Why was General Helms denied a 4th star?

SSgt Khanh Pham — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 14:48:49 -0400

General Helms was on tract to get her 4 star, and was ousted from the exclusive club of generals.

I hesitate satisfy my curiousity, we may delete if this subject is inappropriate.

Is the US Air Force ready to accept women? (please dont throw rhetoric around)
what signs would indicate the USAF is ready for an equality under the law? in practice and culture

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 3:32 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 15:32:29 -0400

I'm not fully informed of the full story, but I'm also not entirely convinced that she was passed over based on gender either... Is it possible that she was simply not as qualified as the competition?

I bet there are a lot of individuals out there that are always coming up with excuses, "I got passed for promotion because of the color of my skin, or my religion, or my gender" type scenarios when the reality is more like "you were passed over because you didn't complete your PME, or you are a PFT failure, or you're out of height/weight standards".

Either way, I am positive that no one told her she was denied promotion because she is a woman.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Aug 4 at 2015 3:45 PM

Cpl Jeff N. — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 15:45:31 -0400

Clearly she was not on track to get her fourth star since she didn't get it. What evidence do you have that she might have been passed over due to being a woman? She made 3 stars, that is pretty rare air. There are (ore recently have been) at least two - fours star female Generals in the Air Force. Would the fact that there are two answer your question/ concern?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 3:56 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 15:56:06 -0400

http://www.stripes.com/news/helms-nomination-for-space-command-withdrawn-1.251789

Helms nomination for Space Command withdrawn

The nomination of Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, chosen by President Barack Obama to lead Air Force Space Command, is being withdrawn in the face of a sustained objection from a member of the Senate Armed Services committee.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 4:13 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 16:13:55 -0400

The stripes.com article cites: "Helms’ progress toward the Space Command job was blocked by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who assailed Helms’ 2012 decision to grant clemency to an officer serving at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., who was convicted of aggravated sexual assault."

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Aug 4 at 2015 4:27 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 16:27:10 -0400

It had nothing to do with her gender and everything to do with her letting a convicted rapist off the hook, pissing off a bunch of female Senators. At that level, it's all politics.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Aug 4 at 2015 4:45 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 16:45:03 -0400

Well reading the story, her promotion was blocked by a Senator who didn't like her. A female Senator. So I'm not sure why you're linking this situation to the AF's handling of promoting women.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 5:40 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 17:40:05 -0400

Read the articles and someone disagreed with her command decision and blocked her promotion/billet change. People get passed over for a variety of reasons all the time, normally because someone in authority do agree with their decision making process. No story here, move on.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 4 at 2015 7:05 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 19:05:43 -0400

I've sat or was recorder at a number of boards. When you hit around the O-6 board the discussion shifts to what kind of job the voting members think you'll do at the next higher grade. Once you make Flag, things change rapidly. In this case, a nominated person ran into a buzz saw on the Hill. Here we have a Senator who's making a political point. Only in rare circumstance does this stuff trickle down to the O-4/5 level. It did over "Tail Hook" wherein there would be no approval for anyone unless the list essentially proved the negative, i.e. they weren't anywhere near Reno.

Response by SSgt Khanh Pham made Aug 4 at 2015 9:02 PM

SSgt Khanh Pham — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 21:02:37 -0400

Based on linear thinking and logic there is no evidence. that being female was not a factor.

Look beyond the small details, and you have a more general scope. If you are to analyze complex pattern you have to be able to focus down and unfocus out before something emerges. Social pattern are much more complex than geophyscial theories. If they "the power that be" wanted General Helm to have 4 star it would have happened. If they "the power that be" wanted Gen Patreus jailed, it would have happened. If they "the power that be" wanted Hilary jailed, it would have happened. These are assertions, and it allow a predictive outcome assessment.

"Rape is an occupational hazard in the military" That rubbed me so deeply I brought it up many times. A general aquited a member of sexual assault or rape, due to his/her belief in the bullshit of the case. Right or wrong, what is the proper way to investigate? If you are tasked with making a decision, and you made a decision, then you are told you screwed up because you did what you ware assigned to do. Does that linear logic compute for everyone? TO date have th rape case been opened, and the member convicted of raping his victim? If not, then the rape verdict has nothing to do with the promotion.

I understand everyone probably received high rating on their performance report. The military of all branches have done great things. But What exactly have each individual accomplished? The air force generals accomplished what exactly? Put her accomplishment side by side with the rest and you may see which one require actual talents, and which one only require positioning in the right seat to promotion. Still only a subjective point.

Just a discussion point, as I dont have personal attachment to her. No one other than Gen Helm and her enemies can know for certain the truth. None of them will talk so it will be a question, at least for me.

Majority of of the military will have to transcend the input of the eyes and ears. Knowledge in itself is not yet power. Knowledge acquired 2nd hand is always suspect, however the only true 1st hand knowledge is direct experience. Can you handle an uncertain truth?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 10:19 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 22:19:20 -0400

I think the Air Force is very ready to accept women in leadership roles and everywhere else. They have proven it multiple times to me.

This specific instance had nothing to do with her gender but rather a very politically questionable move to "forgive" a convicted perpetrator of a sexual assault, which is supposedly an automatic discharge circumstance.

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Aug 9 at 2015 3:51 AM

SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 03:51:50 -0400

At the risk of being labeled a simpleton...because there were other generals more qualified?