Woman reaches US army's top rank

[Niels Bohr 72]

An American woman has been promoted to four-star general - the first female to reach the US army's highest rank.

In her acceptance speech, Ann E Dunwoody said she had never expected to rise so high in the ranks in her 33-year career.

She said no one was more surprised than she and her husband. "Behind every successful woman there's an astonished man," she added.

There are 21 female generals, most of them one-star, in the US army.

Women make up 14% of the army's active-service strength of more than 500,000 soldiers.

'Open doors'

Gen Dunwoody comes from a long line of soldiers.

"A Dunwoody has fought in every American war since the Revolution," said army chief of staff Gen George Casey.

Gen Dunwoody is married to retired air force officer Craig Brotchie.

"There is no one more surprised than I, except of course, my husband," she told an auditorium packed with the military's top brass.

"And you know what they say, behind every successful woman there's an astonished man."

Defence Secretary Robert Gates said: "History will no doubt take note of [Dunwoody's] achievement in breaking through this final 'brass ceiling' to pin on this fourth star."

"But she would rather be known and remembered first and foremost as a US army soldier."

She is now head of the Army Materiel Command, in charge of weapons, equipment and uniforms for the army.

Women are barred from combat roles but have been allowed in the last two decades to serve in a wide variety of other positions.

"It's been my experience in my 33 years in the military that the doors have continued to open and the opportunities have continued to expand," she said.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7730744.stm

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Women are barred from combat roles but have been allowed in the last two decades to serve in a wide variety of other positions.

When that changes, let me know.... otherwise it's blah blah blah.

Edited November 15, 2008 by *Len*

[Niels Bohr 72]

I believe women can be effective combatants. Heck, you don't even need to cover them up. Have them naked. They'll fool every male soldiers especially the curivilicious ones.

[IAMX 3,055]

Well, now that Len's post knocked me back down to reality (I was pretty happy for this at first), it seems it's merely for show.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Well, now that Len's post knocked me back down to reality (I was pretty happy for this at first), it seems it's merely for show.

Oh, don't be a hater brother.....

[IAMX 3,055]

Well, now that Len's post knocked me back down to reality (I was pretty happy for this at first), it seems it's merely for show.

Oh, don't be a hater brother.....

Nah, just disappointed. I somehow thought they had been letting women serve. Wonder what I was thinking.

[Otto 83]

Women are barred from combat roles but have been allowed in the last two decades to serve in a wide variety of other positions.

When that changes, let me know.... otherwise it's blah blah blah.

Well lets be honest/realistic...not much 'combating' going on for Generals.. especially 4-stars...

(Your point is not missed however - but there are real issues involved for women in combat and they don't all revolve around sexist prejudices.)