Los Angeles Times, New U.S. combat policy affirms role women already play:
Pfc. Rosie Darby said she was told by her recruiter that women could not serve as frontline combat medics. She made sure to email him when she got her current job: a platoon medic at one of the battalion's combat outposts. (Her official designation is healthcare specialist.)
"That first formation was a bit of a shell shock," she said, smiling. "Everyone was looking and asking: 'Is she in our formation? Is she a girl?' "
The petite 20-year-old from Pavilion, N.Y., soon earned their respect. Members of her platoon said she goes out with them almost every day, climbing over rows of grapevines with a pack of medical supplies on her back to avoid roads that may be seeded with bombs. "She outperforms half of us," said Sgt. Andrew Bohman, 27, of Cincinnati.
Coarse language doesn't faze her. "She's like one of the guys," said Pfc. Evan Sharp, 20, of Manteca, Calif.
Wonder if that recruiter is still in town?
I am so very proud of my
I am so very proud of my daughter, Rosie, she has shown that she can do the job. She was under fire while on Patrol last Friday February 15, 2013. Should you have any question about my daughter and her service please contact me. Her recruiter is no longer in Batavia
Rosie is my niece and she
Rosie is my niece and she received high praise from her squad leader:
"I was a member of 3-41 IN until a few months ago, and Darby's first squad leader. She earned her place on the line. Some of you are criticising her for a perceived inability to carry a heavy soldier alone. Guess what? No one does that, military or civilian-side. We use teamwork to move people. Physically, she is more capable than most of the soldiers, all males, in that platoon. She can shoot, move and communicate to standard.
As a PV2, brand-new to the unit, she took over the battalion's medical supply from a sergeant with a decade in the Army and had it running appropriately within a week. As a treatment medic, she mastered her job to the point where she was the go-to medic for her peers. She volunteered for extra training I set up with El Paso Fire Department. She snuck out on field exercises with our platoons while she was supposed to be on routine duty. She made her own opportunities to train as a field medic and still performed admirably as a clinic medic. Her shooting? Superior. Her PT? Better than 70% of the battalion- on the male scale. Most importantly, she learned how to be a great medic. (I'd want her working on me over anyone else).
When she got to Afghanistan, she was requested- by name- to replace one of her peers as an infantry medic. She earned her spot with the infantry, and is far more capable than anyone I know."
-Robert Martin, Paramedic
Awesome story!
Awesome story!
Now in my opinion there is a
Now in my opinion there is a true American and Hero, worthy of the title of Role Model if there ever was one. What was the discussion we were having on another thread here? Does everyone have an equal opportunity? I think this young lady has proven that it all depends on the person. Opportunity is there, being a woman she had alot of things stacked against her getting to where she is now. But she took opportunity where she could find it and got there anyway. Stay safe and come back to us Rosie if only to show people that thing can be done when others tell you they cant.