Posted on May 24, 2021
New 101st Airborne Command Sergeant Major Is First Woman in the Role
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CSM
Fort Campbell
Women in the Military
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Thanks SSG Robert Mark Odom. I'm hoping to get down there in June for the Week of Eagles with my twin brother. Perhaps I'll get to meet this trailblazer!
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1SG (Join to see)
I spent my last 6 years with the 101st. I was thinking about making the quick trip there since I haven't been there since I retired.
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These times are a-changing. The fact5 that the women are being recognized is a very great thing. I wish her luck and hope she will inspire more females to press on and achieve even more than she has. I have nothing negative to say because I believe that everyone that has the knowledge and the will to advance should be applauded at every turn, and yes that goes for everyone male and female the same. Be blessed
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A long way from CSM Diaz and CSM Cammacho. Wish her luck. We all knew non Combat arms women would end up in Command roles in the infantry. Just wish they would have waited until a manuever qualified female NCO grew up and cut her teeth leading Infantry Soldiers. "A team leader and Squad leader" of what manuever platoons? Seeing that women in combat arms is a very recent thing, there isn't a way in hell she was an Infantry team leader, squad leader, PSG, 1SG. What does she know of the 7-8? what does she know of breaching a wire obstacle? entering and clearing a trench? setting a hasty ambush? a SBF? Because these are the things her major subordinate units are expected to do, and if she never did any of them, then how can she effectively advise the Commanding general?
Or is she just a figurehead? A show of progressive thinking? A token of political expediency to show how "progressive" the Army is becoming.
I am not against women serving in combat arms - I am definitely against putting one who never did the job of an infantry soldier, in a command position over a division of light infantry soldiers.
Or is she just a figurehead? A show of progressive thinking? A token of political expediency to show how "progressive" the Army is becoming.
I am not against women serving in combat arms - I am definitely against putting one who never did the job of an infantry soldier, in a command position over a division of light infantry soldiers.
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SSG Robert Perrotto
1SG (Join to see) - Yeah - I had a slew of recommendations from former CSM's, Battalion Commanders, Company Commanders, and 1SG's, but the army was dead set to draw down and separate non deployable NCO's and Officers - this was in 2014/15. had it been 3 years prior, I probably would have been retained. really not much they could do with a SM that had an s-1 to l-4 fusion, and nerve sheath tumors.
I get where you are coming from, I disagree, but I do get where you are coming from. They just should have waited until a female NCO came up through the ranks of combat arms. The move would be like having an infantry CSM in charge of your SLC, or ALC. He/She may have some familiarity with your MOS, but is definitely not an expert in your field.
I get where you are coming from, I disagree, but I do get where you are coming from. They just should have waited until a female NCO came up through the ranks of combat arms. The move would be like having an infantry CSM in charge of your SLC, or ALC. He/She may have some familiarity with your MOS, but is definitely not an expert in your field.
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1SG (Join to see)
SSG Robert Perrotto - That is strange because we got the COAD approval in 2013 and 2014. This was at Ft. Knox though and we were the only IBCT on the installation. The approvals also came with us being on the patch chart as well. 3IBCT was under 1st ID (BRO) at the time. So we were the only IBCT outside of Ft. Riley. When 3IBCT was de-activated my unit 1-26 INF moved to Ft. Campbell and now is part of the 101st.
On your other point.. while expertise in the field is great, it is not required. The DIV CSM is responsible for the BCT's, ADA, Sustainment, SOAR, CAB, etc. The DIV CSM may have expertise in one of those fields. Does that mean they are unqualified for the job?
On your other point.. while expertise in the field is great, it is not required. The DIV CSM is responsible for the BCT's, ADA, Sustainment, SOAR, CAB, etc. The DIV CSM may have expertise in one of those fields. Does that mean they are unqualified for the job?
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SSG Robert Perrotto
1SG (Join to see) - there are 3 infantry BCT's, 2 Aviation Brigades, 1 sustainment brigade, and 1 artillery brigade, and a special troops element that contains 1 MP battalion. Her E-1 to E-8 career progression would have been predominately within the MP field (not counting TRADOC time). It is very unlikely she would have command experience in a SOAR, very little command experience in infantry, Artillery, ADA , or CAB as an MP, Same with sustainment beyond convoy ops. being detailed outside of your MOS hurts career progression, its great experience, but it is not a prolonged assignment, usually not longer then 24 months. So where would she get the hands on experience for the units she now is responsible for? Why the rush to put a female in the position, when in 10 years, you will have a hard charging fast tracked female that knows the job from a personal experience standpoint. Hell, is she even Tabbed, which is an unwritten requirement to become CSM of an infantry element.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
Political correctness is the objective, not combat readiness, no hate on her. This is the new US Military. Best of luck to her, she'll need it.
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