It's time for Women on the front-line of combat

[Danno 1,228]

Panel to Recommend Allowing Women in Combat

January 14, 2011

Stars and Stripes|by Leo Shane III

WASHINGTON -- A military advisory panel appears poised to recommend allowing female troops to serve in combat units without any restrictions, calling the current prohibition an out-of-date idea that unnecessarily discriminates against women.

If approved by military officials, the move could open front-line posts to military women for the first time. Until now, either U.S. law or Pentagon policy has prohibited female troops from serving in any unit whose primary mission is direct ground combat, although they may serve in combat support roles.

The Military Leadership Diversity Commission, established by Congress two years ago, issued the recommendation as part of a draft report on diversity in the services. The final report is due to lawmakers this spring, and commission members are meeting this week in Virginia to debate final changes.

Read more about the issue in Line of Departure.

In the draft, commission members call for a phased approach to open additional career fields with ground combat units to qualified women, saying the current policy limits the ability of commanders to pick the most capable person for their missions.

“To date, there has been little evidence that the integration of women into previously closed units or occupations has had a negative impact on important mission-related performance factors, like unit cohesion,” the draft states.

“Furthermore, a study by the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services actually found that a majority of focus group participants felt that women serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have had a positive impact on mission accomplishment.”

The draft report notes that the restriction on combat posts prohibits women from serving in about 10 percent of Army and Marine Corps occupations, a “structural barrier” that could hurt their chances of promotion or advancement.

Proponents of women in combat roles have argued that the distinction is obsolete in the new combat environments of Iraq and Afghanistan, where support units have routinely found themselves involved in roadside bomb attacks and insurgent ambushes.

Since 2001, 114 female U.S. servicemembers have been killed in fighting in Iraq and 23 have been killed in fighting in Afghanistan.

But Elaine Donnelly, president of the conservative Center for Military Readiness, said the commission’s recommendation confuses troops in harm’s way with those assigned to front-line, offensive combat missions. Performing heroically in an ambush is not the same as grueling front-line combat.

“Physical differences between men and women do matter,” she said. “If the purpose of the change is to help with career advancement and diversity, it’s fine. But if the purpose is to help better defend the country, then it’s divorced from reality.”

Donnelly said barring women from some military jobs does not diminish their contributions, but instead recognizes that only a small percentage of female troops can meet the strength and endurance requirements mandated in “brutal and uncivilized” front-line fighting.

But Genevieve Chase, founder of American Women Veterans, said the restrictions are largely an issue of semantics now. Commanders have gotten around the rules by “attaching” female troops to combat units when needed, allowing them to work in combat roles without having them assigned to combat units.

“But that becomes a records issue, what counts for promotion and experience,” she said. “We’re asking for women to be recognized and acknowledged for that work.”

Chase, an Army reservist who served in Afghanistan, said standards for female combat troops need to be the same as those for men, but also noted that brute strength is not the only qualification. Language skills, leadership experience and other combat-related specialties can be just as vital to mission success.

The commission, which includes 24 senior retired and active-duty servicemembers, recommended that women already in combat-related roles should be open for assignment to combat units immediately, and the services should look for ways in coming months to open additional combat posts to women.

The report also notes that the recommendation was not unanimous, with several members opposed to opening the front-line posts to women.

Earlier this month, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said he expected the commission’s report, along with other ongoing military reviews, would reopen the debate into women’s roles in the military.

Removing the combat restrictions would not require approval from Congress, but defense officials are required to notify lawmakers of any such change at least 30 days before it is put in place.

©

http://www.military.com/news/article/panel-to-recommend-allowing-women-in-combat-.html?ESRC=marine.nl

[slim 1,530]

So it's not, "hey, we'd like to serve our country" it's, "we'd like for the country to recognize what we're doing."

Typical.

[웃 910]

Are there any women navy seals?

[Pooky 3,809]

Are there any women navy seals?

Women Navy Seals at "that time of the month"?

SCARY

[slim 1,530]

Are there any women navy seals?

Not yet but I'm sure if this sort of thing passes they'll lower the standards enough so women could actually pass.

Women Navy Seals at "that time of the month"?

SCARY

Women don't typically menstruate during extremely stressful times, including combat. With today's battlefields being more of a "few days in, few days out" type mission they could. But, it'd be more likely to lead to something like dehydration as opposed to just being an overall b!tch.

On second thought, maybe we should ONLY send women to combat!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Women don't typically menstruate during extremely stressful times, including combat. With today's battlefields being more of a "few days in, few days out" type mission they could. But, it'd be more likely to lead to something like dehydration as opposed to just being an overall b!tch.

They do menstruate in stressful situations but it usually throws them out of sync (making them stress even more thinking they're pregnant when it's "late"). Who told you they don't menstruate at all while stressed?

[slim 1,530]

They do menstruate in stressful situations but it usually throws them out of sync (making them stress even more thinking they're pregnant when it's "late"). Who told you they don't menstruate at all while stressed?

My Uncle.

And he didn't say at all he said, like I did, typically don't. What are you looking for here? Read a study? Heard a report on NPR? I guess you also know they'll start cycling together when living in close quarters?

[james&olya 1,121]

So it's not, "hey, we'd like to serve our country" it's, "we'd like for the country to recognize what we're doing."

Typical.

Being in the military in the first place seems a pretty strong statement about serving our country!! Why is it wrong for them to ask that what they do be recognized?? Really, Slim, this is not a winner for you!

[웃 910]

Anyone familiar with what a Marine Officer does? I got this in the mail and it says "no uniforms, no waking up early, zero obligation to USMC".....Sounds interesting but I am not sure what my "obligations" would be....

College prepares you for a job. Marine Officer training prepares you to lead our nation's expeditionary force.

As a college student, you've begun to discover what you're capable of. If you've got the courage to go further, I can help you learn about the path to becoming a Marine Officer.

With your education, you may qualify for the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC), which allows you to continue your studies while earning your commission as a Marine Officer.

The benefits of attending Platoon Leadership Course are substantial:

-You will not be affiliated with ROTC -- no uniforms, extra classes or waking up early during the school year.

- Freshmen and sophomores attend two six-week paid training sessions over two summers in Quantico, VA

- Juniors attend one 10-week paid summer training session in Quantico,VA

- You will incur zero obligations to the Marine Corps, even after completing training (you can choose whether or not to continue with the program).

- A fter graduation from college and completion of PLC, candidates are offered a commission as a second lieutenant

If you would like to talk with you more about leadership opportunities in the Marine Corps. You can come see me at my office or call:

Edited January 20, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[slim 1,530]

Being in the military in the first place seems a pretty strong statement about serving our country!!

I know! You'd think that would be enough.

Why is it wrong for them to ask that what they do be recognized?? Really, Slim, this is not a winner for you!

What they do is recognized. What they're asking for is special consideration to be recognized more often.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

My Uncle.

And he didn't say at all he said, like I did, typically don't. What are you looking for here? Read a study? Heard a report on NPR? I guess you also know they'll start cycling together when living in close quarters?

Is your uncle a gynaecologist? An endocrinologist, perhaps?

[The_Dude 1,142]

My Uncle.

And he didn't say at all he said, like I did, typically don't. What are you looking for here? Read a study? Heard a report on NPR? I guess you also know they'll start cycling together when living in close quarters?

My uncle told me when I was 7 years old that he was a ninja. I suppose applying your logic here, he was right, despite being 75 pounds overweight and severely asthmatic.

[^_^ 5,021]

Is your uncle a gynaecologist?

I am always weirded out by that spelling of the word. There is something sinister about the a and the e together like that. Only thing more evil is gynæcology.

[luckytxn 2,264]

It wasn't that long ago when Desert storm happened and they had a show on that showed many woman that were in the military and got pregnant so they wouldn't have to go to a war zone. That destroys unit cohesion there. Of course being woman they can do this when they want to get out of whatever is dangerous.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I am always weirded out by that spelling of the word. There is something sinister about the a and the e together like that. Only thing more evil is gynæcology.

Oh, "æ"! The lovely ash, and my favourite grapheme.

Edited January 20, 2011 by elmcitymaven