Sen Tammy Duckworth at CFR

"America's Strength is not just our hardware, it is our people, it is our values"

That's US Army veteran Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth speaking with Leila Fadel of National Public Radio at Council of Foreign Relations webinar and conference.

Sen. Duckworth born in Bangkok, Thailand described attending Army ROTC which led to opportunity to go to helicopter flight school, one of only two females in the aviation class.

"Women are better pilots on Day 1 than men", observing that women pilots may multi task the requirements of a helicopter better than male pilots.

In November 2004 while serving in Iraq her helo was hit by RPG fire and crashed, causing loss of both legs and injured right arm.  She recovered to complete 23 years in the Army Reserves retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 2014.

After serving in the House, she was elected to the Senate in 2017 and now serves on both Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. Among many firsts, she was the first Senator to give birth.

Key Points Made of Sen Duckworth: 

- Suggested that all Americans should register for draft at age 18 with option for national service in organizations such as the Peace Corps.

- Value of military education programs with allied countries which allow prospective officers of to attend American service academies whete they develop life long relationships with future American offers, suggested that these programs should be extended to ROTC programs.

- Stated China or PRC as she calls them to differentiate from Chinese who live in US, had blocked Taiwan from being able to purchase Covid vaccines from other countries, she worked to have US provide vaccines to Taiwan first in line.

- Described that her Illinois Natoonal Guard unit was paired for training with counterparts in Poland.  Suggested that US National Guard should conduct training with Taiwanese military.

- To encorage military recruiting, suggested that immigrants who come to US legally, should have opportunity to enlist in US military, and upon successful completion of first enlistment, would receive a Green Card.

"Military for those who come from little resources has been opportunity rise"

Photos co CFR.

Ken Kraetzer 

CaMMVetsMedia LLC

Covering Cadets Midshipmen the Military and Veterans Proudly since 2008

White Plains, NY

@KGKraetzerMedia