Air Force ready to lift all restrictions on combat jobs. Given the technical side of the branch, your thoughts?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 15:40:16 -0400

The USAF is ready to lift all restrictions on combat jobs. The USAF is highly technical leaning & therefore (I believe) it's definition of combat jobs is slightly different from the Army & Marines.

Secretary Deborah James stated multiple times that standards MUST be kept in place, even saying that operationally relevant standards have to be the same for men & women.

I realize this is a bit of a dead horse at this point, I just wanted to get your thoughts on this sense the USAF Security Forces have participated in combat tours for several years now & women have never been restricted from that career field.

I realize that PJ & CCT will be very difficult to get into given the high physical standards that are required, but if a woman can do it, GET SOME!

***** Lets keep the discussion civil. I will not tolerate name-calling & childishness on this thread *****

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 15 at 2015 3:43 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 15:43:34 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member great thread, I am all about equality and the Air Force is leading the way, the Army is making progress, together we all can build this nation.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 4:28 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:28:15 -0400

Women have been restricted from joining Security Forces because it is a combat career field. The ban was lifted in 1985 however. Hopefully with opening more combat career fields to women, they will remove the relaxed PT standards for women and instead implement a universal "combat oriented" pt standard.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 4:35 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:35:00 -0400

While his actions were heroic, they by no means justify a STEP promotion to NCO. The ability to act in the face of danger is expected of all military members regardless of rank. Not trying to take anything away from his actions, but what part of his actions show that he is capable of leading and mentoring?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 4:50 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:50:08 -0400

I think this will go over more easily and more quickly in the Air Force. The technical nature as you mention will help, and I also agree the definition of what is considered combat is probably a little bit different.

I also think the Air Force has a significantly higher percentage of females overall. Can't find a stat on that though at the moment.

Response by TSgt David L. made Sep 16 at 2015 12:44 AM

TSgt David L. — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:44:37 -0400

We've nearly ALWAYS had women in all branches of EOD (The Marines being an occasional participant due only to the low number of billets and very few female applicants). The ones that make it through the Preliminary course as well as the main NAVSCOLEOD are well qualified for the job. They won't tell you so. They'll show you, AND PT your ass into the dirt. LOL

Response by TSgt Paul Barone made Sep 16 at 2015 12:54 AM

TSgt Paul Barone — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:54:30 -0400

These are the new challenges you are facing and if one is fully capable of achieving all standards then lets accept this with open arms and stay united as the greatest fighting force on Earth!

Response by SrA John Holy made Sep 21 at 2015 12:36 AM

SrA John Holy — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 00:36:46 -0400

I was on an "in lieu of" deployment for the Army, out of 154 security forces I think we had 8 females, they did there jobs fine a few of them got combat action badges. During the deployment there was some "combat career field" guys sitting in the Al Faw Palace wishing they could come out on missions with us, but a justifiable reason couldn't be found to bring those ferraris to the demolition derby.