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

[SQUID]

More women the better.

[upchuck]

South Carolina
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[CPT Clay]

Wonder what happened to her. She was on Free Republic often.

[Redmen4ever]

Katherine lost in the first round of voting in the Republican primary, and immediately endorsed fellow Tea Party Republican Tim Scott, who won the run-off and the general election. So, it wasn’t a bad loss.

[WVNan]

I remember her being active before she ran for Senate. She was a good Freeper, who fought the good fight during Clinton’s “animal house”.

[exit82]

God bless her and all our brave military and their families.

It is time to bring all the troops all.

Afghanistan is not worth one more American life. Not one.

[stuartcr]

Better to have her as the only one, than no one.

[rollo tomasi]

“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.”

Yes they could, it's called establishing your will; tactics that were lost under the United States warfare pamphlet right after V-J Day. “If you want us out of here quickly, cooperate with us, we are not here to claim your territory. If not, enjoy being our enemy.”

[WOBBLY BOB]

they can all pretend to be “combat troops” when they all sign up for the draft and pass the same PT test the men have to pass.

[silverleaf]

Yeah theres the ticket to domiunation and victory....
“establish our will” by our male soldiers forcibly searching muslim women and children

Like it or not- that is one place we the USA cannot and should not go when occupying a country like Afghanistan

And God Bless the brave women of the FET’s (Lionesses) who, among other missions, handle the women and children while their homes are being searched and their men are being seized and interrogated by combat troops. The way to peace in the long run will be when muslim women decide the lives of their children are more important than killing infidels.

http://www.battlefieldtourist.com/content/2009/08/16/team-lioness/

http://feraljundi.com/855/military-news-the-marine-corps-lioness-program-and-counter-insurgency/

[rollo tomasi]

“Yeah theres the ticket to domiunation and victory...

Yes, that is the ticket to winning war and not wasting resources likie we continue to do in Afghan.

The US has been there how many years? COIN does not work mainly because in order for that strategy to even begin to be successful 300,000 more troops would probably be needed.

Also, Afghan is basically a “welfare State” on an international level. The civis hate the NATO forces as well as the Taliban but will gladly open up their hands to both groups in exchange for their resources. Basically you can't trust any civilian over there.

My wife goes to that hellhole early next year. And you know what the central attitude is; unless the Continental United States embraces Islam (As a way of life), their mantra will still be “Kill all the Americans, protect Islam”. That is their battle cry over there.

Are you ready to assimilate, forgo your way of life and embrace Islam. Come on, do your part, it's for the COIN pipe dream.

10 years and we still are stuck on stupid in regards to how to defeat radical Islam (Hint, they won't embrace the West “for their children). Their belief in the Islamic afterlife is a hard nut to crack. Allah worshipers only respond to force, Jefferson found that out very quickly as did Charles Martel.

[odds]

I think silverleaf’s point is distinct to yours, is in the context of this thread i.e. FET’s serving in Afghanistan & their mission as part of the overall US military.

Although, you make valid points too, which beg a *closeR* look at history, and cultural factors existing in Afghanistan, *way before* last 10 yrs, inclusive of the Taliban, and how they came to be.

Yes, Afghanistan is a “welfare state”. To move Afghanistan to a “Capitalist State” will take much longer, if not a lost cause. Equally, Afghan history, as that of other parts of the world is different to the USA. So, Americans & generally those from the West must understand that (the exact) same rules do not and may never apply to others (East or West).

When you get some time, read the detailed post (#20) in this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2723014/posts?page=20;q=1#20

[Van Jenerette]

email FROM: Katherine Jenerette
I was super fortunate to serve part of my tour of duty with the 5/1 ‘MSH’ CAV at Frontenac. I was presented my ‘Combat Spurs’ while serving with them. They are by far some of my favorite soldiers! But, I have met fantastic soldiers all over Afghanistan. Great guys with top-notch leadership. I know this sounds corny and all, but I really mean it; when I think of those soldiers I get goose bumps bec...ause they are what makes America so great. Those soldiers, and soldiers like SGG Beem are the reasons I serve - I want to be on a team full of the Real Deal! I like hanging out with brave people. Here is a short story about one of them – SSG Brian Beem:

Cavalry amputee re-enlists in Afghanistan
By Sgt. Thomas Duval, 1-25th SBCT PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FRONTENAC, Afghanistan — The U.S. Army defines selfless service as putting the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates above your own...(read more) http://www.usarak.army.mil/Main/Stories_Archives/Nov14-18-2011/111114_FS2.asp

[ErnBatavia]

Great stuff bump! I urge FReepers to check Van’s home page.

[odds]

Terrific, thank you for that.