Erika Lopez, first Tenn. woman to enlist for combat role, goes AWOL from Army (now deserter)

The Washington Times ^ | February 4, 2016 | Kellan Howell

[jazusamo]

The first woman in Tennessee and the fourth in the nation to enlist as a combat engineer in the Army went AWOL last month and is now considered a deserter, according to a military spokesperson.

Erika Lopez made headlines in July when she enlisted for a role that could put her on the front lines of battle, just after the U.S. Army lifted its ban on women in combat roles.

Ms. Lopez was in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, by September but was placed on convalescent leave by the end of the year, according to a local CBS affiliate.

[jazusamo]

Erika: But it was just too hard and no fun at all.

[Gamecock]

**was placed on convalescent leave**

Stress Fractures?

[dfwgator]

“See, I did join the army, but I joined a *different* army. I joined the one with the condos and the private rooms.”

[Lion Den Dan]

Training at Ft. Leonard Wood is lots easier than say at Ft. Benning. I can not fathom a woman thinking that she would have the physical strength and stamina to be a combat engineer, though.

[jazusamo]

Very possibly so.

[BridgeOutAhead]

She should be back in 3-5 days and then run away again in about 28 days. Repeat

[jstaff]

I spent two weeks on crutches during basic there, yep, stress fractures. No convalescent leave, just a 10 minute head start when we had to walk any where, which was just about every where.

Lost In The Woods, where chiggers and copperhead rule.

[nascarnation]

[txnativegop]

Having done Basic training at Leonard Wood, I would disagree. but as to the rest of your comment, I agree.

[Jack Hammer]

It all sounds very macho and all ‘liberated’ to tell your girlfriends and family members that you’re ‘in combat.’

Then you see your comrades-in-arms, your buddies, in smoking, bleeding chunks on the ground screaming out their last breath, and suddenly it’s not all fun and games.

Something to think about for all those women who believe they’d like to be in combat.

[Gamecock]

This little bitty thing wants thought she could be a Comabt Engineer?

___________________________________________________________________

[the_individual2014]

I was at Fort Leonard Wood in 2004-2005, I hated it, so damn boring and dull it was.

[yarddog]

[Gamecock]

I would encourage her to go back into the Army... There she’ll get the structure and the discipline she needs right now... And she’ll have qualified officers telling her what to do...

[gaijin]

Middle, yes, but check out the BLIMP there on the right, wow..! What a FAT officer.

That's ridiculous.

[Spunky]

Do they know for a fact that she is still alive?

[Gamecock]

Now a days they will send trainees home on con leave for severe stress fractures.

[katana]

Is Leavenworth coed?

[Larry Lucido]

Is there such thing as a combat architect?

[jazusamo]

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