There are just bridges that should never be crossed. Those of us that have been in the military start to realize that quick and learn to adapt. We call it “Brotherhood” or “Brothers-in-Arms”, but the military drills it into the female population of the military that we are “brothers”. We learn to think of ourselves as one of the team, that our jobs are critical; our lives are just as expendable as our brothers. We are trained the same—sometimes harder due to a major transition needed in order to be effective as military combatants. The American public may not be “used” to the idea, and the military may still be trying to accommodate the “gentile” attitude of the American public (lmao..I know…if our public is still gentile, then why do we get so fascinated by reality tv and other moronic crap…, but like I always say—that’s another blog). On the other hand, the women that are serving are told they are equal. The men serving are told they are equal. There is no gender--just sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines. We accept that as fact, eventually, always. We all know a stray here or there that misses the mark, but when we speak of the majority, we, female military active and former, earn our place. We are not WACS or WAVES. We are NOT auxiliaries. We are the real thing just as our male counterparts.
It is highly unusual for Women’s Auxiliaries of the VFW or the American Legion to disrespect female veterans. The ladies in the auxiliaries may not have signed a contract. They may have never wanted to. They may have and floundered on the idea for any numerous reasons—not for ladies, only the ugly women do that, it’s only to find a man…yes, I know them all. My grandmother’s generation often volunteered and you were more likely to find a gorgeous “Rosie the Riveter” than an attractive military WAC or WAVE volunteer. Whatever. This is not WW1 or WW2. This is not even Nam or the 80s. The military started demanding in Desert Storm that a female sailor was not a WAVE—we were/are sailors. The Army and Air Force followed suit fairly quickly. Regardless, of what the USMC delay was, female marines are trained to be just as aggressive as the males. I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of an argument with a trained female marine from the 70s (I know one and she was capable of taking down guys—yes, multiple, same time. Sometimes civilian men don’t have the sense God gave a turnip. Five foot four female marine is extremely effective against 4 rednecks that might be able to bar fight, but don’t expect that tiny little woman to tear all of them a new one at the same time. God love the Marine Corps, but, again, another blog…)
On the other hand, I get sick of some, some—a small number compared to the whole, of the men’s auxiliaries of these veteran organizations that have the audacity to tell me, or any other female vet, that we don’t know “brotherhood”. We don’t know what it’s like to “make sacrifices for our brothers”. We aren’t somehow “willing to die” for our brothers, our country, our beliefs. We somehow are less, and the best part, they—these men’s auxiliary members that have NEVER served—know better than any of us—than the women that have served.
Really?!?! Let me say this: You have had the last 10 years to sign a contract and go to theater. You could have gone to boot camp, experienced what it’s like to become a team interconnected, interdependent, where you could have learned what it was like to be there for your “brother” and vice versa. You could have shipped to a squadron, a ship, a unit—reserve or active—and done your time “brother”. You could have been shipped to theater to do your time in the sandbox, the suck, the sinkhole. You could have done your service in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi, Afghanistan, the Med, the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman or the Red Sea…you could have flown missions or cleared towns or been standing watch at checkpoints. You could have been a “brother”.
But here’s a reality check: YOU ARE NOT MY BROTHER. You are not the male marines, sailors, soldiers, or airmen that you look at for support as you disrespect me or the rest of my female peers. You are a WANNA-BE. I am all for you being like the wonderful other members of the auxiliaries who are there for the veterans, who want to support us, who want to support those coming home. And by no means am I upset by their wanting to be part of the supporting organizations within my VFW or Legion. However, I am insulted, I am ashamed for you, and I think you need a reality check.
You are not a “brother”. Your arrogance that you would even know what it was like to work days on end with no sleep, not because you were getting overtime, but because you signed a contract and your brothers, both male and female, are counting on your *ss eludes you. The idea that you have earned it by paying the dues to the auxiliary, attending a couple of meetings, and drinking beers with real brothers is insulting, to all the “brothers”, male and female. We earned it. You didn’t. Period.
If you are so sure that you want to “earn” your right, then go down to the recruiter station and sign a contract “brother”. Afghanistan is still in full play. If you’re too old now, well, excuse my sarcasm when I say you’ve had the last 10 years, 20 even depending on your MOS, rate, etc., to sign your contract, do your time, and become a “brother”. Either way, I don’t care. You didn’t or can’t. Tough twinkies. You’re not my “brother” and don’t you dare have the audacity to lecture me that I have no clue what “brotherhood” means or how you know soooooo much more about it than me or any of the other Storm or Gulf veterans. Here’s a clue jerk-off: You have no clue. You don’t know what “brotherhood” is, but the military is a volunteer force—and the recruiters still have quotas to make. Go for it, "brother"!!
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