-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! ARTICLE 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Army: Let's Get It Right or Stop Gender Integration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: The other side of the coin -- sexual harassment is not just limited to basic training. This letter shows that the problem exists even in Army non-commissioned officer development. Many female troops are trying to exceed the standards set for their specific specialty and should receive the appropriate professional recognition and support. Once again, we have a personal standards and performance standards issue that alert leaders must enforce. *********************************************************** By a Disappointed Female Soldier I'm involved in the Non Commissioned Officer Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC). It is supposedly the first step in my career as a Non-Commissioned Officer. I looked forward to this course, only to be let down, once again by my so-called leaders. Our small group instructors are supposed to be there to mentor us-show us what it's all about. "Lead by Example" is the motto, and it's hammered into us from day one. What I've found is but another example of the "Do As I Say, Not As I Do" mentality that is permeating the ranks through out the military. My first few days in PLDC, I had my instructor pull me aside and let me know that for a few "favors" he would guarantee I could pass-and if I didn't like our arrangement, he could make things very hard on me. I let him know it wouldn't work like that, and true to his word, he's made things tough on me. But, he's been nice enough to let me know that the offer still stands. Taking care of soldiers is what they call that. Every day he sits in class and rants about the virtues and privileges of being an NCO, and all of the sacrifices he must make, and the sacrifices each of us will make when we become SGTs. I realized there would be sacrifice, but performing sexual favors to make sure that I get a fair shot is taking "selfless service" a little too far. I wasn't offended so much at what he said to me, but more so as to why he is in this position. How could this man have the audacity to talk about all things great that is the NCO Corps, and turn around and with an absolutely straight face, proposition one of his students. I am absolutely disgusted at the thought that this guy has taught for 1 1/2 years at the NCO Academy, and his so called words of wisdom have been heard by hundreds of junior NCOs. I thought I would do the right thing, and use my EO Chain of Command, but nothing was done. "Good Field Soldier" is probably somewhere on his NCOER, and the buddy system is in effect. The only thing it got me was a butt chewing, and further scrutiny and come-on's by this low-life. I have once again doubted my decision to make the Army a career, and I will have serious doubts about joining a "time honored Corp" that allows such filth in it's ranks. Although it can't be typical of every NCO, it is indicative of the kind of people I see everyday. The military needs to take a closer look at its leaders, and the people they appoint to be instructors. I think it's a concept called "Train the Trainer." Funny, I learned that the other day, just as my group leader stuck his tongue out at me and told me think about all the things he could do with it. Civilian life is starting to sound mighty sweet. ========================================================= ARTICLE 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tragedy Changes Opinion of Army ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed: Excerpts from a touching letter that appeared on the Army Public Affairs link. It shows that real values are still alive in many units. Her it is with the original editor's note. "Editor's note: The following letter was written by Krista Kelly McNeill, 16, and sent to her brother's battalion commander as an open letter to the Army. Krista was the youngest sister of Spc. Michael J. McNeill of the 317th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized)." *********************************************************** Following a rotation at the National Training Center in the California desert, McNeill was preparing vehicles for rail load back to Fort Benning, Ga., when he was struck by a car. It is amazing how a person's life can change in a matter of minutes. It is amazing how one incident can change your views forever. In my case it was a death in the family. I lost my brother, Spc. Michael James (Hogue) McNeill on May 12. This incident has changed my feelings about the military and military life, forever. I remember the day my brother got hurt very clearly. It was May 5. I returned home from school to see my father walking out the door with a suitcase in one hand and a plane ticket confirmation in the other. I was informed that my brother had been struck by a car, going full speed, while he was crossing a street on foot with two of his Army buddies... My father left immediately. That is where it all began. From the minute my father and brother's wife arrived, they were treated like royalty. The Army was right there by their side, no matter what they needed. The Army provided them with a place to stay, transportation and what was needed most of all: a shoulder to cry on. Before this point, I never thought of military people as being compassionate and caring. But as I came to learn as things went on, they are more caring, understanding and compassionate than most civilian people. A week passed, and suddenly, on May 12, my brother breathed his last breath. He had passed away. At this point, I thought that the Army would no longer be helpful or cooperative with my family. I figured they would think that since my brother had passed away, that there was no more use in trying to please anyone. I figured they would try to save money any way they could. But, as I later learned, this was not the case at all. They helped my family return home and made them as comfortable as possible right up until the end. I would have thought that the military would think about nothing other than their own wants and needs, but once again, they proved me wrong. Apparently, they put my brother on full retirement with total disability before he died so that his beautiful wife and their soon expected child would be taken care of. This touched me deeply. The thing that touched me the most was my brother's funeral itself. The military paid for almost all of the expenses and helped a great deal with the planning of the services. The day of the funeral is imbedded so deeply in my heart... ...Intense is the only word to describe those few minutes of pain, remembrance and love that came with the playing of Taps. The playing stopped. Then the six soldiers, unarmed, came marching in unison without a single misstep up to my brother's casket. Perfectionists, they were, folding the flag ever so carefully that had once lain upon my brother's casket, making sure not so much as a thread ever touched the ground. A single Soldier marched up to my brother's wife, Jenna, and placed the flag upon her lap, presenting it to her on behalf of the president of the United States, and with great reverence and respect, he stood in a final salute to her. But then, something very unusual happened. As with Jenna, a single soldier approached my brother's mother and my father and presented them with flags also, ones that were already neatly folded and placed in fine wooden boxes, decorated with the United States Seal and containing all of Michael's ribbons. These did not come from the government's money. These came from the pockets of the men who served with my brother in his battalion. Knowing of Mike's beginnings and the strange turns his life had taken wherein he had two families, containing eight sisters, all of whom he loved dearly, they had raised the money to purchase these for his parents. This showed me that the military is one big family. In the military, whether you like the people you are around or not, you do everything in your power to protect one another and their loved ones. What an honor I found this to be, to have been a part of Michael's life, someone who had served his country so diligently. This event has changed my life and touched my heart forever. I have grown a deep love for the military and those who are a part of it... Krista Kelly McNeill Johnson City, Ill. The full lenghth letter can be found at: http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/news/Nov2000/a20001128lettertoeditor.html *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! 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