23,000 women make military effort in Iraq

23,000 women make military effort in Iraq
By ROSE COX rcox@adn.com
Published: November 9, 2007
Last Modified: November 9, 2007 at 02:54 AM

The death in Iraq this week of Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis of Anchorage vividly demonstrates the evolving role of women in the U.S. military. As one of about 23,000 women deployed to Iraq with U.S. and coalition forces, Davis was the 85th woman to die there when a roadside bomb exploded near her Humvee.

Women in the military will be the focus of an event honoring women veterans at 6 p.m. today at Loussac Library.

Once relegated to the sidelines as telephone operators and administration specialists, military women now work as medics, policemen and helicopter pilots. They comprise 15 percent of active duty soldiers, and 17 percent of reserve and guard personnel, according to Department of Defense figures.

And their numbers are growing -- 20 percent of new recruits are women. The Veterans Health Administration expects women will account for 14 percent of its clients by 2020.

Along with more career opportunities come concerns ranging from sexual harassment to increasing exposure to combat. Command Sgt. Maj. Cynthia Pritchett, tonight's keynote speaker, faced working effectively with men in a country where women don't serve in the military.

In her position with the Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan from 2004 to 2006, Pritchett, 52, was responsible for the welfare of 20,000 troops. She traveled into the war-torn country to assess progress on the mission, reported on the needs of troops in the field and the Afghan people, and oversaw training of the Afghan National Army.


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that will shorten their lives

could cause fetus damage

among many other things including state of mind

:thumbsup:

23,000!! Wow!!

:kick: & Recommended!