Women in Combat vs. Women in Combat Arms?
May 5, 2011It’s not a question of whether or not women belong in the military. Women serve, and serve proudly and bravely today, and frankly the Armed Forces are lucky to have them. They’re pilots, logisticians, FET’s, Intel chiefs, PAO’s, and in these and other MOS’s, the enlisted, senior enlisted, and officer ranks are improved by their presence.
And in Iraq and Afghanistan they’ve served in combat; fighting as up-gunners on convoys, helo pilots - and they’ve done very well.
But in the Pentagon’s frantic search for diversity and inclusiveness (which means they have a bigger pool from which to draw recruits), this past January, the Pentagon’s Military Leadership Diversity Commission recommended that women be allowed to enter combat arms MOS’s.
The issue made the news briefly, but was quickly overshadowed by the NFL playoffs, as well as DADT, Repub vs. Dem politics, and the economy. But while the issue might not be considered newsworthy to the American public, it is very newsworthy to those who do the fighting, so therefore worth discussing here.
The Military Diversity Commission’s Issue Paper # 56 (Nov 2010) “Women in Combat” addressed potential combat role of women in the Army, while stating it specifically excluded the Marine Corp due to the small number of Women Marines. To summarize, the paper said “…there is no evidence women lack the physical ability to perform in combat roles…no evidence that gender integration has a negative effect on unit integration or other readiness factors…but that assignment policies contribute to women’s reduced career opportunities, particularly in the officer corps and more so in the Army and Marine Corps.”
Yet since there are no women in combat-arms, one must question the validity of the report’s blithe supposition; surely the Diversity Commission understands that women firing a .50-cal from the turret of a humvee during an ambush is far different than women working between the trails of a 155 howitzer during the week-plus battle at An-Nasiriyah or kicking-in doors and storming buildings during Fallujah-2.
A combat-arms MOS, primarily infantry and artillery, is different than picking up a rifle and defending oneself in an ambush. These MOS’s are physically far more challenging than the others, and that effort must be extended over a far longer period of time – for example during last February’s assault into Marjah, the rain, mud, and bitter weather caused more Marines to be medivaced for hypothermia than gunshot wounds; as motivated and ooh-rah as women can be, to lose too many Marines to hypothermia weakens the integrity and fighting ability of the platoon or squad at the worst possible moment. Pregnant women probably aren’t a plus on the front lines either.
Or to take an artillery gun crew, where the M-777 is typically manned by 7 Marines and a section chief. Added to the physical and mental stresses of combat, part of the physical requirements are the need to lift the generator (weighing 400 lbs) in order to emplace the leg, as well loading-unloading the helium bottles from the support truck- each truck carries 16 of the 135 lb bottles. Additionally, a 155 round weighs 95 lbs, the trails must be dug-in and emplaced…if 2or 3 Marines are replaced by women, is the gun still able to be operated and fired as per SOP, or has the 7 + 1 gun crew now ballooned to 8 + 1 or 9 + 1?
This isn’t meant to be a knock on women (full disclosure, my mother was a Marine; WW2-Sgt, S/F!), but rather a hard-look at the difference in roles of women in combat vs. women in combat arms.
There is no doubt that some women are motivated and capable of being an 0311 or an 0811, but clearly many more are not. “Moto” is good, but “Moto” doesn’t change the physiology of women not having the same upper body strength as men…which leads to a bigger problem: once the Pentagon opens the door to women in combat arms, the standards of acceptable performance will drop in order to allow more women to participate. Combat efficiency must remain the goal of those in combat arms, rather than “inclusiveness” and “diversity.” There are already women in the general and admiral ranks; surely these qualified women would not want the combat arms standards diluted on their account.
Which leads to the next interesting question; if the Pentagon and Congress is successful in turning the American military into a drone-flying, LCS-sailing, hi-tech weaponry force operated by a money-oriented, G.E.D.-educated force…who will be left to actually get dirty and fight those swarthy unpleasant sorts who wish to harm the United States? One can only hope that in a country of 310 million citizens, there are still 202K or so who retain a higher motivation…
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Women in Combat 'Arms
I can completely understand why the U.S. Armed Forces do not allow for women to hold Combat Arms MOSes and Branches. However, your article did not address that not all slots in a Combat Arms units require Combat Arms MOSes. Example: in a Cavalry Squadron and Infantry Battalion the S1 slot is required to be held by a 42B (Adjutant) but the slot is male only because it is in a Combat Arms units. The S1 slot is in the Headquarters element, which is primarily support, so why is the slot required to be held by a male, especially since during deployment an MTOE is not used for manning, but rather a DMD -- which is for the most part non-gender specific? I have no issue with Combat Arms MOSes remaining male specific but it's about time the U.S. Armed Forces acknowledge that there is room for females in a Combat Arms unit.
1LT Angela Fry
Hey LT, I was in an Infantry
Hey LT, I was in an Infantry unit in Germany that had two female medics assigned. Had no affect on the unit.
Women in hard combat jobs
Someones great idea is someone else's problem. As a former Drill Sergeant I have wittnessed just how easily the female body breaks under easy scenarios. The first Ruck March is only 3 kilometers with a pack that is about 15 lbs. Every cycle of training we would have 2-3 sprained ankles and at least 1 fractured hip from the female population in our company. Some femals will even hide their pain until they graduate basic, then go to sick call to find out they worsened thier injuries and are not fit for military duty anymore. Fact: The average femaly body in good health and ability cannot stand up to 12 miles in 3 hours with a minimum 45 pound ruck.
Some will argue against this using the stories of the very few females that can and do keep up with men. Even amoung males there are tose that excede maximum physical standards by really great leaps. in both females and males theses are really very few. They are noticed because they stand out. They are definately not close to the average Soldier.
Who cares if they are few?
As long has the marine or soldier meets the requirements who cares if they have a penis or a vagina??? We don't need average, we need the best of the best and if that includes a few who cares??? Just because they may be few is no logical reason to hold them back. If they meet the requirements then they earned that jog get over it plain and simple.
And a Mule just might win the Kentucky Derby
If you want a police dog to train you can always start sorting through poodles and sooner or later you might just find one that can do the job. In the mean time you spend countless hours and resources training the poodles.
Or you can just start with a proven breed such as a German Shepard. Granted not all German Shepards make great police dogs, but less hours and resources have to be spent identifying a good one.
Women do indeed want their cake and to eat it too. Always have, always will.
HEY! You need to pay for that!
Although it sounds silly this is about the most dumbed down, "barney style" way to look at it. The analogy above about the poodles is simply fantastic. I might just have to steal that one.
As to wanting their cake and eating it too, here's the question and the solution:
First, on your 18th birthday, other than buying porn, cigarettes, and dip what else did you do? As for me, pops made damn sure I walked my happy ass to the post office to register for selective service.
NOW, if women's rights activists want the privilege of serving in combat arms or the military for that matter, I suggest you first elect to take the responsibility that comes with that privilege. I say PRIVILEGE because that is exactly what it is. In the US we have both rights which are given to everyone and privileges which must be earned. Make selective service a law for everyone... because we're all equal right? We'll see how well that goes over. My bet is it won't be the most popular bill when it's put to a vote, but im not psychic so we'll see. You can have your cake but you’re going to need to pay for it just like everyone else.
CPL W USMC
If they meet the requirements
The requirement have been changed in the Marine Corp so women can make the cut. That is plain, and simple.
I have an idea that will solve this situation. The Marine Corp changes it's PFT requirement back to the way it was in 1987. You remember, three miles within a time limit, so many situps within two minutes, and so many pullups. 20 was worth a 100 points. Oh that's right, the women could not make the cut, so the PFT was changed.
Let us all hold hands, and sing songs knowning those who will be standing firewatch, or storming a beach to destroy an enemy will only have to hang from a pullup bar for so long.
The Drill Instructor is correct, and I would like to thank him for his service to our country.
Mark A. Morris RDMS
Former active duty Platoon Sgt.
Women in Combat Arms and Combat Arms Support
Look being in the Army for 20+ years I have seen women perform well in all situations and some did not perform well. I agree that women should not be in infantry, artillery, or full combat MOS. Also, I agree that women should be able to be in supporting combat units. For example, in a commo section in a Field Artillery Battalion or mechanic in a forward support company, women should be on the front line as with their male counter parts.
Every body counts in war time and in peac time. Mission requirements dictates the number of personal required to accomplished it's assign missions. I always read that women now are firing .50 cal machine guns, however, do not use that as a reason for women being allowed to enter into combat MOS. Men and Women are different in body strength and resistance to harsh climates. I say lets not waste our time figuiring if women should be in combat MOS or not, should women fall in to a unit that required them to perform duties as an infantry or a mechanic then let it be so, every body counts. All leaders should be trained in dealing with female issues. A lot of older NCOs who have not dealt with women issues are more prone to disregard women issues and identifies them as equal to their male counter part.
Finally, we should be training to fight not not train to figure out if women should be in combat MOS or not..
woman should be allowed to fight
I as a woman believe that if some women are capable of fighting and have the true physical capability they should let them fight. I feel that if a woman is not capable physically of course they should not be able to fight, but if they are capable and they still aren't allowed it's pretty much being sexist.
Physical isssues besides strength
Of course, there are a few women who can meet the strength neccessities, though even fewer who have the bone structure to handle heavy stress loads, but still some. However, all females, are females. All females have hygiene issues that men don't have, which are hard to address in the field. I don't just mean the combat zone, where every military personnel is. I mean the forward fields. Camping in dirty conditions for weeks to months. And other issues with female periods are in place with combat arms i.e. cramps.
Andrew Lubin's Women in Combat vs. Women in Combat Arms
Well done, as always! Andrew's piece is thoughtful and on point: equality doesn't mean men and women doing exactly the same thing, especially if doing so puts comrades at risk and potentially diminishes a combat unit's strength. Let all serve where they're able to make the greatest contribution. This isn't bias, this is plain common sense.
Robin Schoen
Newtown, PA
Women In Combat
It may be a thorny issue for the Army but not as much so for the USMC. Professor Andy Lubin has nailed it with the basic strength issue. Very few adult males, much less the weaker sex, are up to the rigorous task required of Marines in combat. I would suspect his conclusion is shared by the majority of Marines.
Frank Cox
Atlanta, GA
Female Combatants
Female Combatants have through out history made a place for themselves. However, most often that place came of happenstance and not by design. As a former police officer I still cringe when I remember the first women recruts and the challanges they faced on the streets. Even today in our world of across the board gener blindness few departments place a woman alone on patrol in certain areas. We turn a blind eye to this practice as an expression of political correctness over common sense.
Doing the same in the combat arms would be insanity. Well said Andy!!
DH Brown
Author Honor Due, Honor Defended
women in combat
With a few obvious exceptions, a woman can do just about anything a man can do and a man can do just about everything a woman can do.and there is no question that bravery and dedication have very little to do with gender. But, men and women are different. There is a cost that must be paid when gender roles are reversed both by the person changing roles and by those who associate with that person. In some circumstances it's very minor. sometimes there's even an advantage.
Having served as a Navy SEAL, I know that raw physical strength and intense conditioning make a serious difference in combat situations. There's also a difference in depth perception and motor reflexes between men and women. There's a reason why women typically say that men follow to close when they're driving in cars together. There's a physiological difference in the makeup of men and women that causes this.
As a martial arts black belt who competes in tournaments. I can tell you, given equivalent training, it's a rare exception when a female black belt can consistently defeat a male black belt. especially when you factor in the average male is larger than the average female. That's why in tournament's women have their own division. In combat arms positions you need absolutely every advantage you can get. If men and women are required to meet the SAME standards in training this would become self-evident.
Rick
Women in Combat
As a female in the military, I am torn on the subject of women serving in combat roles. I am not personally seeking a combat role. I enjoy my non-combat speciality and feel fulfilled in my service to my country. However, as someone who pushes myself physically and mentally on a daily basis, I feel for women who do want to fill these roles but are prevented from doing so because of their gender.
Standards are standards, no matter the race, height, weight or gender of the person expected to meet them. For example, if every service member in a combat role is expected to be able to run an 18-minute three mile, do 20 pull-ups and hike 15 miles with a 120-pound pack, I do not believe a female who could meet those requirements would hinder an infantry unit. It is up to the service members to meet those requirements, and up to the service to weed out those who can't, whether male or female. I'm a 5'8" runner and lifter, and I know I'm faster and stronger than some of the smaller infantrymen I've met in the service. Are those men dragging down their unit's combat strength?
I do not disagree with some of the valid points about biological differences between males and females. Still, if high standards are both expected and inspected, any females who couldn't do the job would be weeded out. Maybe the services are concerned with their ability to do so, but I would hope they already have a solid system in place to weed out the males who can't perform to standards. That same system will work for females as well.
I don't believe you will see women flocking to combat roles if they are opened to us, but you will see a few exceptional warriors who increase of the strength of their unit when given the opportunity to serve. I am torn because I am not ready to say that those elite women should be denied that opportunity in order to maintain the over-simplified standard of keeping combat arms as exclusively male roles.
The entire idea of women in
The entire idea of women in combat is for the sole purpose of getting XX chromosomed soldiers into flag ranks at a greater rate. See recent "study" on how white male the upper echelons of our military is.
women in combat
It seems that the concensus is, most women are not physiologically capable to perform some requirements necessary to effectively perform in direct combat. In fact alot of men aren't capable either. If rigorous standards are set and met, certainly this issue is resolved before it becomes a political debate based on who you are at birth.
Women in combat arms positions
All of my time has been in the infantry - Marine and Army, active and Guard. As a matter of professionalism, I just can't see a good reason for excluding women from combats arms positions just because of their sex. We all know that women are in combat now, and that we've been actively working around the rules (and the law) in order to do it.
Ideas about men being killers fighting to protect their fragile womenfolk are a joke. Troops kill and risk their lives for their squad, to keep themselves alive, and because it's their job. There's nothing exclusively male about using a 240 on a human being, or filling a poncho with body parts. Anybody that's distracted by thoughts of sex while they're in the middle of a gunfight is insane.
The idea that women can't be left in the field for an extended period for hygiene reasons is often mentioned, but that's a non-issue. Women managed to survive just fine for about 100,000 years before they had indoor plumbing.
Changing PT standards for everyone to make them MOS-based is an interesting idea, but it's just not realistic. Neither is switching to a single standard for both sexes. It would be easy enough, however, to have combat arms women scored to the male standard. Maybe male height/weight standards should be used.
We already have processes for enforcing different standards for some men, so the same thing could be done if women went to the infantry. Troops already agree to additional service obligations in order to try some specialized training, or different performance standards for specialized units. If women want to volunteer for a combat arms MOS, it'd be a simple personnel action to extend their contracts by the duration of their training (in case they wash out) and to say that they will be required to meet male PT standards for as long as they're assigned an infantry MOS.
Nobody is toying with the idea of involuntarily assigning women to the infantry, so we'd realistically only be dealing with volunteers. And the reality is that women who volunteer for the infantry are NOT going to be average troops. Chances are that you'd get a very small number of exceptionally qualified women. Those are exactly the ones we've been needing for the past decade, instead of grabbing mix-n-match volunteers from the BAS or a mechanic to make up a FET on the fly.
And if the leaders involved, from the platoon sergeant up to the combatant commander, couldn't actually enforce standards of performance and behavior well enough to take their troops into combat, then they shouldn't be leading troops at all.
Women in combat
As a woman considering a military career, I can also see both points of view regarding females in combat roles. On the one hand, you can't deny the inescapable facts presented by the author here: we are just built differently. We walk differently, we carry our weight differently, and yes, we think differently too. You can't go around saying this to a sensitive public, but while men were designed to hunt and fight, we were designed to make babies. Our brains were meant to be used to build and maintain social relationships to protect our children, not to kill. Result: we are more prone to injury under physical duress, and we are much more likely to suffer from PTSD or depression after combat.
However, nature doesn't dictate everything. As some other commenters have noted, there are certainly women in service who are just as strong physically and mentally as their male counterparts. If they can meet the same standards, why not let them? Like others have said, the small number who would even volunteer would be exceptional. I also doubt that standards would drop due to "affirmative action", though politicians might push for it.
Have PT standards for women
Have PT standards for women been tightened up to be the same as men? The military academies have different standards/exercises for women vice men. Or, has this changed? Do women do pull ups or flex arm hangs? Are run times graded on a curve? Isn't the desired combination strength AND stamina all along the "kinetic" curve as combat units fire and maneuver against the enemy? Where has the all male combat arms team failed in order to make it desirable to introduce women into these abattoirs?
Get over it. . .
As long as the pt standards are kept the same I don't see a big deal in having women in combat MOSs except that we men having bruised egos about how there are some women that can literally do what do we do and better. Just because their numbers will probably be few is no reason to hold them back, if they meet the standards then they earned the job plain and simple get over it already. I would proudly serve next to a woman who has earned her spot just as I have and is willing to fight and die for this country just as I am and any man who isn't is a sexist bigot plain and simple and needs his ass kicked. BTW women are allowed to be EOD techs who actually have a lower combat life expectancy than an infantrymen. For all you idiots who talked about women being physically inferior guess what, that bomb suit they wear IS 80 F****** LBS!!! They are held to the EXACT SAME standards as the men. That includes running in that suit and doing push ups in that suit. I'd like to see the men on this thread attempt to do that! If a woman is physically capable to perform the job then give it to her stop holding her back just because you think she belongs in a kitchen.'that's just you outdated view of sexual politics. Numerous countries have women in combat arms, we are BEHIND the power curb. I mean seriously let's get with it!!!
Diversity
Just another case of watering down standards in the name of diversity. Repealing DADT and now females in rifle teams.
Physical Standards
If you want to get a new perspective on what females can do in terms of physical standards, visit your local CrossFit gym. And no, they're not all butch and 200 pounds. I guarantee you that you'll get a new understanding of what's possible with the right training.
This was pretty helpful! I
This was pretty helpful! I needed to find something like this for a "writing the bill" project.
Im making my bill on making women be alllowed to fight in combat... Only if they have the proper training.
It made me SO angry when I read the part about this issue making the news only to be overshadowed by the NFL playoffs.
Pretty Good Article!
This article was pretty helpful in finding out more about women not being able to fight in combat. I needed to read this to find out more about my bill. I am "making a bill" for a class project...and this was quite a helpful article.
The part about this issue making the news briefly but being overshadowed by NFL playoffs made me cringe!
relatively a useful article.
Good job!!
Women should NOTTTT be in the military front lines anywere point
Women in cambat has its up and downs. I love women but there just not physically built for combat, Yess some women can carry there own weight. Good for them but once you allow them to join you open the door for every women who spent a little to much time playin with there brothers Gi Joes! AND i will tell you first hand Women are a distraction to men Expecially if you have been 3 months with a bunch of men. it causes a huge distraction you remember your middle school crush 2 guys one girl doing every thing they can to call her MINE!! This is a major problem that would outcome from this . also i was reading the other day ago and this guy posted makein a very valid point what if there on a hike goin up a hill and a women starts her monthlty whast she gonna do drop her scibbys right there in front of everybody and her her buisness? I sure as heck aint gonna stop> putin my life and other soldiers lifes in danger for her to deal with her hygine. Women are just not meant to be in the military front line point blank!!!!!
Women in cambat has its up
Women in cambat has its up and downs. I love women but there just not physically built for combat, Yess some women can carry there own weight. Good for them but once you allow them to join you open the door for every women who spent a little to much time playin with there brothers Gi Joes! AND i will tell you first hand Women are a distraction to men Expecially if you have been 3 months with a bunch of men. it causes a huge distraction you remember your middle school crush 2 guys one girl doing every thing they can to call her MINE!! This is a major problem that would outcome from this . also i was reading the other day ago and this guy posted makein a very valid point what if there on a hike goin up a hill and a women starts her monthlty whast she gonna do drop her scibbys right there in front of everybody and her her buisness? I sure as heck aint gonna stop> putin my life and other soldiers lifes in danger for her to deal with her hygine. Women are just not meant to be in the military front line point blank!!!!!
Exactly what is "cambat"?
I have a problem taking the totality of your dribble of incoherent words seriously when you can't even spell the word combat.
And you posted your asinine comments more than once as if we didn't get your ridiculous points the first go round. Assuming you are in the military, I am probably not far from being wrong in asserting that if your unit had superlatives you would win "mostly likely to shoot himself in the foot."
women in military NOO
Women in cambat has its up and downs. I love women but there just not physically built for combat, Yess some women can carry there own weight. Good for them but once you allow them to join you open the door for every women who spent a little to much time playin with there brothers Gi Joes! AND i will tell you first hand Women are a distraction to men Expecially if you have been 3 months with a bunch of men. it causes a huge distraction you remember your middle school crush 2 guys one girl doing every thing they can to call her MINE!! This is a major problem that would outcome from this . also i was reading the other day ago and this guy posted makein a very valid point what if there on a hike goin up a hill and a women starts her monthlty whast she gonna do drop her scibbys right there in front of everybody and her her buisness? I sure as heck aint gonna stop> putin my life and other soldiers lifes in danger for her to deal with her hygine. Women are just not meant to be in the military front line point blank!!!!!
women in military NOO
Women in cambat has its up and downs. I love women but there just not physically built for combat, Yess some women can carry there own weight. Good for them but once you allow them to join you open the door for every women who spent a little to much time playin with there brothers Gi Joes! AND i will tell you first hand Women are a distraction to men Expecially if you have been 3 months with a bunch of men. it causes a huge distraction you remember your middle school crush 2 guys one girl doing every thing they can to call her MINE!! This is a major problem that would outcome from this . also i was reading the other day ago and this guy posted makein a very valid point what if there on a hike goin up a hill and a women starts her monthlty whast she gonna do drop her scibbys right there in front of everybody and her her buisness? I sure as heck aint gonna stop> putin my life and other soldiers lifes in danger for her to deal with her hygine. Women are just not meant to be in the military front line point blank!!!!!
WTF?
You have got to be kidding me with what you just wrote, especially the part about a woman's cycle. You sound very uneducated and simple by making ill informed comments like that. When I was deployed for a year to IZ, I didn't have more than 4 periods the whole time. I attributed it to my work schedule and working out every day. My body was somehow reacting to the stress and duration of the environment I was in since it was my first deployment, but ultimately I didn't feel bad and "weak" and it didn't seem to have any long lasting health affects. Adding to that...some women take certain birth control options that can allow them to only have a few cycles over the span of a year. If a period hits a woman in a situation like you mention above then the period hits. It is like clockwork and we women know when it is due and if the women has to wear something akin to a diaper to ensure she completes the mission then so be it. She obviously won't expect you to stop so she can "take care of business", because she decided to be in an MOS that she understands doesn't afford women or men the luxury of routine hygiene. Same thing if you need to take a crap...suck it up and hold it in.
Women in combat
Call me cazy but one of the reasons i have always wanted to be a warrior was so that women and those who cant fight dont have to. The valley of the shadow of death is a horrible place and our beautiful, women do not belong there. P.S. not in the Military yet but will be enlisting in june of 2012 to the USMC.
You are all speaking too
You are all speaking too much. Could women have won battles like Iwo Jima, Tarawa, Guadalcanal, Frozen Chosin, Hue, Fallujah, Now Sangin.......................
Thats a Big Negative
I do not think that women
I do not think that women should carry combat arms MOS. However; I do think that women could be effectively utilized at the battalion and in some cases the company level. By using and placing female job skills effectively, males may be surprised, and it would free up more males for the fire teams, squads and platoons.
Combat a "Choice"?
Re the post of 'Anonymous' woman should be allowed to fight (October 20, 2011 – 9:14am): "…if some women are capable of fighting and have the true physical capability they should let them fight… if they are capable and they still aren't allowed it's pretty much being sexist."
The wording of this and other pro-women-in-combat posts seems to indicate that being assigned to combat is a choice? In fact is not combat––"the tip of the spear"––the end point of war? While many times the numbers of service members are in valuable and essential support roles, in wartime their efforts exist to support the relatively fewer numbers actually doing the fighting.
So, my question is: if barriers to women fighting in combat are officially removed, as they already have been covertly and illegally by ambitious female officers and their male supporters––fathers, brothers, husbands, etc.––who are senior officers in the field and at the Pentagon**, should not any and all "CrossFit" women who meet the physical/psychological standards be assigned to combat units until they are at least a proportionate percentage of the fighters? Otherwise, we are saying that women have a choice whether they want to go into combat or not. But once the relatively few have chosen, because the combat ranks must be filled, one way or another men must make up the difference.
Certainly it should not be a choice for women, as it is not for men, or THAT is being "sexist".
**See "Rules for Women in Land Combat", the Center for Military Readiness (a conservative think tank), which provides its own scholarly papers plus links to dozens of other discussions on the subject. Includes a detailed annotated history of how ambitious military leaders, male and female, have deliberately broken the law to push women into combat, with the result of forcing those who do not wish to fight into dangerous and often deadly situations. There is no doubt that women are equally intelligent, capable, patriotic and courageous as men. But to accommodate the minority who also pass the physical and psychological hurdles, and who are desirous of actually fighting, all deployed women are potentially being placed in the line of fire.
Women in Combat
Perhaps the question is not so much as whether women should be in combat, rather, that allowances are made and regulations streamlined for women to be competitive within a pre-combat training environment should they choose to do so. Until we allow the metrics and gather the statistics within a long-term longitudinal study, we have nothing to measure.
Perhaps.... yes, perhaps.... lack of definitive expertise by female officers within the intellectual battlespace at the Pentagon is also lacking. Again, we lack the metrics to proceed with any real discussion. Data for analysis is lacking. At this point, it is only smoke signals being sent out.
LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC
Women In Combat Arms
Firstly I'd like to say how well you wrote this paper, its very well done. Secondly, I do agree with you on the issue that the Pentagon should not lower the standards of acceptance just for women. Instead of lowering the standards they [the Pentagon] should keep the standards and let women rise to the challenge as so many have done before. This way the Military will recieve the woman and men deticated and motivated to do the job of Combat Arms and do it right!
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