EXCLUSIVE: Captain Katherine Jenerette Gives A Woman’s View From Afghanistan

The Kitchen Cabinet ^ | November 18, 2011 | Editor

[Van Jenerette]

EXCLUSIVE: Captain Katherine Jenerette Gives A Woman’s View From Afghanistan

About Katherine: Katherine Jenerette is Captain in the US Army Reserve and a paratrooper from North Myrtle Beach, SC. She is serving with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division ‘Task Force Arctic Wolves’ in the Horn of Panjwa’i in one of the most volatile districts in Kandahar Province (and Afghanistan). She is a former U.S. Congressional Field Representative for South Carolina’s First District and a North Myrtle Beach Planning Commissioner and was a Candidate for US Congress in 2010. Katherine was recently name as one of THE 45 MOST ADMIRED REPUBLICAN WOMEN UNDER 45 by The Republican Security Council based in Washington, D.C.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

It’s just past noon in Kandahar Province. The November sky is extremely blue unlike the summer haze we’ve grown accustomed. I thought it would never get cooler. I’m tucked away on a small outpost in the Horn of Panjwa’i; in an area of operation that belonged to the Canadians before they left this past summer.

We’ve lost four soldiers in our area of Kandahar in the last few days. The Taliban haven’t slowed down with the winter coming on and it seems every time we move one step forward securing this district the Taliban get really pissed. They know as long as we are here, we are winning which means they are losing. It’s just back and forth and you don’t stop thinking about the four soldiers lost this week and all the others from the past few months in our AO.

Some things you don’t want to get used to.

This is my second combat tour; my first was a gazillion years ago. I joined the Army at 19-years old and after Iraq invaded Kuwait I was deployed in Operation Desert Storm with the US 3rd Armored Division.

Since I arrived in Afghanistan this past March I’ve done a lot of different things at a lot of different operational levels from the ground up. I’ve been on an 'oh-dark-thirty' Air Assault mission on Chinooks into remote villages in Kandahar’s Baghtu valley, took part in governance meetings at the Provincial level of Kandahar, did foot patrols in Kandahar City and mounted operational missions in Panjwa’i, worked with our FET (Female Engagement Teams), attended Shuras with former Taliban who were ‘reintegrating’ and switching sides, to where I am now – working with the State Department, USAID and a small military governance team advising and working with a District Governor who fought against the Soviets as a member of the Mujahedeen in the 1980's when he was a young man.

Constant war is the backdrop of everything in Afghanistan. For the children and the young people it is all they have known for their entire lives.

That’s pretty rough. I only hope I am making a dent in making things better along with some of the bravest and finest young American men and women I have ever met.

It’s been a quiet day so far and to look at the Afghans this morning you’d think it was the dead of winter in New York or some other really cold northern state. They are all bundled up in their traditional clothes and a winter coat or blanket and here and there, a knit hat. For us Americans it’s a welcome change from the relentless heat of the summer. It makes wearing all our ‘battle rattle’ gear and body armor a little less uncomfortable.

There’s a lot to do here.

My best to all back home in the USA,

Katherine

Photo: US Army Capt Katherine Jenerette on Air Assault Mission, Kandahar Province 2011

[The SISU kid]

1 a.m. in the morning BUMP...

[Tainan]

Well...OK....keep Momma safe.

[Rummyfan]

25th ID.... that’s my son’s unit. Hu - ah.

[wita]

Thanks for sharing. The only thing I found missing from the van Jenerette page, was where the eldest/only son is serving after graduating from the USAF Academy.

[Bobalu]

She is very cool!

Please God...keep her and everyone with her safe....amen

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Was/is her Dad a former congressman?

[David Isaac]

No one sees a problem with women in combat???? Is she going to be able to pick up and carry your 230 pound son (father, brother) when he is wounded and she is the only one available to carry him to safety. My son is also a Captain in the Army and served with the 25th in Iraq. I fear for the safety of our country with the present attitude in the armed forces, especially the command structure.

AMAZED and HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED

[brent13a]

Is she going to be able to pick up and carry your 230 pound son (father, brother) when he is wounded and she is the only one available to carry him to safety.

To be fair I served in the Marine Infantry with guys who couldn't carry me if he was the only one available.
The question to ask is: "Is she willing to defend you to the last bullet if you're laying their wounded." if she is a warrior then I'm ok with that. Not every dude in the Army or Marines is a he-man nor is there always a way out from the area you're wounded in either.
It sounds like she is a true warrior and I'd be ok with her. But there are plenty of females that do not need to be there.

[Bratch]

[sodpoodle]

Yes - Democrat - see here:

http://www.jenerette.com/senate/press/press_release_050206.html

[sodpoodle]

CORRECTION - NOT her DAD!!! related, perhaps - but see additional info from here:

http://www.jenerette.com/2010_bio/

Katherine’s father was a career military man and as an Army dependent she lived and traveled the world including a total of eight years in Europe.

[silverleaf]

bttt

[silverleaf]

If there were no women in “combat” your all-male army would not be able to body search, handle, touch or even engage in conversation with females in the Afghan civilian society.

“Female engagment teams”

For once in combat history, women are going and doing what no man can.

[maine yankee]

If you can do the job better, put on a uniform and go to it.

[FES0844]

No one sees a problem with women in combat????

Only if they’re leaving children at home. Heartbreaking.

[odds]

Good point.

[SECURE AMERICA]

No one sees a problem with women in combat???? NO.

Is she going to be able to pick up and carry your 230 pound son (father, brother) when he is wounded and she is the only one available to carry him to safety. MAYBE, MAYBE NOT. COULD YOU? CAN EVERY OTHER SOLDIER IN THE UNIT?

My son is also a Captain in the Army and served with the 25th in Iraq. I fear for the safety of our country with the present attitude in the armed forces, especially the command structure. I THANK YOUR SON FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR NATION.

NOW MAYBE YOU CAN BE OF SERVICE TO THE NATION AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE INTELLIGENT THEN CAN THIS WOMEN PICK UP A 230 WOUNDED SOLDIER.

[Timber Rattler]

Got news for you Dave---Katherine is the REAL deal and has YEARS of airborne and in-theater experience. I guarantee that she can knock you across the room. So what have you done for your country lately?

BTW, it was a crying shame that Katherine lost her congressional bid a few years back. She would have been one heck of a TEA Party leader in the GOP House caucus.

[Scotsman will be Free]

True, brent. The problem is, however, that PC rules and fear of offending higherups that order that women be successful results in unqualified women(and men)being left in place rather than removed. I saw it repeatedly in the army and LE.
Secondly, mixing women and men, especially in high stress situations, is always a mistake.
I am very thankful that we had no females in the infantry.