Everyone was happy when the Obama Administration declared that women could serve in combat. This was a major stepping stone in equality and social justice! Take this one heartwarming story in Tennessee…
Great story, right? Uplifting. Girl power. #YesAllWomen, etc.
Here’s the rub…she went AWOL.
The first woman in Tennessee to enlist as a combat engineer in the Army went AWOL according to a military spokesperson. Local 8 News was first to tell you about Erika Lopez back in July of 2015. She made headlines when she enlisted for a job that could involve fighting on the front lines. The U.S. Army had just lifted its ban on women in combat roles when she walked into a recruiting office in Knoxville and decided to enlist as a combat engineer. Lopez was in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. An Army spokesperson tells Local 8 News that Private Lopez was scheduled to return from convalescent leave on January 4th. She was reported absent without leave (AWOL) on January 5th after she failed to return.
Spokesperson Tiffany Wood issued a statement saying, “After 30 days in an AWOL status, a Soldier is considered a deserter and a federal warrant is issued for his or her arrest. “
We’re not one’s to say we told you so. Well, except those times when we really couldn’t help it. The urge is sometimes unbearable. Hey, we all have our crosses.
So we’ll let Coach Rippetoe do it…
TOLD YOU SO! HAHAHAHAHA.
Couldn’t resist.
Look, does this mean all women who join the enlisted services will abandon their sworn duty? Of course not. But is it hilarious that the first woman who did enlist has gone completely missing? Yeah. We’re going to laugh about it. We’re going to laugh about it a lot. Not sorry. Are we going to make fun of Erika for ditching the military to get her hair done? No, that’s sexist. Manicure? SEXIST.

So how does one critizice a woman who just couldn’t hack it in the military? A wimp? A wuss? A coward? Hmmm…those are all words that are traditionally applied to men who lack certain anatomical features located somewhere below the belt. What do you call a woman who’s a chicken?
Jury’s still out. So, by the way, is Erika Lopez.
*UPDATE: American Hero Erika Lopez has since turned herself in since the writing of this post*
NOT SUBSCRIBED TO THE PODCAST? FIX THAT! IT’S COMPLETELY FREE ON BOTH ITUNES HERE AND SOUNDCLOUD HERE.

WE DIDN’T LISTEN
Here’s my question, is she missing from everywhere? Is it possible that some kind of harm has come to this young woman? If so,shame on you for your bashing her! Do you know for a fact she is fine somewhere else? If someone knows that, then they know where she is, and the Army would have arrested her by now. I just find it a bit strange,a convalescent leave doesn’t tell if it was for her or for a family member. was she ill or hurt? Has she not gotten better, and can not return? Not a very good article to reach any conclusion.
Here’s the thing. When you go AWOL, and, now, officially become a deserter, you generally don’t inform people of your status and whereabouts because then THEY WILL COME AND ARREST YOU, you libtard apologist! Go hug a Muslim, watch out for his suicide best, Buh bye!
Well, she turned herself in, and appears to be just fine. So apology canceled, I guess.
http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/02/05/woman-combat-engineer-awol/79881348/
No, she turned herself in. So I guess now you have to wait for the details of why she didn’t just, ya know, call her supervisor for 30 days….
Convelescent leave from Boot or from Engineer Training?
When I went through boot (three years ago) many people were sent home to heal.
Many of them did not come back……
If a male soldier went AWOL, you wouldn’t be asking that question. Get your head outta your ass.
My guess is she went home for Christmas Exodus and decided to just stay home. It was hard to go back to boot camp after being home for two weeks.
There’s the obvious. And then there’s the Liberal Left.
What does the liberal left have to do with anything? I am pretty far left with an exception of things like gun control and universal health care (unless done the right way) did 6 yrs and loved it. So knock the shit off with this left and right bullshit unless u Andre talking about Rosie and Palm.
My Uncle Ryder recently got a nearly new yellow Porsche Cayman from only workin part-time on a pc at home. browse around this site
You haven’t a clue as to what should happen.
Wow, a log of comments on here are very sympathetic. What did she think it was gonna be like? She got the publicity, but didn’t follow through. Should she suffer the consequences? Hell, yes. Did something “happen” to her, as one commenter suggested? She’s been missing for a month from service. Wouldn’t her family have come forward and say “Hey, we don’t know where she is. Please help us”? She bailed, and now she’s hiding. I don’t want someone like that protecting my country.
Now that the combat ban has been lifted, how about mandatory selective service registration for women. I haven’t seen or read about any feminist arguing for that.
Was she a “Dreamer”????
Taggart, you don’t want her protecting your country? At least she had the balls to try as you sit on your chair being a keyboard warrior.
You’re a wuss and a judgemental prick.
I bet you won’t last a day in bootcamp.
How do you know he didn’t served,went to boot camp, or can’t because of a illness or injury ? Now, who’s being a keyboard warrior huh ?
“Enlist in Combat” “join the enlisted services”
These are words that don’t mean things. One may enlist in the military. One may enlist to be a combat engineer. One may join a military branch via enlistment. But the use of these phrases means that the author has little to no understanding of the basic organization and structure of the US armed services.
I tend to agree with Steven on the broader issue here, and I like him in general, but when I read an article like this, I get irritated in the same way I do when I hear Sen. Kevin de León discuss firearms ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJmFEv6BHM0 ).
Look, as a member of the military, I like that civilians are taking some interest in military issues. But please educate yourself. It will make your articles more coherent. And they will sound a bit less like huffpo.
When I joined the army in 62–the all male hardcore US Army army had been doing fine for nearly 200-years–they fought and won the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, WW-I, WW-II, The Korean War and the Vietnam War. But–by the time I retired in 83–women, women women. The males getting laid the most often liked the integration of females just fine. Very expensive Child care centers for unwed military females began to spring up here in the states-and globally. Sexual harassment charges were brought to be resolved by commanders and Jag officers, NCO’s began seeing discipline problems among male & female troops never before encountered–military MORALS began to be ignored, fraternization became routine; and America’s largest whorehouse took shape– as old school senior enlisted soldiers retired early–sickened at the sight of the all new Volunteer INTEGRATED force. Today openly gay deviants serve freely–and Obama intends to force the acceptance of “Transgenders” into the ranks–all the while, the mission of the US Military is the same as always–meet and defeat the actual enemies of America on the battlefield. NOTE: The military is not about equality–military personnel are not even a part of democracy–soldiers are tools–Fodder–GI still means “Government Issue.” Civilians, without military experience, who have made decisions concerning integration of our forces should be arrested, tried and stand before a firing squad of female soldiers then the females should be discharged and given a pink ribbon for their short lived service.–but–that would require leadership that is sorely missing in and out of our armed forces.
Steven you are using a double standard would you say the same the thing if a man was AWOL. Naturally it is not fair to blame a program on a few failures it will evolve as they find women who can handle such demands.
This is what wo=MEN, in the military are all about! PENIS ENVY! All show & no go! wo=MEN, are a FAILED experiment in the military and should have NO RIGHT to be there! 60% of wo=MEN LIE about rape in the military…they are more flawed than MEN morally as the bible says!
Wow!In 1959 you got hurt in basic you didn’t go home to heal you stayed and were recycled through the next basic cycle! Defiantly gone soft!
The IDF, the Kurds and some Assyrian units have women in combat roles, and from what I’ve seen they’re all excellent fighters. Are American women different?
Yet, Crowder, you’ve yet to stuff those ostensibly giant balls of yours into a uniform and actually put your ass where your mouth seems to always be. You’ve got no business lecturing anyone, anywhere about courage.
She needs to be held to same standards as all military members. It is not a ‘pick and choose what to follow’ signing up. I also think that since it was pushed so hard that holding back from combat was descrimination – to point it was removed, that now makes women eligible to fight for their country, and so should be required to register for the draft. You want true equal opportunity? THAT is part of it. All or nothing, held to same standards without modifications or exceptions. Otherwise back it down. It is not sexist or descriminatory to have had the military the way it was. There were reasons, and most women agreed with them, but like always the outspoken, agenda pushing few can and have ruined it for all (their fault for allowing those few to speak on behalf if their quiet voices).
Someone did make a good point – may be best to have taken a wait and see approach. She could be in trouble. It won’t be a good look if it turns out foul play is involved.
shame on u some of them most powerful military members are woman maybe not in combat status but all military members serve n protect n risk there life in different ways n a woman can do anything a man can do matter fact in life itself woman can do more then men period so your sexiest n discriminating comments show how weak n sad u are n i sure hope u are not the guys how i should feel are making are country safe because weak minded individuals with bad judgement and a said outlook on equality are putting us in greater risk of harm. Should she pay for her actions of course but do not define all women based on one women’s lack of commitment all of you men who have posted disrespectful comments such ass i told you so n women don,t belong in combat and blah blah blah remember this without a women you MEN wouldn’t exists so you egotistical self righteous so called men should be ashamed of yourselves for you are not just disrespecting women in a whole you are disrespected the women that made your existences possible you should be real proud. I for one can say that if i were your mothers id slap u back to reality this world would be a hell whole bound for failure if women didn’t have enough courage to stand up and say we can and we will so you should all apologize to women specially your fellow services members and your mothers and i hope none of you men are fathers because your daughters will know n see your coward acts n be ashamed can you men say your prepared to fail your own!!!!!! Women have made some of the most powerful changes in this world yet we do not gloat or say lets see a man do that and we sure as hell don’t lower our expectations and goals because a man said we cant do that last i checked men tried belittle woman and tried making a women’s life be only about being at home cooking cleaning and raising kids. women couldnt vote ha we won that battle women dont have equal rights as men Ha won that too give up you guys cant and wont be able to win against the women today for we are strong and confident and we will be damned if we will sit back and let men define who we as a human and a individual can be. and to be clear not all men are disrespectful airheads so this does not define all men and there characters and beliefs just those who feel a women doesnt have the right for equal opportunity in the work place or in the battle field grow up its 2016. and
Thanks to affirmative action! FOOL! wo=MEN, are a failed experiment in the military and are as useless as tits on a bull! Amber are you an UGLY JEW?
Amber Fish, ever hear of punctuation? Your crazy rant was so hard to read I quit after the first few words.
So what will Mrs. “rights for all women” Clinton say about this dereliction of duty?
After reading the follow-up, I respectfully remove my comment.
Soldiers will die because liberals want to be politically correct. When will we start to see pushback?
What is convalescent leave when I went to Ft Leonard Wood if you could not handle it you were discharged (man or woman) I was there in 1979 and I’m a woman and was in a integrated company we trained just like the men same explosives training, same PT, same everything so if she went home for convalescent leave that is the Armys falt for leting a week person in
History of feminism
1st Wave: We want all the rights.
Government: Sure.
1st Wave: And none of the responsibility. Dying in wars to earn the right to vote is a guy thing.
Government: Well, uh, okay.
2nd Wave: We want all the opportunities.
Business: Sure, no problem.
2nd Wave: But don’t make it challenging. Give us quotas and extra benefits and education.
Business: Seriously? Uh, fine then.
3rd Wave: We want respect.
Society: Done.
3rd Wave: But we don’t want to be subject to criticism at all.
Society: You’re pulling our leg now, aren’t you?
3rd Wave: It’s about equality, you misogynist.
http://www.socialmatter.net/2015/03/05/tyranny-suffrage/
I am not enlisted in any part of the military. But I respect anyone that is. Many of my family members fought in past wars and I am very thankful and very proud of them. I do believe our country is not what it should be. So many people are fighting against what many of our ancestors died fighting for. As far as the woman that is AWOL well my opinion being she knew what she was getting into when she joined and she is no better than anyone else. I am sure if she was sick or something then the military knew about and would not be saying she is WELL. I think she should get what she knew would happen if she went AWOL. I am not saying that all women in the military do this but some women join and then they cry because they are getting treated like the men in the military and can not handle it. Then they want to cry and say it’s wrong that they shouldn’t be treated this way. Not all women are this way some women stick with and work harder than some men in the military to get where they want to be. But wake up AMERICA it’s the military if you join and can’t handle it go home it doesn’t mean you failed at least you tried but remember man or woman WELL IS WELL No matter what sex you are so just know you should all be treated the same.
You all do not find it peculiar that none of the articles about this story mention anything about questioning her husband – or that he is also missing? I find that very strange! They are not giving all the information and you all have reached your conclusion. I was in the Army for 7 years and I have seen women outperform men….not all women can – some will not even come close but it is possible. I do not support the decision to allow this – I think it is dangerous (not because a woman cant handle it but because there are too many things that can get in the way once foxhole buddies are of the opposite sex). I think it is possible that something happened to this young lady, maybe she didn’t even make it home, but only time will tell. Get all the facts before you reach your conclusions!
not a surprise to me.
as said by dalrock, the husband is like any feminist husband: present but invisible.
in case you were under the mistaken impression that women would appreciate you demanding that they not join the military or sign up for the draft, just go ahead and check out some of the female replies to this post.
they’re never grateful. this is why men are turning their backs on women in greater and greater numbers, and going their own way.
Steven you COMPLETE ASSHOLE, you mock a woman you know NOTHING ABOUT, for all we know she could be KIDNAPPED OR DEAD, and as if to add insult to injury, you [indirectly] poke fun at women who have been SEXUALLY ASSAULTED when you [mis]use the #YesAllWomen hashtag. You are a complete IDIOT and a DISGRACE TO HUMANITY. You ignorant, vitriol-spewing manchild. #YesAllWomen has NOTHING to do with your BULLSHIT ARTICLE. And another thing–I believe that, to be a comedian, you have to be FUNNY. You’re just STUPID.
You can tell she has this commando fantasy dreams about her being this special forces soldier woman where she winds up being a hero and gets a purple heart for her battle field duties in afganistan ….I know exactly what happened she got a taste of reality when she hit bootcamp she does not look like the soldier type chic at all !!!!