5.10.2010

tammy duckworth on leadership


This is a couple of weeks old, but I wanted to share this cool video, from the Washington Post's "On Leadership" series, of Iraq war veteran and Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth: Tammy Duckworth on being 'mommy platoon leader.'


She talks about lessons she learned as a platoon leader -- serving hot chocolate, of all things. She also says it's time to get over the discussion of whether or not women should be in combat -- they already are, and she's living proof:
The fact of the matter is, it's a dead issue. Women are already in combat. I'm pretty sure I was in combat when I got hit with a rocket-propelled grenade. I have a combat action badge. The reality of the facts on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan are that women are in combat.
In 2004, Duckworth lost both her legs when the Black Hawk helicopter she was flying in Iraq was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Today, she's an inspiring, strong symbol of women in military leadership. More here: Duckworth: Asians, Pacific-islanders help keep Army strong.

angry archive