Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

A7
U.S. NEWS Monday 27 noveMber 2017

Women get chance to ‘one-up’ the men in mixed infantry units

moved steadily but cau- The women also balked at commander. He said the
tiously this year. As home the early plan to put their women just want to “fit in
to the previously all-male living quarters on a sepa- and do the same as every-
infantry and armor schools, rate floor from their squad- body else.”This is the third
Fort Benning had to make mates. So base leaders class of recruits at Benning
$35 million in renovations, now use one of four main to include women. When
including female dorm sleeping bays to house the they’re not sleeping or
rooms, security cameras, women. Cameras keep washing clothes, they’re
and monitoring stations. constant watch on the bay completely integrated into
Laundry was an early chal- door and the stairs, and their units.As sun peeked
lenge.For years, the men there’s always a woman at over the horizon on an
washed clothes any time the monitoring station. October morning, dozens
at night. Now, there are “There’s nothing they dis- of infantry recruits spread
alarms and schedules. A like more than to be sep- across the Fort Benning
“female” sign goes on the arated,” said Col. Kelly field going through their
door when needed. Kendrick, the brigade morning PT drills. q

A female U.S. Army recruit practices building clearing tactics
with male recruits at Ft. Benning, Ga. The Army’s introduction
of women into the infantry has moved steadily but cautiously
this year. As home to the previously all-male infantry and armor
schools, Fort Benning had to make a number of adjustments,
including female dorm rooms, security cameras, monitoring
stations.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
By LOLITA C. BALDOR a ban on them serving in
Associated Press combat jobs was lifted.
FORT BENNING, Georgia Twenty-two have graduat-
(AP) — The young Army ed. More than 30 were still
infantry recruits lined up in in training late last month,
full combat gear, guns at working toward gradua-
the ready. At the signal, tion. The recruits’ last names
a soldier in front kicked in are being withheld by The
the door and they burst Associated Press because
into the room, swiveling to some women have faced
check around the walls for bullying on social media.
threats. Somewhat smaller in stat-
“You’re dead!” one would- ure than some of her male
be enemy yelled out from comrades, Kirsten gave up
a dark corner, the voice a Division I soccer scholar-
slightly higher than the oth- ship to become an infan-
ers echoing through the try soldier. In body armor,
building. helmet and rucksack, she
It was 18-year-old Kirsten, looks like just any other
training to become one grunt.A bunkmate, Ga-
of the Army’s first women briella, says the women
serving as infantry soldiers. push each other.“Today
“I want to be one of the during our ruck march we
females to prove to every- were, like, directly across
body else that just because from each other and I
you’re a female, doesn’t would constantly look over
mean you can’t do the at her,” Gabriella said of
same things as a male,” she Kirsten. “We kinda just kept
said, describing her brother looking at each other and
— an infantry soldier — as we’re, like, all right, we’re
motivation. “I also wanted both doing it, we’re pass-
to one-up him.” ing these guys and stuff.
Kirsten is among more than We definitely have goals to
80 women who have gone be better than the guys.”
to recruit training at Fort The Army’s introduction of
Benning, Georgia, since women into the infantry has