"Hesitation Kills" By Jane Blair

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A Book Review of Jane Blair’s Hesitation Kills
Introduction
War stories and experiences have always been told from the point of view and lived male military officers. Historically, war has always been fought by men; but children and women have often been on the receiving end, conveniently referred to as collateral damage. In recent years, however, women have been allowed to join the military and participate in war, resulting in a need for stories to be told from their perspective. In his Hesitation Kills, Jane Blair a woman's life experience in modern warfare alongside her male counterparts. As the title suggests, hesitation in making decisions can cause people to be killed; an essential element of modern warfare where diversity is on the rise, weaponry is increasingly sophisticated, and gender roles are being challenged and reconsidered. The current review summarizes Blair's work, a brief analysis, and a conclusion with recommendations.
Summary
Blair's story begins when she is deployed in Iraq in 2003 following the United State's invasion of Iraq. She was attached to the aerial reconnaissance unit, which traveled ahead alongside combat units in the initial phase of the operation. Besides reconnaissance roles, Blair was also involved in the aerial bombing. In her book, she explains how she kept a journal. She documented the unit’s experience that shows the immediacy of life among marines on duty beyond the American borders. Her book captures the intragroup drama and war chaos along with day-to-day challenges. She delicately pokes into issues like the pasta with alfredo sauce, a story that adds laughter to the book, and a tale on the grueling task of keeping insidious sand at bay while in anticipation of an imminent attack. Blair also dwells on personal experiences, such as a woman, a marine, and a person. She navigates the challenges of facing a superior bullying officer and being a female officer in a male-dominated environment. She strives to connect with the struggles of the local population, particularly women.
Blair also recounts some of the riskiest moments in which a slight hesitation in decision-making would have resulted in a disaster. Despite these risks and hazards, she channeled much of her energy navigating the prejudices on the battlefield. For instance, she found that women officers were often considered the weaker sex by male officers. Her emotions are also tested. For instance, she recounts the loneliness of being away from her husband and the idea of stealing a moment with him when other officers were close by. She lauds the other marines as the true heroes of her story, highlighting how they played a crucial role in shaping her experience in Iraq. In essence, Blair focuses on the compelling impact of war on both soldiers and civilians. Her narration provides a bridge between those who experienced the war in Iraq and those who know about the war from afar.
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