117 men, according to an Army
spokesman.
The women are the first since October 2015, when Army Reserve
Maj. Lisa Jaster became the third woman to earn the coveted
Ranger Tab.
"These two female officers had previously graduated from the
Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course and continued their functional education courses, which includes
attending the Army’s premier leadership course, U.S. Army Ranger School," Ben Garrett told Army Times.
The women were two of 10 to graduate from the first integrated IBOLC course back in October, bringing
the total number of Ranger-qualified women to five.
Ten women graduate from the Army's first integrated infantry officer course
Following basic officer graduation, prospective infantry platoon leaders spend the next year at a series of
schools and training, from Ranger and Airborne schools to the Stryker Leader Course and the Mechanized
Leader Course.
Once they're ready for assignment, the women will be sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, or Fort Hood,
Texas, where the Army is fielding its first gender-integrated infantry platoons.
Also in that pipeline are Capts. Kristen Griest and Shaye Haver, the first two women to finish Ranger
school, in August 2015.
Two women earn Ranger Tabs in a first for the Army
Griest and Haver transferred to the infantry from military police and aviation, respectively.
Meanwhile, Fort Benning's One Station Unit Training, the combined basic and advanced schools for
enlisted infantrymen, is in the midst of its first gender-integrated class.
They are expected to graduate on May 19, Garrett said.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/30/vet-hiring-preference-hinders-policediversity/99689054/
Vet hiring preference hinders police diversity
By Simone Weichselbaum and Beth Schwartzapfel, The Marshall Project
USA TODAY, March 30, 2017
Police cadets prepare for a swearing-in ceremony at Boston's
police academy on Nov. 16, 2016. (Photo: Boston Police
Department)
Boston’s police commissioner has another problem with the vet-tocop pipeline. In a city whose residents are more than half people of
color, the Boston Police Department is two-thirds white. Like many
big-city chiefs, William B. Evans is struggling to recruit AfricanAmericans and Latinos to build greater trust with city
neighborhoods they serve. But under the state’s strict preference,
military veterans go to the head of the line. And Massachusetts veterans reflect the racial demographics of
an overwhelmingly white state, not urban Boston. Almost nine out of 10 military veterans who live in
Massachusetts are white.
Attracting non-white recruits is hard enough without the veterans’ preference, Evans notes.
“Obviously, it’s a tough job for a minority,” he says. “They are in a community that really doesn’t like
them. And they think they are a sellout, you know, ‘Uncle Toms.’”
Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole, who was a predecessor of Evans in Boston, said the preference also
makes it hard to change the culture of policing. While she can list many vets who have been “great cops,”
she said, “I want to attract people with very different skill sets. We are facing complicated issues with
people who are in crisis every day. Why wouldn’t I want people who majored in human services? Or
psychology or sociology?”
The Marshall Project analysis of veteran preference laws found that all 50 states and the federal
government have historically given an edge to military veterans in law enforcement hiring, promotion or
job protection. The most common advantage is an extra five points on the entrance exam, or ten points for a
disabled veteran.
Massachusetts and New Jersey have the most favorable laws for vets seeking police work. An honorably
discharged veteran skips to the top of police hiring lists, which makes it more difficult to hire women and
minorities.
In New Jersey, eight out of 10 veterans are white men. Only five percent of veterans who reach the stage of
being screened for police work are women.
Until 2015, Jersey City, where only 32 percent of residents are white, went a decade with no black cops
above the rank of sergeant. Jersey City has opened a new police recruitment office, headquartered in a
bustling African-American neighborhood, which offers applicants free police test preparation classes and
help finding work while they snake through the months-long hiring process.
“Correcting things that have been in place for decades is obviously not easy,” says Jersey City Mayor
Steven Fulop. “The civil service process can make it difficult.”
In Boston, without veteran status, applicants need a near-perfect score on the police exam to land a spot in
the Boston Police Academy. “It’s pointless,” says Jacobo Negron, President of the Massachusetts Latino
Police Officers Association, about taking the Police Academy entrance exam. “Why take the test?”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/30/vet-hiring-preference-hinders-policediversity/99689054/
In an attempt to circumvent the state’s pro-veteran hiring preferences, Evans has revised a once defunct
police cadet trainee program and has ordered his recruiters to seek out young minority Bostonians. After a
two-year period, these new cadets are eligible to become full-time cops.
“The whole idea of cadets is to basically counteract the absolute veterans preference, which seems to be all
white,” Evans says. The first class of the 42 junior officers — only 25 percent white — were sworn in midNovember.
Outside of the city, about a half dozen localities in Massachusetts have opted out of the civil service system
altogether. “You are seeing so many returning veterans,” says Terry Cunningham, who recently retired as
police chief in Wellesley. Wellesley voted to take its police out of civil service in 2010. “For the most part
they were white males. We weren’t getting any diversity in the department.”
Miscellaneous
https://www.airforcetimes.com/articles/air-force-honors-50-years-of-the-chief-master-sergeant-of-the-airforce
Air Force honors 50 years of the chief master sergeant of the
Air Force
By Mackenzie Wolf
Air Force Times, April 5, 2017
(Photo Credit: Scott M. Ash/Air Force)
The Air Force this month is marking the 50th anniversary of the
creation of the chief master sergeant of the Air Force position.
In April 1967, Chief Master Sgt. Paul Airey made Air Force history
when he became the first chief master sergeant of the Air
Force, according to the service.
“This position would shape how the Air Force grew as the newest service,” said Air Force Chief of Staff
Gen. Dave Goldfein on Feb. 17, as the service welcomed its newest — and 18th — chief master sergeant of
the Air Force.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright became the top enlisted leader on Feb. 17, succeeding
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody, who retired.
Congressman Mendel Rivers issued a bill in the 1960’s that required all the services to appoint a senior
enlisted adviser. The bill failed to pass, but the Air Force went ahead and created the CMSAF position.
Then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John McConnell announced the new position in 1967. In an
explanation of the duties of the CMSAF, McConnell wrote, “The man selected to fill this job will be used
as a representative of the Airman force when and where this is appropriate, and will serve as a sounding
board for ideas and proposals affecting Airman matters.”
“I ran into a lot of people who said it was going to be a phony position — there were people who thought
that,” Airey said. “There were people who said it was something to placate the enlisted force. There were
people who said they wouldn’t have it because it wasn’t going to do what they advertised it as. I couldn’t
believe this. I had enough faith in the system … it was going to be set up in all good faith to do something
for the enlisted force, to make it an avenue of communication, to try and make it a better Air Force, which
I, to this day, believe the job has accomplished.”
Airey and the 17 other men who have since followed in his path have used their considerable influence to
shape the Air Force into what it is today, officials said. They have fought for enhancing professional
military education, stressed the importance of higher education, campaigned for quality of life initiatives,
and supported joint and coalition operations.
“He was absolutely the right choice to become our first chief master sergeant of the Air Force,” Goldfein
said. “He fought for a standardized promotion system and laid the foundation for what would become the
professional military education that we know today … creating American Airmen — our most powerful
weapon.”
https://www.armytimes.com/articles/csm-the-army-wants-to-put-drill-sergeants-back-in-ait-in-2019
CSM: The Army wants to put drill sergeants back in AIT in
2019
By Meghann Myers
Army Times, April 4, 2017
Drill sergeants cut an intimidating figure at basic training, and the job comes with perks like a badge,
special pay and a distinctive campaign hat.
But for platoon sergeants at advanced individual training, there's none of that, and it has resulted both in
disillusionment for AIT staff and a lack of discipline among trainees, according to Army officials.
"How does an individual control a crowd of 120 if you are not vertically gifted and taller than
everybody?" Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Gragg, the senior enlisted soldier at the Center for Initial
Military Training, said Thursday in a virtual town hall with soldiers. "They can’t see you. There’s no selfdiscipline."
So the Army is working on a plan to bring drill sergeants back to AIT and level the playing field both for
the cadre and the trainees.
The move would be a huge reversal for the Army.
The Army in 2007 replaced drill sergeants with AIT platoon sergeants as a way to recognize a young
soldier's transition from "less total control and a little bit more of recognizing the role of the
noncommissioned officer," Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport, the senior enlisted adviser for Training
and Doctrine Command, said last year when the Army first publicly floated the idea of returning drill
sergeants to AIT.
The initial goal for putting drill sergeants back in AIT — drill sergeants already run One Station Unit
Training, which is offered for military occupational specialties such as infantry and combines basic training
and AIT — was fiscal year 2019. But leaders have pushed the date back a year because of budget issues.
By October 2019, Gragg said, he hopes to have drill sergeants leading AIT platoons.
"Often, individuals have no desire to come out and do it because there’s nothing in it for them," he said
about AIT platoon sergeant assignments.
Though serving as an AIT platoon sergeant is considered a broadening assignment that looks good to a
promotion board — and between 50 percent and 70 percent of AIT platoon sergeants are selected for
promotion — Gragg said the distinction is a problem.
"Quite honestly, we have put them in the middle," he added. "You know, the drill sergeant gets a badge and
some special pay. The instructor can earn a badge, and I can’t do anything for my AIT platoon sergeant."
Beyond the incentives for the drill sergeants themselves, there's an added discipline benefit for the trainees.
After basic, discipline is known to lag as soldiers transfer to a new platoon without the fearsome
supervision of a drill sergeant.
"We know that the force would like them there, we know that there’s a deficiency in warrior tasks and
battle drills in the force," Gragg said. "We know there’s a decrease in discipline."
As it is now, AIT platoon sergeants look just like their soldiers, with maybe a three-meter sphere of
influence, he added. "If I put distinctive head gear on you, that sphere of influence is increased to 30 meters
around you," he said. And hopefully, that presence will encourage soldiers to self-police and carry those
habits through their careers, he said.
http://kdhnews.com/military/fort-hood-designates-april-as-month-of-the-military-child/article_4f714ddc19a4-11e7-9f13-0b6823067e16.html
Fort Hood designates April as Month of the Military Child
By David A. Bryant
Killeen (Texas) Daily Herald, April 4, 2017
Col. Todd Fox, Fort Hood Garrison Commander, gets help from
children with signing a proclamation during the 2017 Fort Hood
Child Abuse Prevention Month and Month of the Military Child
Proclamation Signing Tuesday at Fort Hood. (Eric J. Shelton,
Herald)
FORT HOOD — Garrison Commander Col. Todd Fox signed a
proclamation Tuesday designating April as Fort Hood Child Abuse
Prevention Month and Month of the Military Child.
Fox was joined by Copperas Cove Mayor Frank Seffrood, Killeen Mayor Pro Tem Brockley Moore,
Killeen Independent School District Superintendent John Craft and local community leaders in child
services to honor military children at the ceremony.
The post — along with Army and local organizations such as Army Community Services, Army Child and
Youth Services, the Military Child Education Coalition and both the Killeen and Copperas Cove
Independent School Districts — will offer activities throughout the month to honor the sacrifices military
youth make because of their parents’ military service.
“Caspar Weinberger, former secretary of defense, established April as the Month of the Military Child in
1986 to recognize and honor military children for their contributions and sacrifices in support of their
soldiers and the Army mission,” said Brenda Brown, Child and Youth Services instructional program
specialist.
“This year, the theme is ‘military kids, at home across the world,’ because these children grow up
understanding that home is where the Army sends you.”
Fox thanked those in attendance for standing up for military children and making a commitment to address
the special circumstances they face before signing the proclamation.
“We come together today to celebrate the sacrifices and strength of our military children and to
demonstrate the commitment of the Fort Hood community to the well-being, care and safety of our
children,” Fox said. “They say it takes a village to raise a child, so the well-being of our military children
requires not only the attention of their parents, but also the concern and support of us all. If you see
someone struggling, reach out and remind them of the resources available in our community.”
https://www.army.mil/article/184955/gold_star_spouses_day_honoring_spouses_of_fallen_service_membe
rs_april_5
Gold Star Spouses Day: Honoring spouses of fallen service
members April 5
By Mary Ann Davis (IMCOM)
Army.mil, March 27, 2017
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- While many Americans were hunting Easter eggs or enjoying holiday
brunch, Inge Colton was getting the most devastating news of her life.
On Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004, she and her 11-year-old stepson, Lance, learned that her husband, Chief
Warrant Officer 2 Lawrence "Shane" Colton, an attack helicopter pilot assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion,
227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, was shot down in Baghdad, Iraq,
when his helicopter responded to a fuel convoy under attack.
Inge's life changed from happy military wife to shattered military widow in a matter of seconds.
Thousands of widows like Inge are honored every year during Gold Star Spouses Day, April 5, to
remember spouses whose loved ones died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The Gold Star
Spouses and Survivor Outreach Services helped Inge put her life back together after Shane's death.
"I've gotten to know several Gold Star Spouses in the States, and I've gotten really close with two of them
and visited both of them last year," she said. "I am a really good friend with a Gold Star Mother here in the
[Kaiserslautern] area as well."
Healing from the intense grief took time as she struggled day by day to take care of herself and Lance.
"It was very difficult. For about four years, I couldn't even look at a picture of Shane without crying," Inge
remembered. "We visited family before he deployed, and Shane's stepdad took some photos of him at a
restaurant. Shane always had a smile on his face. Later, I received an envelope with some pictures of Shane
in it. I remembered opening the envelope and seeing his smiling face and I just broke down. Lance was
wondering why I was crying, because seeing pictures of his dad should have made me happy. But how do
you explain to an 11 year old that it hurt to see photos of his dad?"
Years later in 2013, she experienced another tragedy -- Lance died. After the untimely death of her stepson,
Inge decided to move back to Kaiserslautern -- a place she remembered fondly.
"My father was in the military, and I was born in Kaiserslautern," said the 86th Services duty manager at
Vogelweh. "I pretty much grew up here and at Fort Knox, Ky. My parents are retired here."
Working on Vogelweh brought back good memories of childhood and meeting Shane, who was stationed at
Landstuhl in 1993.
"We met at the Vogelweh furniture store," Inge said. She and Shane were shopping with friends, but stayed
in the car. "Later, we decided to go inside the furniture store. He approached me while I was looking at a
bouquet of dried flowers and asked me if I wanted to go dancing with him."
A year and a half later on May 5, 1995, she and Shane were married at the Landstuhl Chapel, and their
military journey began and brought them to places like Fort Rucker, Ala., Korea, and Fort Hood, Texas.
While at Fort Hood, Shane deployed in February 2003 before the Iraq invasion began. Two pilots from his
unit, Chief Warrant Officers David S. Williams and Ronald D. Young, Jr., were held prisoner after their
helicopter crashed near Karbala, Iraq. They and five other Soldiers who were assigned to 507th
Maintenance Company from Fort Bliss, Texas, were later released and flown home April 20, 2003.
https://www.army.mil/article/184955/gold_star_spouses_day_honoring_spouses_of_fallen_service_membe
rs_april_5
Shane was one of the officers who escorted the two prisoners of war out of Iraq to Landstuhl, Germany.
Later, the POWs were debriefed at a stateside location before they were flown back to Fort Hood, Inge
said.
"After a lot of their equipment and aircraft were destroyed in Iraq, the 4th [Infantry Division] deployed to
replace them. The whole unit came home, and then Shane deployed again in February 2004," she said.
Less than two months later, Shane was gone.
A couple of weeks after her husband died, Inge received a heart-felt email from the wife of the officer in
charge of the fuel convoy that her husband helped save.
The email written by Anne Searcy said, "I want to express my sympathy for the loss of Warrant Officers
Wesley C. Fortenberry and Lawrence S. Colton, the pilots of the Apache helicopter that was shot down on
11 April. They will not be forgotten in this household. They are heroes in my household and in my heart.
When they were shot down, they were helping a fuel convoy who had been ambushed by almost 200 Iraqis.
The officer in charge that day was my husband, Lt. Searcy. It is one thing to hear about stuff in the news,
but when you realize someone died saving your husband's life, that is a feeling I cannot quite express in
words. I cannot express enough, the heroism of the two officers to know they died saving my husband and
his Soldiers. It is because of these men that I did not have military personnel knocking at my door that
Easter weekend. For this I am forever grateful and at the families' mercy. I believe all Soldiers are heroes,
but when you are in my shoes, it gives a hero a whole different meaning. As for the families of the pilots,
along with my husband and his crew, it will be an Easter we will never forget."
Easter is a time Inge never forgets as well. Although painful, she is grateful for the support she's received
since moving back to Kaiserslautern.
"The Survivor Outreach Services is great here. I'm so thankful that the [U.S. Army Garrison RheinlandPfalz] accepts us as their Gold Star Spouses even though my husband did not serve in their unit. They
invite us to events and make us feel like we are still a part of the military community," Inge said.
She didn't always feel like that.
After her husband died, Colton was told she was no longer part of the military community.
"My husband died defending his country, and I was told I was no longer part of the military community.
There are a lot of hurtful things you can say to a widow, but to tell her that she is no longer part of the
military community and treat her that way," Inge recalled shaking her head. "That was the only life I had
known -- I was an Army wife. I was a part of the Family Readiness Group and baked the cookies and
cupcakes for unit fundraisers. I was the one raising our son when he was away on deployments. So being
told that I'm not a part of the military community because Shane was gone -- that hurt. I feel more
welcomed here in a unit my husband was not a part of than at Fort Hood. They are embracing me here.
They invite me to several functions. I am so honored that they would remember Shane and invite me."
Shane will always be remembered as a hero, and in the eyes of the Gold Star Spouses and our RhinelandPfalz community -- Inge is too.
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/kevlar-mind-ptsd-personal-growth
How post-traumatic stress can open paths to personal
growth
By Bret A. Moore
Military Times, April 5, 2017
In the early 1990s, psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun coined the term "posttraumatic
growth," or PTG. The concept of PTG describes the positive personal transformations that can occur in the
aftermath of trauma.
In contrast to the typical portrayal of the combat veteran struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder,
PTG embraces the idea and reality that remarkable positive changes can occur in the days, months or even
years after incredible adversity.
The concept of PTG has been recognized for centuries. For example, tragedy has been the focus of much of
the great literature from ancient Greece. Many of the prominent themes of Christianity and Judaism deal
with imparting wisdom through stories of suffering. And Buddhism directs people to approach suffering
and learn from it rather than avoid the pain.
For most of us, the lessons of religion or stories of transformation exist in the background. We struggle
with the minor day-to-day hassles, but we continue to move through life. Little changes for us.
However, when many of us are confronted with a major loss like divorce, sickness, severe injury or death,
our complacency is upended and life is no longer the same.
In the case of PTG, as the shock of trauma wears off, important positive changes occur. The types of
changes vary from person to person, but general themes have emerged.
One of the most common is the development of a greater appreciation for things. The background noises of
life (kids playing in the street, birds singing) become clearer. The same old and boring food tastes better.
The backyard that needs to be cut every other weekend is no longer a frustration, but an opportunity to
enjoy the outdoors.
Others become more aware of their personal strength. Nothing tests one's resolve like living through a
tragic event. And as time passes, for many, the sense of resilience becomes stronger.
Then there is the creation or repairing of relationships. Adversity opens the door to increased intimacy with
others. In part, it's a result of appreciating how kind and compassionate other people can be. Just as
important, it's a reminder of how kind and compassionate one's self can be.
Probably the least understood and most profound change people can experience after trauma is in the
understanding of spiritual matters. A connection is made with something that is bigger than life. A sense of
meaning, calm and purpose can overwhelm a person and lead to a different outlook on life.
Whether you've witnessed unthinkable acts during combat, suffered the loss of a loved one, or were left
feeling devastated and defeated by life, it's important to remember that you are not merely a collection of
symptoms. You are much more complex than a psychiatric label.
Bret A. Moore, Psy.D., is a board-certified clinical psychologist who served two tours in Iraq. He and
Tedeschi are co-authors of "The Posttraumatic Growth Workbook." This column is for informational
purposes only and is not intended to convey specific psychological or medical guidance.
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/in-her-own-words-how-a-marine-veteran-amputee-conqueredmount-kilimanjaro-for-charity
In her own words: How a Marine veteran amputee
conquered Mount Kilimanjaro for charity
By Kirstie Ennis
Military Times, April 4, 2017
Kirstie Ennis (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sunshine Sachs)
Editor's note: Retired Marine Sgt. Kirstie Ennis climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in
March as part of a fundraising effort for Waterboys.org, a nonprofit founded by
NFL defensive end Chris Long that provides well water to African communities.
Ennis became the first above-the-knee female amputee to make the climb,
according to the group. Her journey, in her words:
My dream growing up was to join the Marine Corps. In 2008, at age 17, that
dream became a reality.
In 2012, on my second deployment to Afghanistan, a helicopter crash turned that reality into my worst
nightmare.
I lost my left leg above the knee. I suffered a traumatic brain injury, facial trauma, and various orthopedic
issues to my spine and arms. I fought to stay in the Marine Corps, but ended up medically retired in 2014,
facing a long road to recovery.
After taking off the uniform, I lost my sense of purpose. But in 2016, I found a new passion when I began
training to climb the Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia – many say it’s the most difficult climb of the socalled “Seven Summits,” the highest peaks on each continent.
While training, I found a love in the mountains that is far from comparable, and I knew it would be how I
would continue my service.
In October 2016, Nate Boyer from Waterboys asked about my intentions with the Seven Summits. I gave
him the short version: Raise money and awareness for humanitarian efforts while doing the unthinkable –
reaching the top of the world on one leg. It was a perfect match for the Conquering Kili program, which
eventually would reach its goal of raising $150,000 to provide water to those in need.
The mission was the water, but the challenge was Kilimanjaro. Why do it? Simple: Clean water initiatives
have been around for decades, but public interest has been minute. To attract donors, we needed something
sexy.
We are in the age of the veteran, and the era of the woman. With that realization, Ivan Castro (an Army vet
left totally blind by combat wounds, who is also my hero), Pete Quintanilla (a Marine Corps vet and belowthe-knee amputee) and I decided to tackle the “Roof of Africa.”
THE TRIP BEGINS
The first four days of the Tanzania trip were eye-opening. While my perspective has shifted many times
because of what I’ve endured, this experience truly changed my life.
We visited two secondary schools and several villages of the Maasai tribe. These people who have nearly
nothing compared to what we have in the U.S. continuously wear a smile; they forever will be a reminder
of how to live my life.
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/in-her-own-words-how-a-marine-veteran-amputee-conqueredmount-kilimanjaro-for-charity
Ennis and fellow team members, including former NFL players, head
uphill during the climb's third day. (Photo Credit: Cody Sowa)
They were happy to see Americans, professional football players
and veterans alike. Yes, we were bringing them sources of clean
water, but they were seemingly more excited to have our company.
The kids especially were extremely curious about me, my “robot”
leg and, even more, my blond hair.
In that moment, it really hit me that these people would never leave their country and probably never meet
someone who looked like me again. We were all made “elders” of the tribe, and I have every intention to
make a return visit.
The hike crept up on us. I knew I was ready physically, but the threat of a failing prosthetic or residual limb
was very real.
After a fast first day, I endured tens of thousands of right leg lunges and triceps dips to cover a very steep
and rocky eight miles on Day 2. The third day was mostly mind games played by the mountain, as we
backtracked and lost elevation before gaining at the end.
The mind games worked: I vividly remember watching Pete and thinking, “I will never complain about
being an amputee because I am happy to be alive, but I would kill to have my knee back.”
Everyone said the fourth day would be the easiest, especially for me, but they couldn’t have been more
wrong. With a long, slow, flat day with only 1,000 feet of elevation gain, I was miserable. My right side
was destroyed with the amount of compensating I had to do. I was dragging my feet through the sand,
watching the huts we were walking toward never get bigger.
We rested that afternoon and well into the evening, beginning our summit attempt at 11 p.m. The first few
hours flew by, and then I hit the sand and scree – small loose stones.
My footing is crucial. I don’t have much leverage with my left leg, and once it is bending, I am falling. The
number of times I fell before Gillman’s Point, on the rim of Kili’s crater, is countless. I was pissed. I was in
pain. The altitude was making my leg swell inside of my carbon fiber socket, in turn cutting off
circulation.
I knew I would not give up. Motivation came from unusual places: One of the nicknames given to me on
the trip was the Swahili word for goat, and as strange as it is to have NFL players making goat sounds
behind you, it’s part of what kept me going.
Once we reached Gillman’s Point, then Stella Point, I knew that the dog tag I carried from for Lance Cpl.
Matthew Rodriguez (killed in action Dec. 11, 2013, in Helmand province, Afghanistan) would rest easy on
the highest point in Africa, more than 19,300 feet above sea level.
By summiting Kilimanjaro, I was able to show the world what I was capable of. I showed that regardless of
your situation, you control your circumstances, they do not control you. More importantly, I did so while
helping bring clean water to tens of thousands of people. You can learn more about the climb and the cause
at www.waterboys.org/kili.
Kirstie Ennis served six years in the Marine Corps as an airframes mechanic and aerial gunner. She is now
the junior director of Wounded Warrior Outdoors and is on Instagram (Kirstie_ennis) and Twitter
(@KirstieEnnis).
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/troops-vets-tobacco-use-congress-limits
Lawmakers take aim at tobacco use among troops, veterans
By Leo Shane III
Military Times, March 29, 2017
(Photo Credit: Spc. Michael Sharp/Army)
WASHINGTON — Congressional efforts to stamp out tobacco use
among troops are expanding to veterans, too.
In separate hearings on Capitol Hill Wednesday, lawmakers from
both parties pushed to curb the habit in the ranks and at Veterans
Affairs facilities. The moves follow a years-long campaign from
defense leaders and VA officials to highlight the negative health effects of tobacco products, which remain
more popular with the military crowd than the general population.
At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., blasted Pentagon leaders for a
lack of leadership on the issue, saying not enough is being done to discourage the use of tobacco products
among young service members. A recent department study noted that 38 percent of smokers in the military
started after they enlisted.
Durbin has spearheaded several anti-tobacco efforts in budget legislation in recent years, and promised
more in the months to come.
“The rest of the world seems to have awakened to this,” he said. “Why has the military been so slow?”
Defense Department research shows that tobacco use has steadily declined since the 1980s, when almost
half the force was smoking or using similar products.
Recent studies have found that about 25 percent of troops smoke cigarettes compared with about 20 percent
of civilians. Roughly 13 percent use smokeless tobacco products compared with 3 percent of civilians.
Military health officials told Durbin they are pleased with the tobacco cessation efforts in recent years, but
still labeled the habit “a serious detriment to the health and performance of our service members.”
They promised a closer look at tobacco bans on bases and during certain advance training courses, as well
as other options to discourage the practice.
“We’re trying to get after that,” said Lt. Gen. Nadja West, Army surgeon general. “There is no minimum
daily requirement for tobacco products. Anything we can do from a medical standpoint to educate … we
try to push that.”
Defense Department research estimates the military loses approximately $1.9 billion a year to illnesses and
lost productivity related to tobacco use.
Across the Capitol grounds, members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee debated legislation that
would prohibit smoking indoors at any VA health facility, and ban all outdoor smoking on VA medical
center grounds by October 2022.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, an Iraq War veteran and surgeon who called the
measure “common sense reform” that reduces the dangers of secondhand smoke.
VA officials back the effort. The department estimates that 20 percent of veterans enrolled in VA health
care programs are smokers.
“Many of the non-smoker (patients) are also older veterans who may be at higher risk for cardiac or other
conditions that may make them even more vulnerable to the cardiovascular events associated with
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/troops-vets-tobacco-use-congress-limits
secondhand smoke,” VA Deputy Under Secretary for Health Jennifer Lee said in a statement to the
committee.
“As with patients of other health care systems, VA believes veteran patients have a right to be protected
from secondhand smoke exposure when seeking health care.”
But critics of both the active-duty and veteran anti-tobacco efforts have called them an attack on the
personal freedoms of Americans who have already sacrificed for their country.
While programs to get users to quit the habit have received minimal opposition, restrictions on the sale of
tobacco at military bases and bans on where individuals can use the products have faced more resistance.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be
reached at [email protected].
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/military-child-of-the-year-dunford-gala-operation-homefront
Top teens: VIPs praise honorees at Operation Homefront
Military Child of the Year award gala
By Karen Jowers
Military Times, April 7, 2017
(Photo Credit: Operation
Homefront)
The recipients of the 2017 Operation
Homefront Military Child of the
Year award represent the many
children who are giving back to their
military communities and to their
communities at large, the wife of the
nation's top military officer said at a
Thursday gala in Washington.
This year's recipients are impressive
examples of volunteers, mentors and military family advocates who excel in the classroom, in athletics and
in other pursuits while helping others strive for similar successes, said Ellyn Dunford, wife of Joint Chiefs
Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford.
"They provide comfort to others, especially the remaining-behind parent," she said. "And finally, they
know how to have fun. They know how to embrace the moment and the people around them."
The honorees described their experience as a humbling one, and were appreciative of the opportunity to
come to Washington.
Henderson Heussner, 18, chosen to represent the Army, said that "knowing there are military kids beyond
us, doing similar things, making a difference in their communities, is awesome and inspiring to know we're
making a difference across the nation."
The honorees thanked their parents and their communities for their love and guidance. Navy award
recipient Alexander McGrath described his mother and father as "national treasures," praising his father,
Capt. Richard McGrath, "as a model officer who is a testament to the truest ideals of the United States
Navy. His treatment of the enlisted is amazing, his commitment to service is inspiring, and every day I'm
just inspired to achieve as much as he has."
He described his mother as amazing and "the anchor" of the family.
Operation Homefront's president and CEO John Pray, a retired Air Force brigadier general, said the
honorees represent the nearly 2 million children in military families. Their spirits shine, he said, as they
deal with parents' deployments, relocations and the many uncertainties and challenges that often
characterize military life.
"They have developed an inner compass that points them to give back, to lead, to volunteer, to advocate
and to serve in their own communities," he said.
This is the ninth year Operation Homefront has held the awards competition. The organization provides a
variety of assistance to military families, including emergency financial assistance.
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/military-child-of-the-year-dunford-gala-operation-homefront
Six honorees were chosen from the nearly 400 nominations this year to represent their respective service
branches — Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and National Guard. They are selected
based on their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership and extracurricular involvement. A seventh honoree,
17-year-old Sophie Bernstein, received the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation.
Bernstein, the daughter of Navy Capt. Brad Bernstein and Moira Bernstiein, received the award for her
work in building, planting, maintaining and harvesting 22 vegetable gardens at low-income day care
centers and shelters in the St. Louis area.
Sophie uses science, engineering and math to teach young children to maximize the output of the gardens,
said Laurie Gallo, executive vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton, which sponsored the award.
"What people have done for my family and all these other people, that's the reason I serve," said Sophie in
accepting the honor.
Each honoree received $10,000 and a free trip to Washington (with a parent) for the ceremony. They will
also receive a free cruise with their family on Carnival Cruise Lines, a sponsor of the event.
The six honorees representing their branches of service are:

Air Force: Jamal Braxton, 18, son of retired Air Force Master Sgt. Lawrence Braxton and Ahllam
Braxton.

Army: Henderson Heussner, 18, son of Army Col. Todd Heussner and Linda Heussner.

Coast Guard: Mary Kate Cooper, 17, daughter of Coast Guard Capt. Tom Cooper and Lynn Cooper.

Marine Corps: Jackson Beatty, 18, son of Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 Geoff Beatty and
Somer Beatty.

National Guard: Molly Frey, 15, daughter of Air National Guard parents Senior Master Sgt. Renee
Frey and retired Senior Master Sgt. Kim Frey.

Navy: Alexander McGrath, 17, son of Navy Capt. Richard McGrath and Jessica McGrath.

United Technologies Corporation, Booz Allen Hamilton, Murphy-Goode Winery, La Quinta Inns &
Suites, Mid-Atlantic Broadband, Tutor.com and Military Times are sponsors of the program.
Karen Jowers writes about military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times. She
can be reached at [email protected].
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/06/wounded-soldiers-honored-whitehouse/100116908/
Wounded soldiers honored at White House
By Michael Collins
USA TODAY, April 6, 2017
Sal Gonzalez was one of several former soldiers who visited the White
House in behalf of the Wounded Warrior program (Photo: Michael
Collins, USA TODAY)
WASHINGTON — When he was seriously injured in Iraq in 2004, Sal
Gonzalez found comfort and camaraderie in the company of other soldiers
through the Wounded Warrior Project.
Suddenly, “there was a slew of people all across the country that all had the
same challenges I had, all had the same symptoms I had – the selfisolation, the self-medication, the anger issues, everything,” said Gonzalez
of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The program “changed me,” he said. “It gave me purpose.”
President Trump honored Gonzalez and 50 other injured veterans at the
White House on Thursday, calling them “real heroes.”
“Our way of life continues because of men and women who are willing to sacrifice anything and
everything to protect their fellow warriors and to protect all of us,” Trump said at a ceremony in the East
Room. “You’ve not only poured out the blood – and all of your blood, in some cases – for this country. But
you’ve poured out the love from your souls and from your hearts.
The White House ceremony, which was also attended by First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President
Mike Pence, was timed to coincide with the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride, a bicycling event that
helps soldiers rehabilitate their minds and their bodies.
The first ride was in 2004, and more than 30 take place in different parts of the country ever year. The latest
is a four-day ride through the Washington area that kicked off on Tuesday.
President George W. Bush welcomed the riders to the White House in 2008, and they’ve been invited back
every year since.
Most of the men and women honored Thursday have been wounded in the past year or two, said Gonzalez,
a spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity and veterans service organization that offers a
variety of programs and services for injured veterans.
“It’s just amazing to be here,” Gonzalez said. “It’s amazing that our government and our people and the
people of our country support us the way they do. I can’t help but think back to Vietnam and remember
how the Vietnam veterans were treated. It means so much.”
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, also an Iraq War veteran, said events like the Wounded Warrior ride are
important “not only for healing, but to send the message that veterans aren’t victims. Veterans are
warriors.”
Trump praised the soldiers’ ride as “the story about America and the strength of her citizens.”
“I’ll tell you what – I couldn’t do it,” he said.
SEE ALSO:
For Florida veteran, White House ceremony helps heal war wounds [2017-04-06]
Trump welcomes wounded veterans to White House [2017-04-06]
Misconduct
https://www.stripes.com/news/4-us-servicemembers-arrested-over-the-weekend-on-okinawa-1.461814
4 US servicemembers arrested over the weekend on
Okinawa
By Matthew M. Burke and Chiyomi Sumida
Stars and Stripes, April 3, 2017
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Four arrests — two on drunken-driving charges — mark the most over a
single weekend for servicemembers on Okinawa since a string of alcohol-fueled incidents last year inspired
protests and efforts to combat the problem.
A sailor and soldier each face charges in separate drunken-driving incidents from Saturday and Sunday. A
Marine sergeant was arrested Saturday and charged with stealing a smartphone at a massage parlor. Also
that day, a Marine major was detained at Naha Airport after leaving ammunition in his luggage.
The arrests caught the eye of prefectural officials who swiftly condemned the alleged actions.
“It is deplorable that the spate of incidents involving [status of forces agreement] people occurred over the
weekend,” said a spokesman for the Okinawa prefectural government’s Military Affairs Office. “We
cannot help but question the effectiveness of measures taken by the military.”
U.S. Forces Japan told Stars and Stripes it takes all misconduct allegations seriously.
“We expect our people to adhere to the highest standards of behavior,” a statement said. “Rates of criminal
misbehavior across Japan are near historic lows and we constantly work to maintain the high level of
discipline expected of us.”
In December, leaders from each service branch on the island signed a proclamation urging military
commanders and civilian supervisors to promote awareness of why people drive impaired, support
programs and policies to reduce the problem, and promote healthier and safer activities.
Of the approximately 100,000 U.S. servicemembers, family members and Defense Department civilian
workers living in Japan, about half are stationed on Okinawa.
Incidents have created tensions for decades among residents on the small Pacific Island, which military
officials prize for its proximity to potential flashpoints in the region.
Tens of thousands of people turned out last summer for demonstrations sparked by incidents involving U.S.
forces, including the alcohol-fueled rape of a Japanese woman by a sailor and a crash involving an
intoxicated Navy petty officer driving the wrong way down a highway, causing injuries to three people.
[email protected], [email protected]
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/shulkin-accountability-va-porn-firing
Delayed firing of a porn-watching VA staffer could speed up
new accountability legislation
By Leo Shane III
Military Times, April 3, 2017
(Photo Credit: Courtesy of Fox News)
WASHINGTON—Republican lawmakers backing new firing rules
for Veterans Affairs employees received a boost this weekend when
the department’s secretary endorsed the plan and says he needs
quick action on the issue.
But whether the high-profile push produces different results than
past efforts remains unclear, since Democrats can still stall the
effort in the Senate.
The endorsement from VA Secretary David Shulkin came after a report from department officials Friday
that they are working to fire a Houston-based staffer who was caught viewing pornography while tending
to a patient. Because of current federal laws, the employee will receive at least one month’s pay while the
appeals process plays out.
Shulkin called that unacceptable.
“This is an example of why we need accountability legislation as soon as possible,” he said in a statement.
“Current legislation in Congress reduces the amount of time we have to wait before taking action. I look
forward to working with both the Senate and the House to ensure final legislation gives us the flexibility we
need.”
In an appearance on Fox News on Sunday, Shulkin reiterated that message.
“We’re taking a hard stance that we want this employee removed, and we do not believe the current rules
allow us to do that quickly enough,” he said. “We need changes in the law, and I need the authority to
remove these people immediately.”
In his two-month tenure as VA Secretary, Shulkin has promised a host of reforms at the 360,000-employee
bureaucracy, but only asked for quick legislative actions on a few issues. His advocacy for new
accountability legislation puts the issue on level with an extension of the Choice Card program and
simplifying processes for veterans seeking private medical care.
That’s welcome news to Republicans on Capitol Hill, who have focused on the issue in recent years as one
of the biggest obstacles to VA reform efforts.
"The time for talking about accountability is over,” said Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn. and chairman of the House
Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “This situation underscores the need for Congress to get VA accountability
legislation to President Trump's desk.”
His Senate counterpart, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said the
porn-viewing incident is “exactly why we need to put in place accountability measures” and said he is
“committed to working with my colleagues to pass legislation to accomplish this goal.”
But Isakson’s statement stopped short of specifically endorsing the House-passed “VA Accountability First
Act,” which advanced largely along party lines last month. Union officials have raised concerns about
severely curtailing the appeals process for employees who feel they were wrongfully fired, and for creating
a separate set of federal employment rules solely for VA workers.
Democratic attempts to amend the legislation were rejected in the House, but similar changes are likely in
the Senate, where Republicans can’t force a vote without drawing some opposition party support.
What's in the VA secretary's 10-point plan to reform his department?
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/shulkin-accountability-va-porn-firing
Shulkin’s predecessor, VA Secretary Bob McDonald, promised new accountability measures during
President Obama’s tenure, but did not advocate for similar Republican-backed measures when it became
clear Obama would not sign a measure seen as anti-union.
Democrats in the Senate have said they are committed to increasing accountability at the department but
also have expressed concerns about some of the House bill’s provisions.
Veterans groups have largely backed the bill, at least in general, but not included the measure in their most
pressing needs for the department. Most have focused on access to medical care and mental health
expansions as more critical needs for the department.
The exception has been Concerned Veterans for America, which has ties to prominent conservative groups
and has made accountability its main focus in recent years.
In a statement Sunday, CVA Executive Director Mark Lucas said Shulkin should be applauded for
“acknowledging that systemic reforms are needed at the VA and demanding accountability now.”
He added “at this point, there is no excuse for the Senate to not move this bill to a vote as soon as possible.”
House panel moves new disciplinary rules for VA employees
No hearing has been scheduled on the issue in the Senate yet. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is the sponsor of
mirror legislation in that chamber, and pushed for similar reforms last session. The Senate is scheduled to
start a two-week spring break at the end of this week.
Shulkin—who in a TV interview earlier this year vowed that he’d fire VA employees who “don’t show up
to work, who do cocaine or who are watching porn at work”—said he wants the new authorities as soon as
possible.
“We are very serious,” he said in the Fox interview. “We are going to be making significant changes at VA,
and we are not tolerating employees that deviate from the values of caring for veterans.”
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be
reached at [email protected].
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/drill-instructors-face-courts-martial-for-abuse-allgeations
Marine Corps drill instructor accused of slapping recruit
who leapt to his death to face court-martial
By Jeff Schogol
Marine Corps Times, April 5, 2017
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Jennifer Schubert/Marine Corps)
A Parris Island drill instructor accused of slapping a Muslim recruit
shortly before he leapt to his death and separately ordering another
Muslim recruit to sit in a commercial dryer will face a general
court-martial, according to Training and Education Command.
Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix faces charges of cruelty and
maltreatment, drunk and disorderly conduct, failure to obey a
lawful general order and obstruction of justice, TECOM announced Wednesday in a news release. This
comes more than a year after the March 18, 2016, death of Raheel Siddiqui, 20, of the 3rd Recruit Training
Battalion, who was killed at Parris Island after falling nearly 40 feet down a stairwell.
Felix was one of Siddiqui’s drill instructors. Prior to Siddiqui’s death, Felix had been accused of making
another Muslim recruit exercise in the shower and then ordering the recruit to sit in a commercial dryer, an
investigation found. Felix is accused of turning the dryer on several times while taunting the recruit about
his religion, such as asking if he took part in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Another drill instructor will also face a general court-martial for allegedly taking part in the dryer incident,
but none of the charges against him stem from Siddiqui’s death, said TECOM spokesman Capt. Joshua
Pena. Sgt. Michael Eldridge is accused of cruelty and maltreatment, being drunk and disorderly, making a
false official statement and failure to obey a lawful general order, the TECOM news release said.
Drill instructor connected to multiple allegations of abusing Muslim recruits
The two drill instructors are among the up to 20 Marines who could face disciplinary or administrative
action stemming from allegations of abuse against Siddiqui and others. The investigation into Siddiqui’s
death found that drill instructors in the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion would often slap and choke recruits,
claiming the incidents of physical abuse were allowable “drill corrections.”
Five days before his death, Siddiqui threatened to kill himself, claiming he was being beaten by his drill
instructors, according to the investigation, which also found Siddiqui was improperly returned to recruit
training and his allegations were never properly reported.
On the day he died, Siddiqui handed his drill instructors a note saying he needed to go to medical because
his throat had been swollen for three days; he had lost his voice and he started to cough up blood, the
investigation found. Instead, Siddiqui was made to run from one end to the squad bay and back until he
collapsed.
Felix is accused of slapping Siddiqui between one and three times while Siddiqui was on the floor, the
investigation found. The evidence suggests that Felix was frustrated with Siddiqui instead of trying to
revive him.
Top Marine general backs up Corps' drill instructors after Parris Island scandal
Siddiqui then got up, ran to the nearby stairwell, vaulted over the railing and fell uncontrollably, according
to the investigation, which could not determine if he was trying to kill himself or just trying to get away
from Felix. Although Siddiqui's death has been officially ruled a suicide, his family refuses to accept that
finding.
“What happened to Private Siddiqui at Parris Island was more than a dereliction of duty—it was a tragedy
that stole a son and a brother from his family and robbed a young man of his life and dream of serving the
country he loved,” Rep. Debbie Dingell said in a statement on Wednesday.
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/drill-instructors-face-courts-martial-for-abuse-allgeations
Dingell, a Democrat who represents Siddiqui’s home district in Michigan, has been working with his
family to determine what role hazing may have played in the circumstances surrounding Siddiqui's death.
“We will never know what happened that day, but it is very clear to me and others based on the facts
revealed in the investigation that it was not Private Siddiqui’s intention to take his own life,” she said in the
statement. “I will not stop working alongside his family and the Marine Corps until the determination is
changed to more accurately reflect the events of that day so we can bring some measure of peace to the
Siddiqui family.”
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/769bfe8a827f4880b50e19a52454ccd7/navy-says-iowa-state-cadets-putinappropriate-photos-online
Navy says Iowa State cadets put inappropriate photos online
By Ryan J. Foley
The Associated Press, April 6, 2017
(Photo Credit: Navy)
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Members of a military officer training
program at Iowa State University posted explicit photos on a Facebook
page, an incident the Navy said Thursday was inappropriate and prompted
corrective actions.
Lt. Sean Brophy, a spokesman for the Naval Service Training Command,
said the March 4 incident involved seven members of the school's Naval
Reserve Officer Training program.
The explicit photos showed some cadets at different locations around the
university campus in Ames. They were posted to a Facebook page for the
Glorious Order of the Sextant, a student group connected to the NROTC program that "promotes prestige
of the US Naval activities."
Brophy said NROTC program leaders were informed of the incident the next day and took quick action to
ensure the pictures had been removed from Facebook.
"We take this issue very seriously and categorically do not condone this behavior — it has no place in our
military or society, and it does not comport with our core values," said Brophy, who confirmed the incident
after receiving an inquiry from The Associated Press.
It wasn't clear how many photos were posted, whether they were posted without the subjects' consent and if
all those involved were male.
The incident comes as the military faces pressure to do more to stop inappropriate online activity following
a scandal in which Marines shared nude photos of female service members on social media. The Navy and
the Marine Corps told a congressional panel last month they are considering new ways to punish such
activity.
Brophy said "appropriate administrative actions" have been taken against the midshipmen involved but that
they remain part of the program. He said he could not comment on the specifics of any discipline due to
federal privacy law.
The commanding officer of the program, Capt. Scott Curtis, notified the university's academic leaders —
the dean of the college of liberal arts and the university provost — about the incident and apologized "that
this was even something coming from his midshipmen," Brophy said.
Curtis has also trained the entire 68-member battalion on proper social media behavior and reinforced Navy
values, Brophy said. He noted that the students were not in uniform in the photographs, and that they were
not taken as part of any NROTC program event. An initiation ceremony for new members of the Glorious
Order of the Sextant had occurred the night before.
Michael Tallon, the president of the student group, said he wasn't involved but that he could not comment
on the incident.
https://www.stripes.com/noted-air-force-command-chief-master-sergeant-faces-15-ucmj-charges-1.461346
Noted Air Force command chief master sergeant faces 15
UCMJ charges
By Tara Copp
Stars and Stripes, March 30, 2017
In a 2014 file photo, U.S. Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Jose
Barraza, 3rd Wing command chief, speaks to airmen and family
members during a chief master sergeant recognition ceremony at
Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska (Peter Reft/U.S. Air Force)
WASHINGTON — Former 12th Air Force Command Chief Master
Sgt. Jose A. Barraza was charged Thursday with 15 violations of
the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to an Air Force
statement.
The Air Force would not specify what generated the charges but said they were tied to Barraza’s time as the
top noncommissioned officer at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The base is home to the
Boneyard, where preserved and retired aircraft are stored, and a sizable fleet of active A-10 aircraft.
Barraza was a noncommissioned officer highlighted as a success story by the Air Force for escaping a
rough childhood, according to an article by Airman Magazine. Barraza grew up in south-central Los
Angeles. He joined a gang and was shot five times before a judge sentenced him to rehabilitation after
Barraza assaulted a rival gang member.
In 1989, he joined the Air Force and specialized in jet engine repair. Barraza calls the day he joined his
“Air Force birthday,” and credited the decision for changing his life, according to the magazine.
Barraza rose to command chief master sergeant, a position responsible for all of the enlisted personnel in
the 12th Air Force, in June 2015. He was removed from duty in November due to “loss of confidence in his
ability to carry out his duties,” the Air Force said at the time.
Barraza faces one charge for willfully disobeying an order, seven charges for dereliction of duty, two
charges for making false official statements and five charges for obstruction of justice.
A hearing on the charges has not been set.
Read the Airman Magazine article about Barraza.
[email protected], Twitter: @TaraCopp
http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2017/04/rebooting-workplace-harassmentprevention-efforts/136730/
Rebooting Workplace Harassment Prevention Efforts
By Sheri Petras
Government Executive, April 4, 2017
Workplace harassment continues to be a problem in the United States. In fiscal 2016, the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission reported 28,216 incidents of workplace harassment, 5,336 of which
were found to have merit. EEOC helped employees recover $125.5 million in workplace harassment claims
in fiscal 2016, which represents a significant cost for government agencies and the private sector.
The EEOC defines harassment as any “unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex
(including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.” Small slights,
annoyances, and isolated incidents are not illegal actions. To be considered illegal harassment, the conduct
must generate a work environment that can reasonably be viewed as intimidating, hostile or offensive.
In June 2016, the EEOC’s Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace reported results
of an 18-month study on harassment. Co-Chairs Chai Feldblum and Victoria A. Lipnic said they were
“deeply troubled” by what they learned in the course of this study. After 30 years of effort to address and
reduce workplace harassment, there seems to have been only nominal progress. According to Feldblum and
Lipnic, it is time for employers, including federal agencies, to “reboot workplace harassment prevention
efforts” to ensure a safe and healthy workplace environment.
Rebooting prevention efforts is critical for government agencies for several reasons. Agencies have a legal
obligation to create a workplace environment that does not promote harassment. Prevention efforts are an
effective and cost-efficient way to address the workplace climate. An active program of prevention can
address dormant issues below the surface that could develop into costly workplace harassment litigation.
Within each agency, the bar needs to be set higher than for managers to simply meet their legal obligations.
In order for employees to truly work effectively and collaboratively to carry out each organization’s
mission, managers should strive to create a safe and healthy workplace environment.
The key point is that if agencies focus on prevention, they can address issues before they evolve into
serious matters. Prevention involves identifying training opportunities, providing counseling services, and
ensuring that the proper resources are available for employees who are experiencing harassment in the
workplace.
Prevention begins with effective workplace climate measurement, addressing the extent to which
employees feel they are working in a safe and healthy organization. It is no longer enough to determine
whether employees have the tools to do the job. A workplace climate measure should gauge the degree to
which the organization encourages positive behaviors, and the extent to which it tolerates specific negative
behaviors. Examples include employees feeling encouraged to speak out frankly regardless of position,
staff believing that the agency is truthful and inclusive in its communications, and employees trusting they
can depend on their colleagues.
Because of the sensitive nature of a workplace climate review, an individual interview component for this
type of measure is indispensable. Key issues cannot be expected to be captured via survey results alone.
Some employee concerns are best uncovered through personal research interactions. Even if some of the
concerns are relatively minor (such as petty slights, annoyances and lack of communication), comments
from one-on-one interviews provide rich insight into the potential prevalence of these offenses.
http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2017/04/rebooting-workplace-harassmentprevention-efforts/136730/
If a workplace climate review uncovers serious concerns about potential or actual harassment within an
organization, executives should conduct a formal harassment audit. Such an audit must involve a thorough
and validated measurement instrument to ascertain the true prevalence of workplace harassment. The audit
should, at a minimum, cover potential harassment issues involving gender, age, sexual orientation,
disabilities, race, and religious beliefs and how these affect the overall culture of the workplace.
Conducting a thorough workplace harassment audit accomplishes two very important tasks. First, it ensures
that any structural harassment within the workplace is uncovered and can be addressed. Second, it
demonstrates to staff that the executive leadership takes the subject of workplace harassment seriously and
is taking active steps to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
By taking the initiative to reboot workplace harassment prevention efforts, agencies can ensure a healthier
workplace for their employees and are able to better equip the organization to execute and fulfill its
mission.
Sheri Petras is chief executive officer of CFI Group.
https://www.stripes.com/news/us-german-liaison-officer-under-scrutiny-for-facebook-comments-aboutmerkel-1.462265
US-German liaison officer under scrutiny for Facebook
comments about Merkel
By Dan Stoutamire and Marcus Kloeckner
Stars and Stripes, April 6, 2017
Then-Maj. Ciro Stefano stands with children in Husayniyah, Karbala
province, Iraq, during a distribution of toys and humanitarian items on Oct.
15, 2008. Stefano, now a colonel assigned to the German Army's 10th Panzer
Division through an exchange program, made derogatory remarks about
German chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy in December 2016, which
U.S. Army Europe is examining. (U.S. Army)
WIESBADEN, Germany — U.S. Army Europe is reviewing
derogatory comments a U.S. officer assigned to a German army tank
division made on Facebook about German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Col. Ciro Stefano, who currently serves as the chief of operations for the Bundeswehr’s 10th Panzer
Division under the Army’s Personnel Exchange Program, openly criticized Merkel’s refugee policy in a
social media posting.
“Thanks Mrs. Merkel for ruining Germany,” Stefano wrote in a December posting.
The German newspaper Main Post captured the posting, which Stefano has since deleted, and made his
profile private. The paper reported that Stefano also shared and commented on several other anti-refugee
pages and stories in December and January.
U.S. Army Europe said in a statement that it was looking into the proper measures, if any, to take against
Stefano. “We were made aware of the news article and our leadership began gathering facts surrounding
the article’s assertions to determine a course of action,” the statement said. “The German-American
partnership remains strong and steadfast.”
Stefano remains in his position with the 10th Panzer Division of the German armed forces, or Bundeswehr,
which is based near Wuerzburg. Stefano’s unique role as a U.S. officer within a German unit gives the
issue added sensitivity, as does his relatively high rank. He is one of just 56 U.S. Army officers and
noncommissioned officers currently seconded to foreign armies worldwide in the exchange program.
Despite the political embarrassment caused by the post, it seems unlikely that further action under the
Uniform Code of Military Justice will be taken against Stefano because the comment and other activity
criticizing German policies were posted on his personal page.
A Defense Department directive from 2008 allows servicemembers to “express a personal opinion on
political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces.”
Germany Army Capt. Florian Kling, a member of the Darmstaedter Signal activist group, said that while
the Bundeswehr generally encourages its soldiers to have political opinions even if they clash with official
policy, higher-ranking officials need to be especially careful when making political statements online.
“If you are a colonel or even have a higher rank, you need to make clear that if you say something political
it is understood that you say this as a private man,” Kling said. He added that the statements of such highranking soldiers can carry greater weight, especially if subordinates see them.
[email protected], Twitter: @DKS_Stripes, [email protected]
Racism
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/421f0b426e964a1294396822d8469227/mourners-gather-funeral-black-victimsword-slaying
Mourners gather for funeral of black victim of sword
slaying
By William Mathis
The Associated Press, April 1, 2017
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, his wife, Chirlane McCray , left, and
Public Advocate Letitia James, arrive for the funeral services for Timothy
Caughman Saturday, April 1, 2017, in New York. Caughman was alone and
collecting bottles for recycling last month when he was attacked from behind with
a sword. Authorities say his assailant, James Harris Jackson, took a bus last
month to New York to target black men. Jackson is being held without bail on
charges of murder as a hate crime. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK (AP) — Just under two weeks after he staggered into a
Manhattan police station covered in blood, Timothy Caughman was remembered at his funeral Saturday as
a man dedicated to making the world a better place through conversation.
"It's such a sick irony that someone obviously diseased of mind could commit a hate crime against someone
so loving," said Khadijah Peek, Caughman's cousin, as she choked back tears.
James Harris Jackson, a 28-year-old white man from Baltimore and a veteran who served in Afghanistan,
admitted killing the 66-year-old Caughman at random on March 20 as part of a plan to kill black men in
New York City, authorities said. He was charged with murder as a hate crime and murder as an act of
terrorism.
A lawyer for Jackson has said if the allegations hold up, he will need to address "obvious psychological
issues."
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who attended the funeral at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Queens, said that
Jackson's actions were part of a rising tide of hate but that Caughman's death would serve as a call to fight
against racism.
"Forces of hate have been unleashed in recent months," de Blasio said from the podium. "We owe it to
Timothy to do something more. We have to actively reject hate."
De Blasio's condemnation brought people to their feet, but some wished the White House would also speak
out.
"I didn't hear Donald Trump say, 'Oh, that's a shame about what happened to Mr. Caughman,'" said Portia
Clark, who grew up with Caughman. "As far as I can remember, several presidents have acknowledged
wrongdoing in the community. It makes me feel like he doesn't care, it's not important enough."
Others lamented that some media outlets had originally mischaracterized their friend Caughman, whom
they knew as Hard Rock for his tough demeanor as a young man, as homeless.
Caughman was killed while collecting cans, but he traded in those coins not just to get by.
"He never would have been homeless, not with the family on both sides that he had," said Charles Johnson,
who said he met Caughman as a 3-year-old boy. "As far as his bottles, collecting cans, he was doing that
with a purpose."
With the coins he received in exchange for the recyclables, Caughman would buy Amtrak tickets to
Washington, D.C., where he would attend congressional hearings and strike up conversations in the
Capitol's cafeteria.
Other speakers said Caughman's dedication to engage with democracy was just one part of his zeal for life.
"Timothy Caughman, aka Hard Rock, spent a lifetime doing good. He founded a basketball league. He
helped young children get jobs. He was well-known in the hood," read Vincent Pugh from a poem he had
written about his old friend. "I want you to remember Hard Rock — not how he died, but how he lived with
a passion so great."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/04/05/niveas-white-is-purity-ad-campaign-didntend-well/
Nivea’s ‘White Is Purity’ ad campaign didn’t end well
By Amy B Wang
The Washington Post, April 5, 2017
Nivea has pulled a deodorant ad that declared “White Is Purity”
after people protested that the slogan is racist, and after others
hijacked the ad’s online campaign with comments about white
supremacy.
The ad, which appeared in a Facebook post last week, originally
targeted the German skin care company’s followers in the Middle
East. It was intended to promote Nivea’s “Invisible for Black and
White” deodorant and depicted the back of a woman’s head with
long, wavy, dark hair that tumbled over an all-white outfit.
Underneath the woman’s locks was the slogan in all caps: “WHITE
IS PURITY.”
The caption on Nivea’s Facebook post read: “Keep it clean, keep bright. Don’t let anything ruin it,
#Invisible.”
The post was quickly condemned by those who saw it as promoting racist rhetoric.
“What the HELL is this? White Purity?” one Twitter user said. “Shame, Shame, Shame on you. Fire your
marketing person and anyone who approved this ad.”
Another Twitter user took images of racist comments that had been left on the Facebook post, some
referencing the Holocaust.
“Wow @NiveaUSA. This is horrendous,” the person wrote. “Your comments are FULL of society’s refuse.
This cleared your marketing department? #prnightmare”
Still others appeared to praise the ad — for the same reasons.
The Daily Mail captured an image of a post by a white supremacist group on Nivea’s Facebook page that
read, “We enthusiastically support this new direction your company is taking. I’m glad we can all agree
that #WhiteIsPurity.”
“Nivea has chosen our side and the most liked comments are glorious,” another Twitter user said, with an
image of the top comments on Nivea’s Facebook post.
One showed Pepe the Frog, a meme that in recent years was co-opted by white supremacists and has been
declared a hate symbol.
Another showed a picture of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler edited to depict him with glowing orbs of light for
eyes.
A handful of threads on the anonymous online forum 4chan praised the Nivea ad slogan’s apparent, if
unintended, link to white supremacy and encouraged people to “LIKE ALL COMMENTS, BUY THEIR
PRODUCTS.”
“Is Nivea, dare I say, /our guy/?” one 4chan user wondered, referring to supporters of white supremacist
groups.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/04/05/niveas-white-is-purity-ad-campaign-didntend-well/
Nivea has since deleted the Facebook post, though images of the ad are still widely available online. Metro
UK reported that the post remained publicly visible over the weekend and was only removed Monday after
the news outlet inquired about it.
The company appeared to spend much of the day Tuesday individually replying to people on Twitter who
were outraged by the ad.
In a statement to The Washington Post, a spokeswoman for Nivea’s parent company, Beiersdorf Global
AG, apologized for the post.
“That image was inappropriate and not reflective of our values as a company. We deeply apologize for that
and have removed the post,” the statement read. “Diversity and inclusivity are crucial values of NIVEA.
We take pride in creating products that promote beauty in all forms. Discrimination of any kind is simply
not acceptable to us as a company, as employees, or as individuals.”
An earlier “invisible” ad declaring that “Black Stays Black. White Stays White.” was still on the Nivea
Middle East Facebook page as of Wednesday morning.
This is not the first time Nivea has attracted controversy with its marketing campaigns.
In 2011, an ad for “Nivea for Men” products came under fire for depicting a clean-shaven black man
holding a disembodied head with an Afro — presumably his former self — and getting ready to toss it
away.
The slogan on that ad? “RE-CIVILIZE YOURSELF.”
Adweek noted there was a corresponding “Nivea for Men” ad that showed a white man holding his own
disembodied head, but that one didn’t include the “re-civilize yourself” slogan. Outrage over the campaign
forced Nivea to publicly apologize on its Facebook page.
“Thank you for caring enough to give us your feedback about the recent ‘Re-civilized’ NIVEA FOR MEN
ad,” the company’s 2011 apology read. “This ad was inappropriate and offensive. It was never our intention
to offend anyone, and for this we are deeply sorry. This ad will never be used again. Diversity and equal
opportunity are crucial values of our company.”
Abby Ohlheiser contributed to this report.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4bf2480df549473aa59438860c539f90/oklahoma-cop-race-didnt-factorshooting-black-man
Oklahoma cop: Race didn't factor into shooting of black
man
By Justin Juozapavicius
The Associated Press, April 2, 2017
In a Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 file photo, Tulsa Police Officer Betty
Shelby leaves the Tulsa County Courthouse after her court
appearance, in Tulsa, Okla., where she was arraigned on a firstdegree manslaughter charge, stemming from the September
shooting death of Terence Crutcher. Shelby tells “60 Minutes” in
an episode set to air Sunday, April 2, 2017, that she used lethal
force because she feared 40-year-old Crutcher was reaching inside
his SUV for a gun. She has pleaded not guilty and goes to trial May
8. (Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A white Oklahoma police officer charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting an
unarmed black man last year says the man's race had nothing to do with her decision to fire her gun.
Tulsa officer Betty Jo Shelby told CBS's "60 Minutes" in an interview that aired Sunday that she used
lethal force because she feared 40-year-old Terence Crutcher was reaching inside his SUV for a gun.
"I'm feeling that his intent is to do me harm and I keep thinking, 'Don't do this. Please don't do this. Don't
make this happen,'" Shelby told correspondent Bill Whitaker in her first interview since the Sept. 16
shooting.
Shelby said she remembers the moment Crutcher appeared to reach inside.
"And it's fast. Just that would tell any officer that that man's going for a weapon," she said. "I say with a
louder, more intense voice, 'Stop. Stop! Stop!' And he didn't. And that's when I took aim."
Shelby said she also remembers pulling the trigger.
"It's like slow motion of me bringing my gun up, my finger coming in and then letting off. And he stopped
and then he just slowly fell to the ground," she said.
Shelby has pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter and goes to trial May 8. Prosecutors contend that
Shelby overreacted because Crutcher wasn't armed or combative when she approached him on a north
Tulsa street after his SUV broke down and that he obeyed orders to raise his hands.
After the shooting, investigators determined that Crutcher didn't have a weapon on him or in his SUV. The
shooting was caught on video from a police helicopter and a dashboard camera. Footage showed Crutcher
walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air, but the images don't provide a clear view of when
Shelby fired the single shot.
Shelby believes she was swiftly charged because authorities feared civil unrest if they delayed taking
action. Residents in other cities took to the streets in protest last year in response to a series of deaths of
black residents during encounters with police.
Shelby said she has had difficulty coming to terms with killing someone.
"I have sorrow that this happened, that this man lost his life, but he caused the situation to occur. So in the
end, he caused his own (death)," she said.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4bf2480df549473aa59438860c539f90/oklahoma-cop-race-didnt-factorshooting-black-man
Terence Crutcher's twin sister told "60 Minutes" that her brother was obeying Shelby's commands.
"What we saw on that video is what my dad always taught my brothers, taught us to do if we were pulled
over by a police officer," Tiffany Crutcher said. "Put your hands in the air and put your hands on the car.
And my brother did what my father taught us," she said.
"My brother's dead because she didn't pause," according to Crutcher. "There was absolutely no justification
whatsoever, with all the backup, for Officer Shelby to pull that trigger. No justification whatsoever."
Another officer had arrived at the scene prior to the shooting and a police helicopter was hovering overhead
at the time.
Crutcher said she is pleased with the manslaughter charge filed against Shelby.
"I am. I don't believe she woke up that morning and said, "I'm going to go and kill Terence Crutcher." I
believe that she choked and she pulled the trigger and she killed him."
Associated Press writer Ken Miller in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
Religion
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/04/03/group-files-ig-complaint-blog-incoming-academysuperintendent.html
Group Files IG Complaint Over Blog on Incoming Academy
Commandant
By Oriana Pawlyk
Military.com, April 3, 2017
Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of the Military Religious
Freedom Foundation. Facebook photo
An advocacy group has filed an official complaint with the Defense
Department's Inspector General's Office to investigate a
blog, christianfighterpilot.com, and potentially bring corrective
action against its alleged owner, Air Force Lt. Col. Jonathan C.
Dowty.
Mikey Weinstein, president and founder of the Military Religious
Freedom Foundation, said his organization -- which believes the blog to be in violation of Air Force
standards and the Uniform Code of Military Justice -- is seeking a full investigation after the blog published
a piece insinuating incoming Air Force Academy commandant of cadets Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin may
have lied to join the service.
The exchange over Goodwin, an openly gay airman and current senior military adviser to the secretary of
the Air Force in Washington, D.C., began after Weinstein told the Colorado Springs Independent that the
service should have highlighted Goodwin's sexual orientation when announcing her new appointment.
"Why are they not publicly acknowledging this groundbreaking selection of a gay, female new
commandant? This question HAS to be asked. There's just total silence out there about this? Why?"
Weinstein told the paper.
Goodwin is relocating to Colorado with her wife and two children.
A week later, in a March 27 post titled, "BGen Kristin Goodwin and the USAFA Honor
Code," christianfighterpilot.com wrote: "The policy known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was instated in
February of 1994. Anyone who entered the military prior to that date answered a question about
homosexuality during the enlistment process. Those who answered in the affirmative were refused
enlistment."
Goodwin graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1993.
"How did Col Goodwin -- an open homosexual -- enter the Air Force without lying?" the blog asked.
Goodwin led the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, becoming the wing's first female
commander, according to Air Force Times. Before that, she was vice commander of the 509th Bomb Wing
at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, and has flown the B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, EC-130, C-130
Hercules, and various trainer aircraft.
Lt. Col. Allen Herritage, chief spokesman for the academy, told Military.com on Monday that Goodwin
was "hired solely for her superb record, which began here as a cadet, where she excelled."
"The Air Force Academy is looking forward to having Brigadier General (select) Goodwin join the team,"
Herritage said. "Her experience as bomber pilot and commander at the squadron, group and wing levels
make[s] her an outstanding source of leadership and experience for tomorrow's lieutenants."
The MRFF and its attorney, Donald G. Rehkopf Jr. of Brenna Boyce, PLLC, on Sunday filed a formal
complaint against the blog with the DoD IG's office.
"While he has the private and personal right to harbor intolerant, if not bigoted, religious views of LGBTQ
servicemembers, he does not have any legal rights as an active duty officer to publicly preach his
disrespectful views to an audience directed towards members of the U.S. Armed Forces," says the
complaint, provided to Military.com.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/04/03/group-files-ig-complaint-blog-incoming-academysuperintendent.html
Christianfighterpilot.com has a disclaimer on its site, stating, "The opinions expressed here are solely those
of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of any government, military, or religious
organization," but MRFF said there is reasonable cause to believe Dowty may be in violation of Article 89,
Disrespect Toward a Superior Commissioned Officer; Article 92, Failure to Obey Order or Regulation;
Article 133, Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman; and Article 134, a general article that speaks
to conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline within the UCMJ.
Christianfighterpilot.com responded in a post before MRFF made its formal IG complaint.
The blog said if pursued, it would be MRFF's second attempt to silence the website, but its author(s)
believe the IG's office will dismiss the claim because the blog is "protected under free speech."
"Read beyond the sensationalism, hype, and hyperbole, and you'll see little more than desperate activists
craving for attention -- and saying anything they can to get it," christianfighterpilot.com wrote.
Dowty does not sign his christianfighterpilot.com posts in an attempt to "hide behind a wall of anonymity,"
Weinstein said. However, he "has not formally or publicly denied" being the author.
The website is associated with Dowty's 2007 book, "Christian Fighter Pilot Is Not an Oxymoron." Capt.
Sonny Hernandez, an Air Force Reserve chaplain assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is
also cited on the blog.
The MRFF's complaint questions why the active-duty fighter pilot's chain of command has not reprimanded
him already.
"In this regard, MRFF respectfully urges you to consider his history in the context of his blogpost at issue
herein," the letter said. "Make no mistake, MRFF recognizes and agrees that Lt. Col. Dowty can believe
whatever he believes in the name of his religion, in the Base Chapel, his house, or in the middle of a forest - but as a commissioned officer he is not free to publicly attack, indeed falsely attack, another
commissioned officer and ignore the DoD's and AF's diversity and equal opportunity programs and policies
under the guise of his religion."
The DoD IG's office did not respond to Military.com by press time.
-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
© Copyright 2017 Military.com . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten or redistributed.
Sexism
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/119fd1f2b3754fc59b1e1ce401599df4/blackwomenatwork-highlights-dailychallenge-race-gender
#BlackWomenAtWork highlights daily challenge of race,
gender
By Errin Haines Whack
The Associated Press, March 29, 2017
In this combination photo, Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.,
left, appears at the Justice on Trial Film Festival on Oct.
20, 2013, in Los Angeles and Fox News personality Bill
O'Reilly appears on the set of his show, "The O'Reilly
Factor," on Oct. 1, 2015 in New York. O'Reilly said
Tuesday, March 28, 2017, he had a hard time concentrating
on Waters during a speech because he was distracted by her
"James Brown wig." He made the comment during an
appearance on "Fox & Friends," after a clip was shown of
Waters speaking in the House of Representatives. (AP
Photos/Richard Shotwell, left, and Richard Drew)
A pair of testy exchanges between high-profile black women and white men in the political spotlight
launched a tweetstorm under the hashtag BlackWomenAtWork, validating the experiences of thousands of
professional black women who say such slights are all too common.
It began Tuesday morning with Fox News host Bill O'Reilly ridiculing veteran congresswoman Maxine
Waters, referring to her hair as "a James Brown wig," after watching a video of the California Democrat
criticizing Republican President Donald Trump's policies. Later that day, during a White House press
briefing, American Urban Radio Network host April Ryan was admonished by press secretary Sean Spicer,
who told her to "stop shaking your head" as he responded to her question.
After the exchanges, Black Lives Matter activist Brittany Packnett took to Twitter and urged her followers:
"Share your Maxine and April moments, so people don't think this is rare. Use #BlackWomenAtWork."
Packnett added that black women meet at least three O'Reillys and five Spicers a day, and she went on to
list her own examples — including a time when she was asked about her blue nail polish at a meeting and
another when a college dean discouraged her from wearing braids.
Davia Lassiter saw the hashtag and felt inspired. She said that she watched the exchange between Ryan and
Spicer and saw a black woman being treated like a child and that the O'Reilly remarks about Waters felt
familiar.
"When he attacked her hair, we all felt that as black women," Lassiter said. "These women were doing their
jobs, but instead of them doing their jobs, the men wanted to insult and chastise them."
The hashtag quickly became a Twitter trending topic. And according to TwitterCounter, which logs
follower numbers periodically, Waters' follower count has increased by more than 77,000 since March 13,
though it's unclear how much of that has come in the last few days. Similarly, Ryan has seen a significant
increase in followers, from 58,100 on Saturday to 100,960 on Wednesday.
The hashtag was a reminder that black women have long had to steel themselves against such exchanges,
highlighting the challenge of balancing race and gender, said Alexis McGill Johnson, executive director of
the Perception Institute, a consortium of researchers, advocates and strategists focused on bias and
discrimination.
"It helps us understand the lived experiences of black women every day," Johnson said. "It's a tool, a
vehicle, for us to affirm and nod and raise our hand up and say, 'Yeah, me, too,' and, 'No, not today.'"
The hashtag attracted everyday women as well as women in politics and entertainment. By Tuesday night,
Waters had joined the conversation, tweeting: "I am a strong black woman. I cannot be intimidated, and I'm
not going anywhere."
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/119fd1f2b3754fc59b1e1ce401599df4/blackwomenatwork-highlights-dailychallenge-race-gender
Black women shared stories on Twitter of unwanted hair touching, having their ideas overlooked or taken,
disrespect from subordinates, questioning of their academic credentials, accusations of being angry and
criticism for wearing certain clothes drawing attention to curvier body types.
As the hashtag started trending, Packnett tweeted, "I sadly knew it would trend. Not because I'm special.
Because I know how we get treated."
Lassiter, a marketing executive who lives in Austell, Georgia, said navigating such incidents is "this thing
we've gotten used to putting up with."
"I'm not going to say we can't win. I feel like we win every day," Lassiter said. "But we have these
moments where the only thing you can say is, 'Damn. I work my butt off, I have these accolades, but I still
have to deal with this."
___
Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report.
___
Errin Haines Whack covers urban affairs for The Associated Press. Follow her work on Twitter
at http://www.twitter.com/emarvelous
Sexual Assault /
Harassment
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/female-recruits-taught-to-put-up-with-harssment
Women taught at boot camp to endure sexual harassment
from male Marines, veteran says
By Jeff Schogol
Marine Corps Times, April 5, 2017
(Photo Credit: Marine Corps)
As a Marine recruit at Parris Island, Erika Butner learned from her
drill instructors that her supposed brothers in arms would treat her
as one of three stereotypes: “A bitch; you’re a whore or you’re a
lesbian,” she told lawmakers on Wednesday.
“I’m not blaming the drill instructors,” she said at a Democratic
Women’s Working Group hearing. “They were preparing us to have
thick skin because it is so ingrained in this culture that they don’t know how to change it, so they go with
the grain.”
Wednesday’s hearing focused on allegations that male service members and veterans have posted nude
pictures of female troops, veterans and civilians on the “Marines United” Facebook page and other
websites. Moreover, some members have allegedly threatened to kill and rape women who are clearly
identified in those pictures, lawmakers said.
Marines eye changes to recruit training amid renewed calls for coed boot camp
Butner testified along with Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek, both of whom have been harassed online. During
Butner’s time in the Corps, pictures of her fully clothed were stolen from her social media accounts and
shared on websites with captions such as, “Smash or pass?” which meant “would you have sex with this
woman or not?” she said.
Later, her pictures and contact information were shared on the Marines United page along with lurid
descriptions of “all the unspeakable things they’d do to me,” she said.
The culture of misogyny toward women that begets this type of behavior traces back to boot camp, where
women learn to put up with sexual harassment form male Marines, Butner said on Wednesday.
“We’re taught to go with the flow and accept the culture as is, or else we face repercussions,” she said.
The 'old Corps' under siege. The photo scandal and the big changes coming soon.
When asked about Butner’s testimony, a Marine Corps spokesman said that any such conduct by drill
instructors would not be acceptable.
“Bottom line: Any Marine that would express the type of attitude expressed in that statement is dead
wrong,” said Maj. Clark Carpenter. “Every Marine is critical to our mission and any behavior meant to
demean or degrade a fellow Marine is not tolerated.”
But Butner’s comments are not the first time this issue has arisen. In 2012, a Marine veteran told Stars and
Stripes that she had a similar experience at boot camp, where she and other female recruits were told to
decide whether they were a “slut, a dyke or a bitch.”
“You are told that pretty much any contact with male Marines makes you a slut,” Katie Appeldorn told the
newspaper. “It is automatically assumed she is sleeping around. Dyke isn’t necessarily a lesbian, but she is
thought to be. Bitch is what you are told to be. It basically means you don’t give the men around you an
inch.”
No Marine Corps leaders attended Wednesday’s hearing. Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller testified
at a separate hearing Wednesday morning about how another temporary spending measure could hurt
readiness.
NCIS has identified hundreds of Marines who are members of Marines United
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/female-recruits-taught-to-put-up-with-harssment
Assistant Commandant Glenn Walters initially told Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., that he would attend, but
he was later advised against it because it was technically a caucus meeting and not a formal committee
hearing, Marine Corps Times has learned.
Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., contended that Wednesday’s event was indeed a hearing and she regretted that
Marine Corps leaders did not attend.
“We would have loved them to be here with us and I’m sorry they declined,” said Frankel. “Hopefully,
we’ll have some follow-up with them.”
All of the lawmakers at Wednesday’s hearing were Democrats except one: Rep. Walter Jones Jr., a
Republican whose North Carolina congressional district includes Camp Lejeune.
“What would be the best thing I could do to help your pain?” Jones asked Butner and Woytek.
“I think it would be to start holding people accountable,” Butner replied. “I think they need to start making
examples out of people who are condoning this behavior. I think that would help the victims to come
forward.”