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The Stone Frigate

The Royal Military College's First Female Cadet Speaks Out

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The Stone Frigate

Written by: Kate Armstrong
Narrated by: Kate Armstrong
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About this listen

A memoir from the first female cadet admitted to the Royal Military College of Canada.

Kate Armstrong was an ordinary young woman eager to leave an abusive childhood behind her when she became the first female cadet admitted to the Royal Military College of Canada. As she struggled for survival in the ultimate boys’ club, she called on her fierce and humourous spirit to push back against the whims of a domineering and patriarchal organization. Later in life, feeling unfulfilled in her post-military career, she realized that finding her true path forward meant she had to go back to the beginning and revisit the truth of what she had experienced all those years ago.

©2019 Kate Armstrong (P)2020 Heraclon Publishing Canada Military & War Women Military Royalty
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This book is an amazing and brutally honest look at what some women experienced in the Canadian Armed Forces when the CAF first allowed females to join. There are probably still similar incidences happening to this day as the last of the "Old Boys Club" (aka L.C.W.D.) retire out of the service. I went to RMC about 15 years after the time period covered in the book, but a lot of my experiences mirror the author's commentary. Some of those experiences were bad, but the author also goes into great detail about what life is like at a Military College for all Officer Cadets, specifically new Recruits. She wrote about it so well that I had quite a few belly laughs throughout the book as her funny stories about the insanity of Mil Col life brought up all kinds of old memories, the good as well as the bad.

Very well done

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Full disclosure. I knew Kate way back in the mid 80s when she was with a young officer in my unit in Germany. I graduated from Royal Roals in 1980 before women entered RMC that fall. In the time we knew each other Kate never spoke about her experience this way. I applaud her for her courage, honesty and transparency. I am embarrassed to be a man based on how she and the other women were treated. There was and is no place in our military or society for discrimination of this or any sort. This is a must read.

Courage Defined

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I just wanted to say thank you for your story. It comes across as extremely true and thoughtfully reflected in this telling. As a female member of the class of 98 I believe that your experience paved the way for a more smooth (but not perfect) experience for me. Your book has helped me look back at my experience with both happiness and discomfort, but most of all with the wisdom of experience. Thanks again for your service.

Thank you for your story

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