Army OKs women as spec ops aviators

Ian_J

Ian_J

Hubschrauber Flieger
Staff member
Fantastic news!

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2013/01/army-oks-women-specops-aviators-011113w/

By Joe Gould - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 11, 2013 12:14:48 EST
Women have been cleared for Army special operations.

The Army is recruiting women to become pilots and crew chiefs for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment for the first time as part of its ongoing effort to expand roles for women in the service.
The move by the 160th is the result of an appeal by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno to expand combat roles for women.

“We are looking for women to serve in the cockpit, we’ll start with a pilot [trial] program, and assuming there’s no significant issues, we’ll integrate women,” said Brig. Gen. Clayton Hutmacher, the commander of Army Special Operations Aviation Command. “We plan on going out and actively recruiting women. We’re fully supportive of this initiative.”
Click to expand...
 
Pfffft, how dumb. Girls can't shoot. Next thing you know they'll be trying to make them pilots too.

*Edit: Nevermind, I read the title wrong, I thought it meant for Special Ops, like assault teams, with MP5's and stuff... so now my sarcastic response is just stupid.
 
If you knew ANYTHING about the 160th; not just what they do but what they are required to do, you would not ask this question......

There are PHYSICAL differences that can not be overlooked. While I have no doubt a female will be accepted into the program, it will be as a show of support for the Chief of Staff (much as Gen Hutmacher's comments were) and not as a effort to keep the standards of the 160th. This is yet another example of how an Army standard is changed in leu of a "polical standard"; I've seen it many times in my career and expect to see it many times more.
 
Not sure flying an aircraft is all that phsyically demanding, but I wonder how the electorate would have reacted if it'd been Michelle Durant down in Mogadishu...
 
dustoff17 said:
If you knew ANYTHING about the 160th; not just what they do but what they are required to do, you would not ask this question......

There are PHYSICAL differences that can not be overlooked. While I have no doubt a female will be accepted into the program, it will be as a show of support for the Chief of Staff (much as Gen Hutmacher's comments were) and not as a effort to keep the standards of the 160th. This is yet another example of how an Army standard is changed in leu of a "polical standard"; I've seen it many times in my career and expect to see it many times more.
Click to expand...

So basically, flying a Blackhawk in the 160th, isn't the same as flying one in some General Support Aviation Company someplace. While I know thats true, I don't know specifics of how to quantify that, or if its something to post here anyway.
 
dustoff17 said:
If you knew ANYTHING about the 160th; not just what they do but what they are required to do, you would not ask this question......

There are PHYSICAL differences that can not be overlooked. While I have no doubt a female will be accepted into the program, it will be as a show of support for the Chief of Staff (much as Gen Hutmacher's comments were) and not as a effort to keep the standards of the 160th. This is yet another example of how an Army standard is changed in leu of a "polical standard"; I've seen it many times in my career and expect to see it many times more.
Click to expand...

Well, I thought I knew some things about the 160th. Used to fly out of the same field with them, have friends with them, etc. I guess I'm not aware of the physical requirements the 160th does that women cannot. What are they?
 
Ian J said:
Well, I thought I knew some things about the 160th. Used to fly out of the same field with them, have friends with them, etc. I guess I'm not aware of the physical requirements the 160th does that women cannot. What are they?
Click to expand...

Dude give it up, you just got completely schooled.

But thankfully, there are some dudes on the internet that can set you straight.

You should feel fortunate to have this opportunity, soldier!
 
moxiepilot said:
I'm guessing "have a ding-dong." :)
Click to expand...

Man I miss them. :(

Ding_dongs.jpg
 
dustoff17 said:
If you knew ANYTHING about the 160th; not just what they do but what they are required to do, you would not ask this question......

There are PHYSICAL differences that can not be overlooked. While I have no doubt a female will be accepted into the program, it will be as a show of support for the Chief of Staff (much as Gen Hutmacher's comments were) and not as a effort to keep the standards of the 160th. This is yet another example of how an Army standard is changed in leu of a "polical standard"; I've seen it many times in my career and expect to see it many times more.
Click to expand...

The 160th will accept female applicants from over a dozen MOS's already - and all applicants pass the same screening, regardless of gender.

That being the case, why not add pilots to that list of jobs?
 
TripSix said:
The 160th will accept female applicants from over a dozen MOS's already - and all applicants pass the same screening, regardless of gender.

That being the case, why not add pilots to that list of jobs?
Click to expand...

That's just the initial assessment. If you are a pilot/crewmember, there are additional requirements/schools once you are in the unit. Some are easy and some are not, so even though you may assess, some still find that it's not for them. Time will tell.
 
Females have been fighter pilots in the USAF for 20 years -- the ones I have flown with when the iron was flying in a combat zone have been just as fearsome killers as any other dude.
 
Hacker15e said:
Females have been fighter pilots in the USAF for 20 years -- the ones I have flown with when the iron was flying in a combat zone have been just as fearsome killers as any other dude.
Click to expand...

No. Can't be. They're girls. Sugar and spice and everything nice and such.
 
Yeah, umm. How much more physically demanding can flying a Blackhawk in the 160th be versus an ordinary Blackhawk group?

I understand the super duper cool top secret part of it, but....... What else?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top