Posted on May 9, 2016
10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Women in the Military
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CSM (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. CPT Walt Tollefson CPT (Join to see) TSgt Hunter Logan SGT Brian Carr I was a young Military Police Sergeant stationed with the 57th MP Co (Honor Guard), West Pointfrom 78-81.
One of the many historic events included the first two women USMA classes of 80&81.
I was detailed to do crowd control during portions of the on post filming of the 1979 movie titled "Women at West Point" which starred Linda Purl.
The early women graduates were tracked every step of the way. I was assigned to the S-3, 93rd Sig Bde detailed to drive to field sites Dr LTC Jerome Adams my former college professor at WP. So he could observe/interview former cadets at their first duty assignment to Germany within the Brigade.
One of the many historic events included the first two women USMA classes of 80&81.
I was detailed to do crowd control during portions of the on post filming of the 1979 movie titled "Women at West Point" which starred Linda Purl.
The early women graduates were tracked every step of the way. I was assigned to the S-3, 93rd Sig Bde detailed to drive to field sites Dr LTC Jerome Adams my former college professor at WP. So he could observe/interview former cadets at their first duty assignment to Germany within the Brigade.
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One I do know... is the engineer officer in the photo above!! Now BG Diana Holland. We served together in USARPAC a few years back!! She's an outstanding leader and a real trailblazer -- just left being an Assistant Division Commander (the first woman, I think) to become the first female Commandant of cadets at West Point!
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As a prior service enlisted man I had orders to leave the 20th Combat Engineer Battalion to go to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) in July 1975. I was part of the first USMAPS class which included women cadet candidates. Each of the military service academy preparatory schools included women cadet candidates that year in preparation for the introduction of women to the military service academies the following year CSM (Join to see).
Since we wore standard military uniforms at the prep school there was no change required for uniforms. Barracks construction had to be modified for privacy to separate the women from the men's sections. The men slept in 20 plus bed bays. Since PT standards had already been developed there was no need to develop unique standards for the APFT.
Significantly less than 50% of us were accepted as cadets at West point in July 1976 including a few of the women. The changes at the service academy were much more expansive; haircut standards were developed; uniform cut and appearance and cadet skirts, under garments, etc. had to be developed; physical training standards which were unique to West Point from indoor obstacle course through some of the outdoor obstacle course requirements were developed and modified as necessary. There were significant changes to the barracks. Rooms housed 2 to 4 cadets. The first year great care was made to ensure 4 women were assigned to 25% of the companies. Each additional year the same process was applied so that by the time I graduated there were women in each company.
Attrition tended to be about 35% of the class before we graduated [4 or 5 died as cadets and a couple died soon after graduation]. The attrition among the women was a little over 50%. Each company has its own disposition ranging from incredible tough to more lax.
There was a lot of media coverage while I was a cadet because we were the first class with women and later because we were the first USMA class with a black first captain - Vince Brooks is currently GEN Vince Brooks commanding USFK.
The first woman USMA graduate to be promoted to BG was Becky Halstead who was in the class behind mine in my company.
Thanks for tagging me SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT
Since we wore standard military uniforms at the prep school there was no change required for uniforms. Barracks construction had to be modified for privacy to separate the women from the men's sections. The men slept in 20 plus bed bays. Since PT standards had already been developed there was no need to develop unique standards for the APFT.
Significantly less than 50% of us were accepted as cadets at West point in July 1976 including a few of the women. The changes at the service academy were much more expansive; haircut standards were developed; uniform cut and appearance and cadet skirts, under garments, etc. had to be developed; physical training standards which were unique to West Point from indoor obstacle course through some of the outdoor obstacle course requirements were developed and modified as necessary. There were significant changes to the barracks. Rooms housed 2 to 4 cadets. The first year great care was made to ensure 4 women were assigned to 25% of the companies. Each additional year the same process was applied so that by the time I graduated there were women in each company.
Attrition tended to be about 35% of the class before we graduated [4 or 5 died as cadets and a couple died soon after graduation]. The attrition among the women was a little over 50%. Each company has its own disposition ranging from incredible tough to more lax.
There was a lot of media coverage while I was a cadet because we were the first class with women and later because we were the first USMA class with a black first captain - Vince Brooks is currently GEN Vince Brooks commanding USFK.
The first woman USMA graduate to be promoted to BG was Becky Halstead who was in the class behind mine in my company.
Thanks for tagging me SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT
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