Yesterday, the U.S. Army reached a milestone, as the first ever female soldier was nominated 
to become a General, the Army’s highest rank. Lt. General Ann Dunwoody was nominated by Secretary Gates to take over Army Materials Command. Her nomination awaits only senate confirmation before she pins on that fourth star.
Lt. Gen. Dunwoody will be the first four star General in all of the military services, not just the Army, in the history of our nation.
In the military there has been a glass ceiling with regards to high general officer rank. It has been an unstated requirement that to receive a fourth star, and often even a third, a general officer had to have served in combat units. As women are barred from serving in combat line units, this has prevented them from gaining the necessary command experience to be considered for the top levels of General Officer ranks. Currently, there are only two three star Generals in the Army who are female, of which Dunwoody is one.
Lt. Gen. Dunwoody said “I grew up in a family that didn’t know what glass ceilings were. This nomination only reaffirms what I have known to be true about the military throughout my career – that the doors continue to open for men and women in uniform.”
It is part of my practice on this blog to salute our military when it transcends itself. So, to the Army and to Lt. Gen…. soon to be Gen. Dunwoody, this lowly Second Lieutenant wants to send out a loud and thunderous AIRBORNE!!!
Yours in Faith,
David