European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 columns the stars and stripes Molly Moore the sensitive Issue of the role of military women two recent policy decisions illustrate the Pentagon s continuing efforts to define the role of women in today s armed forces and its uneasiness in dealing with the Issue s political sensitivities. The air Force after a 10-month review opened new transport aircraft jobs to women and will now allow female pilots and Crew members to participate in air drop missions such As those conducted in the recent invasion of Panama. The army after More than a year of debate has again postponed partly because of the controversy Over the role of women in Panama a decision on whether women will be allowed to remain in Field Artil Lery positions. The air Force decision opened jobs on its c-130 transport planes which comprise 39 percent of the Mil itary Airlift come Force to women. In addition women pilots and air Crew members inmost air Force transport planes will be allowed to participate in Airdrop missions in which cargo or troops arc dropped by Parachute according to a Mac spokesman. Capt. Tom Dolincy. The air Force previously has allowed women Lofland Crew a mis on routine flights but barred them from participating in Airdrop missions. As a result some women left the transport aircraft Field in frustration because the prohibition effectively prevented them from getting the kind of experiences they needed to compete with men for promotions. Just four Days before president Bush issued his order to invade Panama the air Force decided that women should be allowed to accompany their units on major Field exercises and missions determining that those operations do not fall under the defense department s risk Rule that establishes the criteria foreclosing jobs to women according to the Mac spokes Man. The air Force review determined that while Airdrop missions May be conducted in a combat environment those Craft face a lesser risk than fighter planes or other combat aircraft with missions to attack the enemy air Force officials said. But the officials note that the flights particularly noncombat support missions arc not risk free pointing up the contradictions in the Laws and rules barring women from combat jobs. Because none of the women had time to take the training course to qualify for such a Mission no women participated in Airdrop missions to Panama air Force officials said. Some women however did Pilot and Crew c-141transports on runway landings the officials said. The Airlift come played a major role ferrying troops and James j. Kilpatrick /.,/6um Aier comes m we we Toai equipment on More than 500 missions during the pan Ama operation. The air Force also decided that women will be Al Lowed to Fly and serve As Crew members on the new c 17 transport. Budget constraints May prevent that aircraft from Ever entering the Force however military officials say. Of the 4,848 pilots flying for the command 96 arc women. The 4,838 enlisted air Crew members include111 women. In contrast the role that some women played in Panama has prompted the army to delay its Deci Sion on whether women should be allowed to remaining its Field artillery jobs one of the few combat related Fields open to women in the army. After the Field had been open to women the army in 1988 decided some of the jobs were Loo close to the front lines of combat and closed them to women. In addition arms control agreements abolished the per Shing missiles in Europe which have women on their Bunch Crews. As a result the Small number of slots remaining open to women sharply restricts their chances to and Vance according to army officials. Top level army officials have vigorously debated the Issue for More than a year. The proposal is await ing final action by army Secretary Michael . Stone. After reports that women officers and troops in Mili tary police units performed Well after encountering hostile fire and snipers during operations in . Patricia Schmo Cdr a Colo. Announced she will introduce legislation this year requiring the army to open jobs in some of its combat units to women on an experimental basis. Several army officials said Stone May await the outcome of that congressional debate to decide Thefield artillery Issue. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said last week that he does not believe women should be allowed to serve in combat jobs. My own personal View is that the current system is about right Cheney told reporters at a Houston news conference. We be worked to expand Opportunity for women As much As possible. It s a continuing process of opening up various occupational specialities where we think it s  c the Washington Post vindictive action against Marine do is chilling in july 1988. The Marine corp court Martiale a sergeant named Cheryl Jameson. A Drill inspector at Parris is land. . She pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in a lesbian relationship witha former recruit. She was sentenced to a year in prison demoted to private Addis honorable discharged. This is not a column about  is a column about another woman in the marines former staff  Rene Hilinski. After 11 years in the corps she Loo was effectively bounced out. She was deprived of her supplementary pay As a Drill instructor and subjected to a negative report in her file. Whal was Hilinski s offence she Testi fied truthfully before the court martial. Her superiors had no interest in  sole concern was with her Opin ions and when her opinions did no match i hair opinions so much for sgt. Hilinski. Off with her head. In february 1989. Seven months after the trial. Hilinski left the corps a few weeks ago she filed suit in an obscure defense Agency the Board for correction of Navy records. She asks for restitution of $1.320 in Back pay As a do and for restoration of her Good service  the circumstances it is Little enough to ask. This is what the record shows. Yea Rafler year from the Lime of her enlist ment in 1977, Hilinski received out standing evaluations. She Rose steadily through the enlisted ranks. From 1982through 1984 she served As a Drill instructor at Parris Island. Her command ing officer said of her sgt. Hilinski contributes a Matu Rity dependability and knowledge of re in a pressurized environment. He intuitive and intellectual capabilities when combined with her thorough knowledge of recruit training result in consistently sound judgment. This co s growth As a Marine is limited Only by Billet As her potential is pro found in january 1987, Hilinski began he second tour of duty As a Drill instructor. A year later she was made depot inspector. Her fitness reports were in the same vein. Her judgment is  consistently displays exemplary  during a period of four months in1987. Hilinski shared do duties with Jameson. Just before the court martial Jameson s defense attorney interviewed her. She was subpoenaed to testify As character witness. On july 14, 1988, Hilinski appeared before the court mar tial. Q did you have an Opportunity to observe sgt. Jameson s performance of duty a yes sir. Q How did she do in performance of those duties a very Well very competent Drill instructor. Q would you be willing to work with sgt. Jameson again a yes very much so. Counsel asked a leading question you certainly Don t agree with what she has pled guilty to what she has done Hilinski responded sir i am not even sure what she s being charged  q of she s being charged with hav ing a homosexual relationship with a re Cruit Afler the recruit graduated. A Well since the homosexual affair did t happen while she was training the recruit then i have no bad opinion of  Cross examination the prosecutor asked a sarcastic question so Homo sexual activity Between superiors and subordinates in your opinion is of inthe Marine corps a no sir it is  Days later Hilinski lost her do Job. Spokesmen for the corps do no deny that she was disciplined in Retalia Tion for her testimony but they put indifferently she was relieved of her duty As a result of loss of Confidence by  Hilinski had condoned a Drill instructor s sexual relationship witha recruit. Nan Hunter an attorney with the american civil liberties Union in new York has taken Hilinski s Case. She Chal Lenges the corps action As an unconstitutional violation of the sergeant s right of free speech. Of course it is. And the vindictive action is some thing More. It will have a chilling influence on every corps witness before Acourt martial hereafter. This simply is no Way to treat enlisted personnel. Somebody s higher up head should Roll. Ounce jul Preu syn Liciu