November 02, 2020
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the U.S. Military
As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s coffin was carried up the steps of the Capitol to lie in state in September, the soldiers who carried the first woman to be so honored were led by another woman of distinction: U.S. Army Capt. Shaye Haver, company commander, 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment — the famed “Old Guard” responsible for funerals and other ceremonial duties in the nation’s capital. Haver was one of the first women to complete the Army’s Ranger School, closed to women until 2015. While Army Rangers are sometimes referred to as “door kickers,” in many ways it was Ginsburg who kicked open doors Haver would later walk through.
Today’s military has become more equitable since the start of the all-volunteer force in 1972 when the military draft, which was purely male, was no longer relied upon to fill the ranks. Much of that progress has been due to Ginsburg.
Many Americans are familiar with Ginsburg’s legacy as an attorney, judge, and Supreme Court justice. In addition, a number of the cases she tried and judged emerged from U.S. military policy and had a direct impact on the men and women who serve. The Department of Defense has sometimes used national security and military readiness as excuses to maintain discriminatory practices, such as the limit on women’s service to two percent of military end strength until 1967. Today’s military has become more equitable since the start of the all-volunteer force in 1972 when the military draft, which was purely male, was no longer relied upon to fill the ranks. Much of that progress has been due to Ginsburg.
Read the full article in War on the Rocks.
More from CNAS
-
Sharper: Trump 2.0
Commentary
Donald Trump's return to the White House is widely expected to reshape America's global priorities. With personnel choices and policy agendas that mark a significant break fro...
By Charles Horn & Gwendolyn Nowaczyk
-
Episode 7: Kate Kuzminski, CNAS
Podcast
Kate Kuzminski is Deputy Director of Studies and Director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She is an expert on ...
By Katherine L. Kuzminski
-
US waited too long to withdraw from Afghanistan
Commentary
There was no good way for the United States to exit the failed war in Afghanistan....
By Paul Scharre
-
Military Analyst: U.S. Trained Afghan Forces For A Nation That Didn't Exist
Podcast
NPR's Don Gonyea speaks with analyst Jason Dempsey about why, after years of U.S. military training and billions of dollars, the Afghan military has proven unable to stand up ...
By Dr. Jason Dempsey
