I was on an extended field exercise with a group of senior ROTC cadets. This was a new experience for me- since I was an Infantry officer, and this was my first experience with a co-ed unit. A couple of hours after the unit had flown in and was setting up defensive positions, 2 female cadets came back to the rear where I was sitting. One asked “Sir- is there a porta-potty back here?”
I pointed at a fire-break trail, said “Think there is one about 600 meters that way.” Cadet looked at me, said “Sir- that’s too damned far!”
I said “Cadet- there are bushes about 20 meters to my rear- and I’m an officer and a gentleman.” “Sounds good, sir. Thank you.”
Last time the question came up. You learn to do what you need to do.
Actually, this is a legitimate problem on field maneuvers. Men can just head for the tree line or duck behind a truck if they want some privacy, but women, being women, have a problem with dropping trou and squatting (or leaning against a tree) where they could be suddenly interrupted or observed.
As a result, our female cadre tried to solve the problem by just not hydrating—obviously, this could be a problem especially in hot weather, and it put females at increased risk for becoming dehydrated and/or heat casualties.
Porta-potties were provided when possible, but it wasn’t always possible. My unit solved it by having latrine tents for the females or, if no other alternative existed, designated “nature calls” when all males were present and accounted for and the females were given free rein to commune with mother nature while still preserving whatever token of modesty was possible.
Rarely, we had a female who simply couldn’t care less and found the nearest tree or truck to lean against—we would simply turn our backs until she was done.
Addendum: As I answered multiple respondents, I was addressing the question as asked based on my personal experience as a medical officer with 25 years of service in the Army including two deployments to combat zones in the M.E. and numerous field exercises.
The comments have varied from informative (for which I thank the respondents) to faux-macho from males claiming that female service members either have no place serving or are an unnecessary “burden” when they do to the blatantly misogynistic dimwits who apparently think females should be relegated to kitchen duty only.
As I’ve repeatedly pointed out, our military is currently 20% female, we couldn’t mobilize or deploy or effectively carry out the military’s functions without them and they have served admirably in multiple roles in all five branches and at all ranks up to and including general staff.
Since the comments are getting increasingly asinine from the knuckle draggers among us, I’ve decided to do something I’ve never done before—disable comments altogether.
While I was deployed to Kuwait, we did long haul missions throughout Iraq. This meant driving around 12–20 hours at a time in caiman m-rap+ vehicles, which accommodate around 10–12 soldiers but were not equipped with any sort of way to use the bathroom.
I was the only female in the cavalry unit I was deployed with going on missions, therefore they didn’t quite think to go over the process of how to do so while I had two male soldiers in my truck, along with about 6–8 other of our trucks and at least 40 semi trucks with male drivers, usually on contracts from other Indian countries.
After one mission after driving for about 6 hours, I told my truck commander that I didn’t think I could hold it any longer.. He asked if I’d be able to use a Gatorade bottle with the truck moving and I said probably not. We had to communicate through the radio that we needed to stop.
After stopping-with full body armor on and my m-4 on hand, I had to get out of the truck with two male soldiers on guard, not far from Baghdad- I would literally squat while trying to hold up my body armor so there was no mess 😆 and for periods? I was on nexplanon which thankfully made my periods stop.
The men in my unit were SO protective of me, literally keeping me in their tent at the different military bases to avoid the kidnappings and car jackings that were going on, plus when we would get mortar attacks on base, they would be able to know I was safe.
I was comfortable with it and so we’re they-not once was there a male soldier out of the 20–30 that were with who made me feel uncomfortable.
Editing to add that I do not know exactly which countries these people were from who were hired, I will say they were wonderful people with huge hearts and we’re ready to risk their lives along with the rest of us.
Also-those of you saying how weird it is that they were “forced to stop to accommodate the only female in their convoy” should understand that I was still typically required to hold it quite a few hours and there were times where it wasn’t safe to stop so I used other options which were much more difficult.
When we did so, it was after the route was cleared if any immediate danger-not like the was a damn sniper firing at us while I’m forcing men to guard me just so I can piss, all in all there was only a handful of times I even got it to go instead of holding it because I felt like an ass not being able to pee in a bottle like everyone else-a if I get a hard enough time for just being a women from other male soldiers outside of my unit.
Lastly, I’m all for proving women are equal but that’s definitely not what I was it to prove. I joined the military in 2010, not even a year later I stepped foot in Iraq. I wasn’t even in the unit I was deployed with before I got my orders.
Multiple drivers vehicles were hijacked and were kidnapped, so when given the option to stay across the entire base in female housing or have a different section with my unit, I chose the obvious.
