Shattering the glass ceiling

Ann Dunwoody Becomes First Female U.S. Army Four-Star General
Dunwoody Set to Make Military History

In a historic day for the United States Army, General Ann Dunwoody became the first woman general to be nominated to receive a fourth star, the highest rank generally attainable in the Army. President George Bush nominated the 33-year Army veteran June 23rd. The nomination must be approved by the Senate and a hearing has not yet been slated. Ann Dunwoody will take over as commander of the Army Materiel Command, a unit that provides logistics support to overseas bases. Ann Dunwoody has been serving as deputy commanding general of the Army Materiel Command for only a week upon the retirement of Lieutenant General William Mortensen.

According to the US Army official website, there are 57 active duty female generals in the United States military, of whom two, including Dunwoody, are three-star generals. Approximately five percent of the Army's general officers are women, compared with 14 percent of the total military population. As per maximum rules embedded in law, there are only eleven active four-star generals serving in the Army currently, including the army Chief of Staff. Historically, four-star generals rose through the combat ranks and, as women were not and still are not allowed to serve in combat roles, the fourth star has, until now, always been awarded to male officers.

In 1866, Ulysses S. Grant became the first four-star general in the United States (much later, Washington's rank was granted posthumously). Dunwoody will make the 209th four-star general in the history of the United States Army. 195 of those appointments have been combat officers. Four-star generals are required to retire after holding the honor for five years or after 40 years of service, whichever is later. Dunwoody's 40 year mark will come in 2015.

How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.

Aaron wrote:No comment on Ann Dunwoody and her monumental accomplishment Ziggy?

Aaron wrote:Perhaps if you weren't so anti military, you would realize the magnitude of her achievement. Did you realize she started out in the WAC when she joined the Army and was given a choice of 2 jobs, cook or parachute rigger? It is truly a fascinating story.

Aaron wrote:That sounds about like the standard anti military answer.

Aaron wrote: All you're doing is proving just how anti military you are.

Aaron wrote:Now your showing your ignorance. Without a strong military we wouldm't be a country.

It's a good thing the military didn't see eye to eye with you back in the day. You would have never made it out of boot camp alive.

Aaron wrote:And that sounds like a really sad, really pathetic excuse.

Now try explaining why we shouldn't have a strong national defense as you desire!!!

Aaron wrote:So you don't believe the United States should have a military for our national defense!!!

ziggy wrote:

How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.

So how does the "anti-communist" understand it if he or she hasn't read it?