Professional Soldiers ®

Quote:

Originally posted by DanUCSB
So we'll be stuck with a combat school dispensing substandard training, doing a disservice to both our servicemen and servicewomen. Just ask Kara Hultgren.

I had the good fortune to take a computer class with a former CO of the U.S.S. Forrestal, CV-59. This gentleman was a former NFO (Naval Flight Officer) from the Vietnam era. We discussed Hultgreen, Tailhook, and other facets about the military while on breaks from class.

He had no use for DACOWITS or for those that forced Hultgreen's instructors to pass her. To wit, the cadre at the RAG Squadron were "ordered" to see to it that she passed. Remember that she was an A-6 aviator that transitioned to F-14's. Her scores at almost all levels of training were substandard. She didn't fail once or twice, but repeatedly. This wasn't even a question of could a woman do the job or not, she couldn't do it at all. Were she a man, HE would've washed out, but because of the pressure at the time to have women as combat aviators she was pushed through. Her RIO almost paid the price for this; when he punched out he was at about a 60 degree angle to the horizon. Martin-Baker saved his ass.

Regardless of who you are, when the standards are bent to accommodate you, you've just screwed the rest of us. You may even get someone killed. Maybe I'm wired differently, but a badge or tab isn't worth that to me. I'll meet the tough, exacting standards or I won't. Should I fail I can sleep soundly at night knowing that only the best are watching over us, not those with a political agenda.

Okay, I'll shut up now.

Oh, as an aside while spell checking this I noticed that DACOWITS isn't listed but the suggested alternative is: DIMWITS.