WBAMC recognizes women, diversity in the military

Photo By Marcy Sanchez | Col. Sandra LaFon, acting commander, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, presents a token of appreciation to Dr. Guillermina Núñez-Mchiri, associate professor of Anthropology and interim director of Women and Gender Studies, The University of Texas at El Paso, during the annual Women's Equality Day Observance at WBAMC, Aug. 18.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

08.25.2016

Story by Marcy Sanchez  

William Beaumont Army Medical Center

William Beaumont Army Medical Center held a Women’s Equality Day Observance in recognition of the struggles women endured acquiring equal rights, Aug. 18.

Since 1972, August 26th has been proclaimed as Women’s Equality Day by the president to commemorate the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. This year’s observance welcomed Dr. Guillermina Núñez-Mchiri, an associate professor of Anthropology and interim director of Women and Gender Studies, The University of Texas at El Paso.

“Oftentimes, the lessons that we learn come from the women in our families,” said Núñez-Mchiri. “It’s important to recognize that we have their DNA in us, that we have the lessons and the traumas of our ancestors.”

In the Army, women have served alongside men since the Revolutionary War, although most were disguised as males. Almost 30 years before congress began deliberating the integration of females into combat roles, Capt. Linda Bray led 30 Soldiers with the 988th Military Police Company into combat in Panama to seize an enemy objective in support of Operation Just Cause in 1989.

“It is important to get to know your own story and the story of your ancestors, to be open to the stories of others, to seek to understand and to build the bridges that we need to build to hopefully have a more equitable society at home and at work,” said Núñez-Mchiri.

The integration of women in the Army is evident in recent years as an increasing number of women have taken great leadership roles from commanders, leaders and doctors to aviators, special operations and combat troops. In addition, women and men are now given the same opportunity to succeed and be selected, regardless of gender, to effectively perform the physically demanding tasks of occupations such as infantry, armor, field artillery and combat engineer occupations.

“If we are not inclusive as women, we are cheating our own successes as a nation,” said Núñez-Mchiri. “We cannot afford to only invest in our (nation’s) sons. We have to invest equally in our (nation’s) daughters as well.”

Between May 2012 and October 2015, the Army led all services in gender integration by opening more than 95,000 positions and nine occupations to women. In 2015, three Soldiers became the first women to complete Army Ranger School, one of the most demanding leadership schools in the United States military.

During the presentation, Núñez-Mchiri, recognized the women who initiated women’s suffrage movement and local female pioneers who have made an impact in the community. Núñez-Mchiri also spoke on the meaning of feminism and what it means to her: an opportunity for equal rights and the will to stand up and struggle in order to speak up for women’s respect and support for equity.

“There are things (women) are thinking about that no one is thinking about,” said Núñez-Mchiri. “(Women) bring something special to the table (that may) bring systematic change.”

• Date Taken: 08.25.2016
• Date Posted: 08.25.2016 17:36
• Story ID: 208237
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US