I think we all know why Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert really showed up at the Women's Equality Day celebration at Camp Taji. I mean, how often do you find a room full of American women in Iraq? By Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert
1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and 15th Sustainment Brigade gathered at the Taji Ministry Center to observe Women’s Equality Day, Aug. 26.

The observance included remarks from guest speaker Command Sgt. Maj. Barbara Pettit, the top non-commissioned officer with the 15th Finance Battalion, based at Camp Liberty, Iraq, a reading of the presidential proclamation on Women’s Equality Day, and a video presentation.

The theme of the observance was “One Vote,” and a short video shown at the observance focused on the fact that 22 million single women did not vote in the last presidential election.

“If I had to choose one thing that we hoped to get across with this, it is that single women – all women – should exercise their right to vote,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Sanchez, the Equal Opportunity representative for 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division. The 1-227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion sponsored and planned the event.

“The biggest thing I learned is that so many single women don’t vote,” said Sanchez, who calls Dallas home. “It took a lot of effort from many women to get women the right to vote (87 years ago), and this theme is designed to encourage every woman to practice her right to vote in any election.”

Pettit, a native of Appomattox, Va., spoke briefly about some of the key women who fought for women’s equality throughout time and then focused on equality for women in the military.

She recounted how in her early years in the Army enlisted women could not achieve “hard stripes,” being promoted instead to one of several specialist ranks. Although the military has come a long way during her 26 years of service, she said there are still doors that are locked, chained and dead-bolted to women.

Pettit spoke of how women are still restricted from enlisting in most combat arms positions, because, she said, “America is not ready to see women come home in body bags. The truth is that women do die in service (in Iraq) just like their male counterparts.”

The advancements made by women in aviation are something that Pettit said she finds encouraging.

“I see so many women doing things in the Army that we weren’t supposed to do – especially pilots,” Pettit said. “Women were always considered too temperamental to be pilots. Here, you have (several female) pilots in the brigade. That makes me see how far we have come since I joined the Army.”

“I’m no ‘women’s libber,’ but I feel that everyone is equal and should have the opportunity to do what they want to do. The sky’s the limit.”

Source: DOD

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