Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is making sure to draw attention to the plight of fired female Marine commander Kate Germano.
Brig. Gen. Terry Williams, the base commander at Parris Island, relieved Lt. Col. Kate Germano from command of the 4th Recruit Training Battalion in June for alleged abusive and unprofessional behavior, Marine Corps Times reports.
Her supporters believe that she may have been relieved for using unorthodox methods to bolster the physical fitness and marksmanship of female Marines. Since then, Germano has been in contact with members of Congress, in an effort to obtain some amount of redress. She has elected not to reveal who she has chosen to contact. (RELATED: Fired Female Commander Asks Congress For Support)
Last week, however, Sen. Gillibrand brought up Germano’s case during Lt. Gen. Robert Neller’s confirmation hearing to become 37th commandant of the Marine Corps. (RELATED: The Russians Don’t Want To See US Citizens Dead. Terrorists Do, Top Marine Nominee Says)
“I know that in the case of Col. Kate Germano, she was trying to create even tougher requirements for them so that they could meet standards,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said at Neller’s hearing, referring to her very forward training methods for female Marines. “As you look at your standard review, and as you look as to whether you’re going to … ask for a waiver for any positions today, I would urge you not to seek waivers.”
“Because all you’re saying is that there’s no one who can meet the standard today. But if we begin to create tougher standards to come into the Marines, to make them gender neutral, you will have women who can meet those standards,” she continued. “They just might not be able to make the standard today. So asking for a waiver says under no circumstances can any women ever meet these standards. I caution you not to take that action.”
Neller was noncommittal about waivers, saying in response that he hasn’t seen all the data yet. He did not mention Germano.
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