...for as long as it takes
By Staff Sgt. Alicia K. Borlik, USA WASHINGTON -- "If it is an important and critical issue for
military women and men, we're not giving up," said Mary Wamsley,
1999 chairwoman of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in
the Services.
Wamsley is the newest leader of DACOWITS, a group of civilian
leaders who for 50 years have served as the defense secretary's
eyes and ears, working on issues of concern to women in the
military, she said.
"We get our issues from the visits we have with women and men in
field and fleet," she said. "Because those issues change from
year-to-year, day-to-day, our goals and objectives change. It's
a very fluid process."
Two issues DACOWITS is currently studying are opening more
combat jobs to women and allowing the services to train as they
fight. For example, during the committee's fall conference last
year, members recommended to the defense secretary that the Army
open Multiple Launch Rocket System fields to women. Two members
went to Fort Sill, Okla., home of the missile system, to make
the point. The committee also recommended the Army and Air Force
open special operations forces' helicopter specialties to women.
Air Force officials concurred with the special forces
recommendation but cannot act alone because of the multiservice
nature of the field. Army officials still hold that the 1994
direct ground combat assignment rule closes both fields to
women.
The rule states service restrictions may include "where units
and positions are doctrinally required to physically collocate
and remain with direct ground combat units that are closed to
women" and "where units are engaged in long-range reconnaissance
operations and special operations forces missions."
Based on numerous briefings and investigations, however,
DACOWITS does not believe the rule precludes opening these
positions, Wamsley said.
On the gender-integrated training issue, DACOWITS last spring
recommended to the secretary that he continue to support the
service chiefs and the way the services train, whether gender-
integrated or segregated.
"Our position is you [the services] are the people who know best
how to train," Wamsley said. "On our installation visits, what
we heard from everyone across the spectrum is, 'Let us train the
way we know how best to train.' The position of the [service]
chiefs is, 'We train the way we fight.' It doesn't make any
sense to change that."
DACOWITS gathers its information by members visiting
installations throughout the year. The schedule of 1999 visits
will be released March 1 and will include training bases for the
third consecutive year. During each two-day visit, members meet
with 16 to 18 groups of military personnel broken down by rank
and sex. The committee separates members this way to narrow the
focus on issues affecting certain groups.
First-termers' concerns differ greatly from those in mid-career
or nearing retirement, Wamsley noted. "What you often see among
younger enlisted are concerns about recreational facilities,"
she said. "After about 10 years, you have developed a family and
are set into a career path. Your focus changes. What concerns
you changes. You get older and you're concerned about benefits,
retirement and medical care changes."
DACOWITS members open every group session with the same two
questions, "How are you doing?" and "If you had five minutes
with the secretary of defense, what would you say?"
Feedback is critical, Wamsley said. Some commanders express
amazement that their people open up to visiting committee
members, she said, but there's a simple reason for that.
"I'm convinced that what comes across is that we care," she
said. "We aren't beholden to anyone, so if an issue comes up
that needs to be dealt with, it may not matter whose toes get
stepped on."
She also wants to clear up any misperception that the civilian
committee members are militarily naive. "We're not some group of
civilians running wild with military issues," the soldier's
daughter explained. "We have very strong, solid advice, counsel
and guidance from military representatives and liaisons."
Wamsley brings 25 years of experience in civilian law
enforcement to her position. "There are a tremendous number of
similarities [between military and police women]," she said.
"Everything from the way the uniform fits, the hours worked,
difficulty breaking into male-dominant occupations and
subspecialties -- I've seen women who've had to give up their
careers because of constant deployments."
The greatest similarity, she noted, involves not just women, but
all those who wear a uniform and provide what she calls an
emergency critical service. "I don't think people appreciate us
enough," the police chief said.
"When I go out on my visits, I always end saying, 'Thank you,'
because I know I sleep very safely in my bed, pump cheap gas in
my car … because we have indeed provided those things via our
military," she said.
This is Wamsley's third and final year with DACOWITS. The past
two years she served on the forces development and utilization
subcommittee, which identifies issues affecting the development
and opportunities available to military women.
Wamsley enjoys working on DACOWITS because it allows her to get
back with military people. "I recognize the dedication and heart
and energy and commitment it takes," she said. "Being able to
talk with our service people and feeling as if I can help make
something better. That has been my favorite experience."
Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
American Forces Press Service
Disclaimer of Endorsement:
Reference herein to any specific commercial products,
process, or service by trade name, trademark,
manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily
constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation,
or favoring by VNIS. The views and opinions of
authors expressed herein do not necessarily state
or reflect those of VNIS, and shall not be used for
advertising or product endorsement purposes.
VNIS is not a government agency and is a sole proprietorship,
own and operated by Christian L. Wilson USN/Ret
