Alice Vol. 3 No. 2

cial implementation of the law in 2016
opened up a new era of female participation
in combat – an era free from any
preexisting barriers and one that continues
to create controversy.
Female veterans and other supporters
applauded the change they found to be
long overdue, but even the historical evidence
of women’s vital strength during
times of war by no means silenced critics
who continue to question whether
they truly have a place on the battlefield.
Following the passing of this bill, The
Washington Post reported that critics
claimed the “integration during deployments
could create a distracting, sexually
charged atmosphere in the force and
that women are unable to perform some
of the more physically demanding jobs.”
The women with boots on the ground
beg to differ.
Kaity Klinghard is a 19-year-old freshman
at The University of North Alabama.
It wasn’t until recruiters from the U.S.
Army Reserves came to her high school
that she even considered pursuing the
military track. She “jokingly” submitted
her name on a whim. A few conversations
later, and she was convinced. Immediately
following graduation, Klinghard attended
basic training at Fort Jackson in
South Carolina and went on to complete
her Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
requirements. After finalizing her training
as a combat medic, she is now set to
be deployed in July of 2018.
Klinghard agrees that the debate
over women’s rightful role in combat is
a complex one. She said that even opinions
among military women themselves
are mixed. While she isn’t quite sure
which side of the argument she falls on,
she does not doubt her fellow servicewomen’s
ability to take on the challenges
that combat positions present.
“Obviously I believe that women can
do anything that men can do and that
we shouldn’t be judged based on our
gender,” Klinghard said. “Those are dangerous
positions. It doesn’t matter if it’s
men or women. We need the strongest
people out there, so whatever is best
for the mission [and] whatever is best
for the country, I feel like is what needs
to happen.”
Klinghard said that women definitely
have to put in the extra effort it takes
to prove themselves in a field that is still
predominantly male. She finds strength
in her ability to overcome preconceived
notions regarding her physical capabilities
as a woman. She said she loved seeing
the looks on the men’s faces when she
was able to lift a 250 pound man during
training. She spoke of the memory with
an obvious sense of pride.
“That was one of my favorite parts of
training – being able to prove myself and
prove that I am able to do anything that
they can do,” Klinghard said.
Klinghard said her young military
journey has taught her invaluable lessons
about allowing herself to pursue
opportunities and relationships that
challenge her. It is these same shared
experiences and the overcoming of
odds that continue to empower military
women as their roles evolve. While 2016
brought the elimination of all remaining
legal stipulations, the glass ceiling for female
progression in the national defense
realm still lingers. America has only just
begun to scratch the surface of what it
means to fight like a girl. Yet at the core
of every good underdog story is a heart
like Klinghard’s and the thousands upon
thousands of women warriors who have
gone before her – history-makers whose
hearts and eyes are set on the fact that
the past, present and future of this
nation is most certainly female.
66 Alice Spring 2018