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Female Pilots Get Their Shot in the Iraqi Skies Men Say Women Are Proving Skills in Direct Combat
The Washington Post ^ | February 27, 2006 | By Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post Staff Writer

Posted on 02/27/2006 5:39:04 AM PST by aculeus

TALL AFAR, Iraq -- Buzzing over this northern Iraqi city in her Kiowa scout helicopter, a .50-caliber machine gun and rockets at the ready, Capt. Sarah Piro has proved so skillful in combat missions to support U.S. ground troops that she's earned the nickname "Saint."

In recent months of fighting in Tall Afar, Piro, 26, of El Dorado Hills, Calif., has quietly sleuthed out targets, laid down suppressive fire for GIs in battle and chased insurgents through the narrow alleys of this medieval city -- maneuvering all the while to avoid being shot out of the sky. In one incident, she limped back to base in a bullet-riddled helicopter, ran to another aircraft and returned to the fight 10 minutes later.

"They call her 'Saint Piro' -- she's just that good," said her co-pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Todd Buckhouse, a 19-year Army veteran who has worked with Piro on two tours with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Iraq.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: cas; chixngunzroxor; iraq; militarywomen; oif; tallafar
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To: P3pilotJAX
Think about it....if you are a capable woman, why join the military when you can make a killing in the private sector.

Why would a man, for that matter?

21 posted on 02/27/2006 6:25:56 AM PST by Sloth (Archaeologists test for intelligent design all the time.)
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To: Sloth
"Why would a man, for that matter?"

Good point, but speaking from a non politically correct standpoint I believe that there are a lot more men poised for management positions in the corporate world than women....just the nature of things. Men don't have babies or the inherent nurturing capabilities that women have(I have 4 children). Men since the beginning of time have had an aggressive nature designed to provide for the family outside the home. Women nurture and protect their offspring in the home. As we get away from these roles, you can see the crapstorm this has created. I am happy to see a trend of women starting to realize how important their role is inside the family circle. My wife has a college degree and chooses to stay home and raise our kids. I provide for her and my offspring(and yours) by defending the USA from people who would want to harm them and take away their freedom. Plus I like flying planes and blowing stuff up:)
22 posted on 02/27/2006 6:36:38 AM PST by P3pilotJAX
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To: verity

Not a syllogism; three independent observations.


23 posted on 02/27/2006 6:37:04 AM PST by Viet Vet in Augusta GA
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To: aculeus

I fear it is now too late to turn back to the days where men did the fighting and women took care of the wounded.


24 posted on 02/27/2006 6:39:09 AM PST by Sensei Ern (Now, IB4Z! http://www.myspace.com/reconcomedy/ "I believe Hillary is the aunti-christ.")
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To: Sloth

It's called affirmative action.A woman who can excell in a traditionally male occupation(ex pilot)is worth her weight in gold,whereas males are simply a "dime a dozen".


25 posted on 02/27/2006 6:41:16 AM PST by Thombo2
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To: silverleaf
Yes, our culture is reverbrating in pathos because of Sarah Piro's work in Iraq.

So you are telling me you don't see the feminization of men and the corresponding masculation of women in our culture?

Look at the bigger picture and tell me again it isn't negative.

26 posted on 02/27/2006 6:57:59 AM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: Last Dakotan

It should be noted that all these women helicopter pilots take the female version of the PT test so from the beginning things are not equal. For females the minumum passing mark for push ups is less than half of what the males are required to do and the males have, on average, more weight to push up, and more distance (arm length) to push it. Women also are given more time on the two-mile run even though they are delivering less weight and strength to the finnish line.

There was one woman triathilon competitor who served in the Army and got lots of publicity. The stories always pointed out that she could outrun the boys. But she refused to ever carry a rucksack saying it violated her recruiting agreement and was bad for her training. The media reports did not point out her unwillingness to ever shoulder a pack.


27 posted on 02/27/2006 7:01:20 AM PST by Monterrosa-24 (France kicked Germany's teeth out at Verdun among other places.)
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To: Viet Vet in Augusta GA
The Post knows what happened to Larry Summers at Harvard.

So do her fellow soldiers. Every recent Vet I've spoken with knows that his career ends the day he criticizes the placement of women in the military.

28 posted on 02/27/2006 7:01:33 AM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: Monterrosa-24
The media reports did not point out her unwillingness to ever shoulder a pack.

They have an agenda. Just as in these women-in-the-military stories you will not see the gal who got pregnant and was sent home after the government paid thousands for her training. Only the most noble and heroic women make the media.

You see the same thing in the gay parenting stories. Some drunk, absent hetero father is compared to a gay couple who could only be described as "saintly".

29 posted on 02/27/2006 7:09:53 AM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: finnman69

Women Rock! Not only are we the mothers of the earth, we can also kick a$$ when we have to.

My husband and I are raising are son and daughter. I am glad that we don't have to set any limits on what they can accomplish with hard work. I don't want my daughter to be butch, but I certainly don't want her to be a wimp that can be run over.


30 posted on 02/27/2006 7:10:54 AM PST by brwnsuga (Proud, Black, Conservative!)
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To: aculeus
"I chose the Kiowa because it works directly with ground units in the combined arms fight," said Piro, a graduate of West Point, where she set a home run record.

Gee, I wonder if that record was set against male pitchers. No? Well, at least in war the enemy will only field gentler soldiers against our women, and the ladies will only have to pull lightweight people from burning wreckage. It's nice to know that our military triumphs will come because we field the fairest army of them all.

31 posted on 02/27/2006 7:29:31 AM PST by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: Last Dakotan

If you feel feminized, please do not blame the Sarah Piros of this world.


32 posted on 02/27/2006 7:32:13 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: aculeus

Naturally, what's left unsaid:

1. There is no Iraqi air force. The MEN took care of that, so that the ladies don't have to worry about it.

2. There aren't enough MEN to fly the missions, so the women, by default (not relative skill or experience), get their chance.

3. They don't hand out Purple Hearts for broken fingernails, even if they were suffered in the cockpit.

4. As soon as one of these babes pofiled comes home ina body bag, the entire subject of female combat pilots will be "seriously debated".


33 posted on 02/27/2006 7:33:19 AM PST by Wombat101 (Islam: Turning everything it touches to Shi'ite since 632 AD...)
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To: brwnsuga
>Men Say Women Are Proving Skills in Direct Combat

Given the number
of times women shot me down,
I'd say they're well skilled!

34 posted on 02/27/2006 7:37:41 AM PST by theFIRMbss
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To: silverleaf
One rule bars female and male aviators from entering each other's quarters, while another policy requires escorts for women on base. While aimed at maintaining discipline, the segregation can be isolating, Strye said.

This is sound policy, but look at the reaction:

"If all the guys hang out and play poker in one of the guy's rooms, and I'm not allowed in there, I'll never be part of that group. I'll always be on the outside," which makes it harder to cope with the pressures of deployments, she said. Implicit in the separation, Strye said, is a mistrust that grates on her as a professional. "You trust me to make combat decisions to defeat the enemy," she said, "but don't trust what I do when I go into another person's 'CHU,' " -- a containerized housing unit.

I am amazed that you cannot see damage to military culture here; a breakdown of trust.

35 posted on 02/27/2006 7:40:15 AM PST by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: Casekirchen

Women should put up with "'horrendous' things like Tailhook" just as often as men do.

You don't get that Tailhook was disrespectful of women and not at all a good thing for the men, either. It wasn't about sex - it was about humiliation and hostility.


36 posted on 02/27/2006 7:55:59 AM PST by hocndoc (http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/index.html)
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To: fortheDeclaration
"Honestly, I was a T-45(jet) instructor in Kingsville and I was pissed a few times that because of political correctness I was forced to instruct females that really sucked and should have been kicked out much earlier"

Oh believe me I am the first to criticize PC madness if they are sub standard kick them out through the armed forces predefined process. But if you DO find some that can do the job then what is the problem?

Most women are mothers and all are daughters and it's for that reason that they want to serve their country in this way (concern for family and country is a good reason to join up?). Making a killing in the private sector is a vocation, serving in the military is a calling and an honor in my own limited opinion.

37 posted on 02/27/2006 8:00:11 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

Come on - remember racially segregated units?

The problem is the transition to an attitude of "us" vs. "the enemy" from one of "US men," "US women" and "the enemy." It will come.

I do agree that women should meet the same physical strength and other requirements that are required of the men.

Those nurses at the battlefield hospitals have always been in danger - they should have been trained and armed earlier than they were.


38 posted on 02/27/2006 8:05:20 AM PST by hocndoc (http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/index.html)
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To: finnman69
Not bad. Hair down, a little makeup and *woo-hoo*!

So she flies a Kiowa, eh? I am even more impressed. Those dang two-seaters ain't exactly armored like an Apache!! Been there done that! Its like being in a sub-compact car up in the sky.

As far as Army pilots go - was flown by one particular Army Captain (female-type) in a Blackhawk many times overseas a few years back. Hot chick and the smell of aviation fuel - a potent combination!

39 posted on 02/27/2006 8:13:08 AM PST by Al Simmons ("Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die" - Theodore Roosevelt)
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To: GOP_Party_Animal
I am amazed that you cannot see damage to military culture here; a breakdown of trust

I'm amazed that you would post that to me. LOL, I am a retired FEMALE military intelligence officer and I know of at least two RAF pilots who are alive today because of my work in joint commaned during DESERT STORM. Not to mention having written several intelliegnce estimates that made it all the way to the White House and -given what is now occurring which I accurately predicted 10 years ago - which are probably influencing US policy in the Middle East even today.

But I can see you figure I spent my 20 year military career "damaging our culture". Back to the 50's, right? Or whatever era you figure was better. Before women got the vote perhaps?
40 posted on 02/27/2006 8:13:24 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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