at least that’s how it has been in the USAF...
I was at Hahn AB in 1977-78 when the AF installed the first woman Base Commander (sorry, her name escapes me at the moment). It was a good posting, it's really hard to screw up at being a Base Cdr, who is subordinate in the chain of command to the Wing Commander, usually a hot shot fighter jock.
Like I said, she appeared to be competent, but there were awkward moments during Tac Evals. She was unaware of the protocol that was followed for a year. Although I was merely an Army LT, I was called to the "Eagles Nest" during NBC warfare exercise inputs.
I earned the WC's trust during my first trip, as I offered a different recommendation from his Disaster Preparedness officer. Simply put, he overreacted with his recommendation, and I offered a less drastic recommendation, i.e. a posture that did not require protective gear.
Thirty minutes later, he made it in no uncertain terms that I would be called in on every future input. And that's the way it was until I was kicked up to Battalion HQ at Spangdahlem in the spring of '79.
Unfortunately, none of the new BC's staff alerted her to that. When she suggested to the WC that they had their own "Disaster Preparedness Officer", her suggestion was met with no enthusiasm...lol.
BTW, the "extra duty" of unit NBC officer paid off in spades. It got me away from a toxic relationship with my second Battery Commander at Hahn, and a new start at Battalion staff. I also scored a week to the NATO school...in Oberammergau.
