• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

1st woman to lead Army infantry division

Rogue Valley

Lead or get out of the way
DP Veteran
Joined
Apr 18, 2013
Messages
93,292
Reaction score
81,299
Location
Barsoom
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Independent
Meet Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager, first woman to lead Army infantry division

Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager will assume command of the 40th Infantry Division on June 29 at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California.

D8ZJ9aPVUAE3Z8X.jpg

Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager. (Photo: Joint Task Force North)

6/9/19
A brigadier general who led Black Hawk helicopters in Iraq will become the first woman to lead an Army infantry division. Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager will assume command of the California National Guard’s 40th Infantry Division in ceremonies later this month at the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos. "I think it's an exciting time for the California National Guard," Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma told USA TODAY. "She's been a battalion commander, a brigade commander and now a division commander. She's earned it." Yeager, taking the reins from retiring Maj. Gen. Mark Malanka, will take charge of a force of more than 10,000 soldiers. She began active-duty service in 1986 after receiving her commission as a second lieutenant from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at California State University Long Beach. She completed military helicopter training in 1989 and then served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter aeromedical evacuation pilot.

Yeager, who left active duty after eight years when her first son was born, later continued her military career in the California Army National Guard. In 2011, she deployed to Iraq as the deputy commander of the Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade. She was promoted to brigadier general three years ago and began making history a year later when she was named as the first woman to lead Joint Task Force North with Northern Command at Fort Bliss, Texas. Yeager, whose father is a retired major general, said then that she joined the military to make money for college. The 40th Infantry Division has a rich history. Founded in 1917, its soldiers have fought in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. More recently, 40th ID soldiers have deployed to Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and numerous other locations around the globe. In March, the division headquarters returned to U.S. soil after successfully completing a train, advise and assist mission in Afghanistan. Now its leadership falls to Yeager. "She's an outstanding leader, and many of her subordinates who worked with her in the past are looking forward to working with her again," Shiroma said.

Godspeed and all success.

Related: 1st woman to take command of a U.S. Army infantry division
 
I can't imagine any objection. I look forward to them.
 
I hope she doesn't **** it up.
 
*yawn*

I really do not care to be honest. A General in most cases today is little more than a glorified babysitter and paper pusher. They put a General who was a pilot in charge of an Infantry Division.

Hey, why not? Why not make the Admiral in charge of fleet ops an Admiral who spent their career in supply and finance? Make the Colonel in charge of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (formerly FSSG) in command of an Amphibious Brigade?

So they found a puppet who never really served as Infantry and put her in charge of an Infantry Division primarily made up of National Guard. This is primarily a publicity stunt, and nothing else but. That she is female makes not a damned bit of difference to me, but I think if I was her I might find it just a bit more than a little patronizing.
 
Good for her, men shouldn't be the only ones who get the privilege of sending people off to die. Kudos Baby, you go girl, get em' all killed! Be a Star Baby!
 
The general is fully qualified to assume her new command.

For instance and specifically, the general is a graduate of the following standard preparatory and requisite programs:

SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE: ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of California - Irvine - BA - Psychology
Chapman University - MA - Psychology
United States Army War College - Master of Strategic Studies

AMEDD Officer Basic Course
AMEDD Officer Advanced Course
Aviation Officer Advanced Course
United States Army War College
United States Army Command and General Staff College, Brigade Pre-Command Course
Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Army Senior Leader Development Program-Basic (ASLDP-B)
Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar
CAPSTONE
Joint & Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) JPME-II


The government military academies, Rotc, OCS, graduate junior officers, ie, rank and grade 2LT, 1LT, CAPT. Once the junior officer attains the breakthrough rank of major, the officer crosses the significant threshold to field officer rank. That is major, lieutenant colonel, colonel.

While holding field officer ranks you need to have completed the professional advanced education identified in BG Yeager's career biography if you are to be considered for flag officer rank. Not all of the field grade officers get to flag officer rank. In fact, the great majority of 'em do not get to flag officer rank, which is not anything to be ashamed of.

Who btw promotes a colonel to a general officer (brigadier general)? A board of senior general officers sit to interview and consider those colonels who are eligible. A board of general officers interview, examine and review the colonel to decide.

Who appoints the generals who sit to consider whether a colonel (or general) gets a star, (or another star)? Senior generals appoint the board of 'em.

Where does the decision of the promotion board consisting of generals only go? It goes directly to the Congress, the Senate specifically. The Senate decides to vote yes or no. Potus signs off on it and that's it for the role of Potus in the process of promoting general officers.

Who do general officers take orders from? General officers take orders from other, senior, generals. The same is how admirals are promoted -- and who admirals take orders from, ie, senior admirals. So in sum, BG Yaeger has been passed on by other generals, all of whom are senior to her.

Congratulations to BG Yaeger and continued well wishes to her. BG Yeager btw had previously been commander of Joint Task Force North of the 5th Army, Northcom, which assists DHS specifically in security along the southern border region. BG Yeager deployed to Iraq in 2011 as deputy commander of the Cal Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, then served as a battalion and then brigade commander in the infantry division.
 
The general is fully qualified to assume her new command.

For instance and specifically, the general is a graduate of the following standard preparatory and requisite programs:

SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE: ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of California - Irvine - BA - Psychology
Chapman University - MA - Psychology
United States Army War College - Master of Strategic Studies

AMEDD Officer Basic Course
AMEDD Officer Advanced Course
Aviation Officer Advanced Course
United States Army War College
United States Army Command and General Staff College, Brigade Pre-Command Course
Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Army Senior Leader Development Program-Basic (ASLDP-B)
Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar
CAPSTONE
Joint & Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) JPME-II


The government military academies, Rotc, OCS, graduate junior officers, ie, rank and grade 2LT, 1LT, CAPT. Once the junior officer attains the breakthrough rank of major, the officer crosses the significant threshold to field officer rank. That is major, lieutenant colonel, colonel.

While holding field officer ranks you need to have completed the professional advanced education identified in BG Yeager's career biography if you are to be considered for flag officer rank. Not all of the field grade officers get to flag officer rank. In fact, the great majority of 'em do not get to flag officer rank, which is not anything to be ashamed of.

Who btw promotes a colonel to a general officer (brigadier general)? A board of senior general officers sit to interview and consider those colonels who are eligible. A board of general officers interview, examine and review the colonel to decide.

Who appoints the generals who sit to consider whether a colonel (or general) gets a star, (or another star)? Senior generals appoint the board of 'em.

Where does the decision of the promotion board consisting of generals only go? It goes directly to the Congress, the Senate specifically. The Senate decides to vote yes or no. Potus signs off on it and that's it for the role of Potus in the process of promoting general officers.

Who do general officers take orders from? General officers take orders from other, senior, generals. The same is how admirals are promoted -- and who admirals take orders from, ie, senior admirals. So in sum, BG Yaeger has been passed on by other generals, all of whom are senior to her.

Congratulations to BG Yaeger and continued well wishes to her. BG Yeager btw had previously been commander of Joint Task Force North of the 5th Army, Northcom, which assists DHS specifically in security along the southern border region. BG Yeager deployed to Iraq in 2011 as deputy commander of the Cal Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, then served as a battalion and then brigade commander in the infantry division.

I don't see any combat experience. Would you hire someone to build you a house who had never built a house? Just asking.
 
I don't see any combat experience. Would you hire someone to build you a house who had never built a house? Just asking.

Reread my final sentence in my post #6. The post is not a flash in the pan post so you'd need to give it unusual attention, I understand.

Read her official biography directly here:

National Guard Biography


Do the work.
 
I hope she doesn't **** it up.

You go girl, that's my response.

Now to yours. Are you thinking that a lot of weight is on her shoulders, her being the first, and people watching her ever so closely? If so, you are right. I suspect that, if she would make even the smallest mistake, the old school chauvinists will be all over her, with a vengeance.

But again, "YOU GO GIRL"
 
You go girl, that's my response.

Now to yours. Are you thinking that a lot of weight is on her shoulders, her being the first, and people watching her ever so closely? If so, you are right. I suspect that, if she would make even the smallest mistake, the old school chauvinists will be all over her, with a vengeance.

But again, "YOU GO GIRL"

I would say that to any new commander. There's people depending on her to do her job, so they can stay alive; just like any other commander.

You say "go girl". I say: she hasn't successfully lead her division, yet.

I'm not going to shower her with praise because she's a female commanding an infantry division, just like I wouldn't shower a male officer because he was promoted to division commander.

Let me know when she does something really heroic; just doing her job doesn't count. Until then, she's just another soldier.
 
Reread my final sentence in my post #6. The post is not a flash in the pan post so you'd need to give it unusual attention, I understand.

Read her official biography directly here:

National Guard Biography


Do the work.

Unless she saw combat in Texas or California, my statement stands. How can someone without combat experience command a combat unit. I see she has been through lots of schools and classes but that is not the same. Every doctor has been through dozens of classes as well, however they are not qualified to be a doctor until they complete a residency. Would you want you son being thrown into combat by someone who has no idea what combat is?
 
"Some generals don't have enough experience!"



:lol:
 
I would say that to any new commander. There's people depending on her to do her job, so they can stay alive; just like any other commander.

You say "go girl". I say: she hasn't successfully lead her division, yet.

I'm not going to shower her with praise because she's a female commanding an infantry division, just like I wouldn't shower a male officer because he was promoted to division commander.

Let me know when she does something really heroic; just doing her job doesn't count. Until then, she's just another soldier.

Maybe so. What stands out to me is that she's a woman who's "made it" in a man's world.
 
In 2011, she deployed to Iraq as the deputy commander of the Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade


It appears she does have a combat deployment...I dont know why this is relevant though; We have many senior leaders sans combat deployment and experience.


I was actually surprised at how many of our small group leaders/instructors did NOT have any combat experience when I attended the Advance course; and we had already been in Iraq and Afghanistan for many years.
 
It appears she does have a combat deployment...I dont know why this is relevant though; We have many senior leaders sans combat deployment and experience.


I was actually surprised at how many of our small group leaders/instructors did NOT have any combat experience when I attended the Advance course; and we had already been in Iraq and Afghanistan for many years.

Depending on MOS and unit that can be true. But it is very rare. I can only think of one E-8 I have met that has not deployed. But he is also a career Reservist, and has spent the last 10 years in the Headquarters Detachment of a Reserve Medical Unit that does not deploy.

And most of the "Senior Leaders" (especially those on active duty) also were in during the Gulf War. It is almost strange to imagine that in another decade, the last of the Gulf War vets will be retiring.
 
Depending on MOS and unit that can be true. But it is very rare. I can only think of one E-8 I have met that has not deployed. But he is also a career Reservist, and has spent the last 10 years in the Headquarters Detachment of a Reserve Medical Unit that does not deploy.

And most of the "Senior Leaders" (especially those on active duty) also were in during the Gulf War. It is almost strange to imagine that in another decade, the last of the Gulf War vets will be retiring.

And you just hit a key point....I think it is MOS/Unit dependent.

I spent my entire career in the Medical Corp....it was natural to deploy often and with a variety of units; the same can be said of most Combat Arms, CS, and CSS related jobs and units.
With a few notable exceptions, almost everyone I served with during the first Gulf war have already retired.

I was surprised a few years ago when I ran into a CW4 still on active duty; He was an E-5 when I had last seen him previously in the late 80's.
 
And you just hit a key point....I think it is MOS/Unit dependent.

I spent my entire career in the Medical Corp....it was natural to deploy often and with a variety of units; the same can be said of most Combat Arms, CS, and CSS related jobs and units.
With a few notable exceptions, almost everyone I served with during the first Gulf war have already retired.

I was surprised a few years ago when I ran into a CW4 still on active duty; He was an E-5 when I had last seen him previously in the late 80's.

While Medics do tend to deploy a lot, that is also because (especially on active duty) they tend to bounce from unit to unit, so have many opportunities to do so. But you can also find those that are kept stateside almost their entire careers.

Heck, I met a sailor once in 1988 that had been in the Navy for 4 years, and had never seen the ocean. He went to Great Lakes for basic, then to another base in the Midwest for his A school. Then right back to Great Lakes. He had to request service with a marine unit to finally get stationed at the coast. I also grew up with a guy that retired a few years ago as a Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, and was never stationed on a ship until his last tour. He was an AV specialist, so while he had been aboard ship for making training and other films, he was never assigned ship duty until he insisted he would for his final tour.

And other than a few E-8 or O-6, I am one of the few in my unit now that was in during the Gulf War. 10 years ago most E-6 and Majors and above had been in then, but most of them have already long retired. Of course, my plan is not to retire until they force me out when I am 60. That is just 5 years away.
 
A promotion board of generals only decided Yeager should become a one-star general.

Now a promotion board of generals only have decided Yeager is qualified and capable to become a two-star general.


And who appoints a promotion board of generals to decide if a colonel becomes a general, or if a general merits another star? A board of generals decides. Who appoints the promotion board of generals? Generals appoint each promotion board of generals.

It's exactly the same in respect of admirals.

The recommendation of the promotion board for generals goes directly to the Senate. Potus signs off on it. No one involved asks for your input btw. The generals promotion board doesn't ask political affiliations if any and they don't talk politics. There's no being politically correct or politically incorrect. It's strictly general to general stuff (or admiral to admiral stuff) which is how it should be, must be, and is. In contrast, it's here and at places like it where we get the politics and the personal prejudices. It's just the way these thingys are, that's all.
 
I don't see any combat experience. Would you hire someone to build you a house who had never built a house? Just asking.

Eh, nowadays divisions are strategic formations, not tactical, so the lack of experience in combat isn't really a big deal. Modern day divisions are large and complex organizations, with the ability to manage and coordinate being the most important skill sets to have.

And to be honest, brigade and battalion commanders have a far bigger impact on the performance of the rank and file than Generals do.

"Ah! the Generals! they are numerous, but not good for much!" - Aristophanes
 
Eh, nowadays divisions are strategic formations, not tactical, so the lack of experience in combat isn't really a big deal. Modern day divisions are large and complex organizations, with the ability to manage and coordinate being the most important skill sets to have.

And to be honest, brigade and battalion commanders have a far bigger impact on the performance of the rank and file than Generals do.

"Ah! the Generals! they are numerous, but not good for much!" - Aristophanes

The only general I was ever within meters of was the inspector general. Once, my boot polish (cheater stuff) was still wet (extra boots on top of the closet). I ****ed that white glove up good.
 
The only general I was ever within meters of was the inspector general. Once, my boot polish (cheater stuff) was still wet (extra boots on top of the closet). I ****ed that white glove up good.

:lamo


White no more!
 
:lamo

White no more!

I thought for sure I was getting a company article 15. I have no idea how nothing happened. You shoulda seen the IG's face when he pulled his hand back and the palm was black. I 'bout laughed, but no one else thought it was funny. I guess they laughed later.
 
Back
Top Bottom