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Cavalry unit welcomes Marne Division’s first female FSC commander
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Lt. Col. John Chadbourne, commander of the 703rd BSB, passes the guidon to Capt. Katherine Robertson at COP Dolby Oct. 8. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Constance Quinlan)
CONVOY SUPPORT CENTER SCANIA, Iraq – The Soldiers of the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment are getting used to a word not normally heard in their unit: “ma’am.”
Last month at Command Outpost Dolby, Capt. Katherine Robertson assumed command of Company D, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. In doing so, she became the first female to command a Forward Support Company in the 3rd Inf. Div.
The modern-day forward support company is a fairly new structure. The Army’s transformation to modularity shifted the positioning of forward support elements. Forward support companies now support maneuver battalions the way forward support battalions had previously supported maneuver brigades.
Delta Company, assigned to the 703rd BSB headquartered at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, is attached to the 6-8 Cav. Regt. both at home and when deployed to provide internal logistical support.
In late 2004, as the 3rd Inf. Div. prepared for its second deployment to Iraq, another female captain was in Robertson’s shoes, preparing to command one of the 703rd BSB’s forward support companies. The idea of a female commanding an FSC was considerably more controversial at that time, and complaints from male captains opposing the assignment reached all the way to Congress.
The captain was reassigned to command the battalion’s distribution company, a move that highlighted still pervasive gender biases.
However, as the distribution company commander, she executed more than 500 logistics missions throughout the streets of Baghdad, arguably this conflict’s most dangerous battleground. Though technically serving in a “support” role, she was ironically subject to more danger than she would have been commanding an FSC for a combat unit.
Today, the Army policy has not changed, but its interpretation in the field certainly has. Robertson received a warm welcome from the squadron and words of confidence from her leaders.
“There is no restriction on females commanding a forward support company of a brigade support battalion,” said Lt. Col. John Chadbourne, commander of the 703rd BSB. “Gender did not even enter into my decision making on the selection of a commander for Delta Company. I chose the best officer for the job, and Captain Robertson is definitely that officer.”
“What we were looking for was a strong commander,” said Lt. Col. Mark Solomon, commander of the 6th Sqdn., 8th Cav. Regt.. “Combat in (Operation Iraqi Freedom) is what it is, and Soldiers of both genders, all races, all creeds and all heritages are exposed to danger and serve our nation well … We are proud to have Katie on our team because she is a strong officer who will make a great commander.”
This command begins Robertson’s fifth assignment in the Maintain Battalion. She previously served as a platoon leader and executive officer in Company G; she moved on to Headquarters and Headquarters Company to lead the supply and services office before assuming the role of battle captain for battalion operations at FOB Kalsu. Despite the many hats she’s worn, this quartermaster officer didn’t expect to be in this position so early.
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to take command in theater, especially with a cav. unit,” she said.
Working around cavalry officers is nothing new to the quartermaster corps officer. Her father, Col. Robert Bruce, is a cavalry officer assigned to Strategic Command in her hometown of Bellevue, Neb.
“My dad thinks it’s fantastic. He’s buying me my Stetson for my birthday,” shared the new commander.
After spending 17 days inventorying equipment at various locations throughout her new area of operations, Robertson had the opportunity to meet her future Mad Dawgs (as the Soldiers of Company D are known).
Then, she hit the ground running. One week after assuming command, she led a massive operation as her new company was uprooted with the squadron to occupy its new area of responsibility in southern Babil Province. With precious little time left in theater, Robertson has had to pull off the unique balancing act of performing her company’s new mission while also preparing her Soldiers and her equipment to go home.
“The Soldiers are fantastic,” she said. “I’ve seen wonderful things from them … I’m excited.”
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