Wilder retired from the US Army in the 1990s as an lieutenant-colonel.
Rumors and stories within SF persisted that she used a loop hole to get into the course. There were, and still are, rumors of political influence in her support, to get her into and keep her in the course. It is true that her father was a retired colonel and that he supported her and her case, before and after the course. Over the years I’ve heard rumors that she had an aunt who was a congresswomen and an uncle who was a general. But, I have never been able to corroborate either of those. There have also been rumors that she was having sex with one or more training cadres, that she received special treatment and favors due to these relationships, and that she even blackmailed her lovers. But, these are common accusations when trying to derail a female in the military or corporate worlds and I find these stories highly unlikely. The point is that rumors have been thick over the years in regards to Katie Wilder, which has muddied the waters of the Wilder Affair with the SF community and the Army in general.
I have also heard a few SF guys over the years, officers and NCOs, who claim that they were in her class, or in classes before or after hers, say that she was treated unfairly and was not given a fair shake. One guy even told me, in the mid 80s, that she did well and earned her tab. These tellings were in team rooms or bars, with limited sets of ears within range, and were always in the minority. I have never seen similar tellings anywhere printed or online.
Soon after Katie departed Ft. Bragg and the SFQC, the SF Officers Course was abolished and officers began going through the same training as the enlisted men. This was important for a few reasons. SF training has changed a lot and often since the early 1960s and at times officers went through a “gentlemen’s course” that was easier than what the enlisted men went through. This might have contributed to some Katie-hatred within the officer ranks. But, overall, that was an improvement for Special Forces.
In 2008 Kathleen M. Wilder sued Michael Fumento, The Weekly Standard and News American Incorporated for defamation. Fumento wrote in an article, published in March, 2007, in The Weekly Standard, an article titled The Democrats’ Special Forces Fetish, that Wilder “never spent a day in an actual Special Forces unit.” Well, she did, was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group, prior to the SFQC, for at least two years, if not longer. The article also claimed she cheated in the SFQC. That issue, of ruck cacheing, is covered above.
What Fumento probably meant to say, and most certainly wished he had said, is that Wilder never was assigned to an SF team. Which is true. Fumento also wrote that a judge granted Wilder her green beret. Also, not true. That was, in fact, Gen. Donn Starry, Commander of TRADOC, who, after a “thorough investigation,” concluded that Wilder had been treated unfairly and should be granted her SFQC graduation certificate. This countermanded the decision of the SWC commander, Col. Ola Mize (an SF legend), not to award Wilder her SF certificate. Mize was forced to retire due to the whole ordeal, due to his refusal to award Wilder her SF certificate. This was yet another strike against Wilder within the SF community.
One problem I have with Fumento’s article is that in it he says that he failed out of the Land Nav portion of the Selection training, and later was offered the opportunity to try the SF Course again, but declined due to his disgust at the low standards he saw in the SF Course. Yeah. Whatever, bud. Every guy I’ve ever heard that from failed out of some difficult training and was making excuses. It’s a credibility issue.
Katie Wilder is relevant today because of the current and hotly debated issue of female Rangers and will different standards be allowed or granted to female trainees than male trainees? Will females carry lighter rucks and do fewer pull-ups? Are there any females who can carry 65 pound rucks, along with the males, over the same long distances? Will having females in SOF units, in all Combat Arms units, have impact on the effectiveness, cohesion and overall culture of these units, and if so, negative or positive? Will female trainees soon be showing up at BUDS? Will the U.S. Navy possibly soon have female SQUEALs…sorry, SEALs? Will the U.S. Army possibly soon have female Green Berets, women on U.S. Army Special Forces A-teams? And could all of this propagate the Apocalypse?
Before all that happens, we better answer some questions, such as if Katie Wilder proved that females should be allowed in SF, then why did that not happen? Or, if she proved that they should not, then why are we still debating and arguing about the issue?
It looks like things are headed that way and there are going to be a lot of people looking at the first women headed to and selected for the SFQC and BUDS, and those women better not file any suits, regardless of what happens, and be very careful about who they shag or shack up with. They should not speak at any Feminist or Clinton rallies, and should definitely not celebrate with any pink tab or trident cakes at any sort of graduation or celebration parties.
It might be possible for women to be integrated into SOF units, depending on many factors, but only if certain behaviors are adhered to and standards maintained. There are lines to be crossed, and then there are lines to be crossed. And United States Army Special Forces is definitely not at this time ready for any pink tabs or sparkly nails on any of its operators. But, it is high time that this issue is examined and decided, without all the diatribe and drama, by cool and rational minds, of soldiers of both genders, who are focused solely on the defense of this country, and not distracted by other agendas.








COMMENTS