AUSTRALIA'S first female two-star officer, Major General Elizabeth Cosson, hit a career low last year when she lost a computer disc containing a confidential report about the death of Private Jake Kovco in Baghdad in April last year. But in her own words: "Everyone is human and you can make mistakes."
The Australian Defence Force apparently agrees, citing an otherwise faultless 28-year military career in yesterday promoting the former brigadier Cosson, 48, to major general.
With all now forgiven, General Cosson, a military logistics specialist, has been appointed head of ADF national operations, running the country's network of 80 military bases and garrisons.
She said she was devastated by her mistake in mislaying the disc in the first-class lounge at Melbourne airport and the impact its publicity had on the Kovco family. "I was open about that and reported it, and I accepted responsibility for that mistake," General Cosson said.
"I did receive some administrative action, which was probably appropriate for the circumstances, and we have now moved on. Fortunately, in selection for this appointment, people have taken into consideration the other 28 years of my service."
Members of the Kovco family were not so forgiving yesterday.
An angry David Small, Kovco's father-in-law, queried the rationale for the promotion.
Kovco's mother, Judy, was equally appalled.
"I know there is a cover-up and this is part of it," she said. "What they are covering up I don't know, but Cosson made a mistake and caused us a lot of pain."
General Cosson, married to a career army officer and raised in a military family, said her army career had been a positive experience. "I've always felt I've been treated quite fairly - never bullied," she said.
She hoped her appointment would help motivate other military women to aspire to senior command. About 13 per cent of the ADF's 70,000 full-time and reserve staff are women, a number she hoped would rise with the introduction of more "family friendly" employment strategies.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22748786-2702,00.html 
Doesn't half please the grumpy old men in the force I can tell you
Topic: Major Culture Change First female major general (Read 1081 times)