Quote:
Originally Posted by Razor
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I've got to know Nick reasonably well in recent months.
I reckon he's a guy of great character and integrity.
Way down here in NZ we've had the "women allowed to attempt infantry/SOF" issue pass like a speed bump a few decades ago. Granted, we also haven't had combat operations tempo as our big brothers up north(outside of our SOF and limited engagements with our infantry).
We don't see any/many females in teeth arms. It's really been mostly a non-issue for us.
Australia is making the transition as well.
That's doesn't mean it's good, or right, or the same thing as it would appear political interference micromanaged to scary low levels seems to be a vulnerability for you guys.
But it is what it is, especially for a JNCO/junior officer who needs to focus on what is within their ability to control.
While I'm personally and strongly opposed to the full integration for many reasons(like lack of articulated combat capability value, and ignored physiological studies), at my level it's like standing in front of a runaway train.
At best, it's probably an extremely dangerous distraction sucking up resources that could be invested in combat capability, especially for those units that are still conducting non stop combat deployments. At worst, it could mean lives, battles, or even wars lost.
I mostly read it as speaking to the lowest level leaders to do the very best you can with what you've been given, as well as being quite aspirational(maybe too aspirational, a common trait displayed by many officers in officer mode, as an NCO I cynically read the aspirational stuff like "the shit sandwich aftertaste is something to look forward to")
Nick's a big boy and can defend himself, so it's not my job or intent to do it for him, I'm just sharing my interpretation of his article.
But I do reckon that most folks on this forum(based on what I've added here) would see eye to eye on most things with him(although he is a "short stack" like me, so maybe figuratively, if not literally) after having met and gotten to know him.
Just my 0.02c
), and a bunch of wounded veterans are in it from memory.
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