Did you know we already had women serving in combat roles?

2015-08-12T12:00:17-04:00

http://www.ted.com/talks/gayle_tzemach_lemmon_meet_the_first_women_to_fight_on_the_front_lines_of_an_american_war

Meet the women fighting on the front lines of an American war

In 2011, the US Armed Forces still had a ban on women in combat -- but in that year, a Special Operations team of women was sent to Afghanistan to serve on the front lines, to build rapport with locals and try to help bring an end to the war. Reporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon tells the story of this "band of sisters," an extraordinary group of women warriors who helped break a long-standing barrier to serve.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 12 at 2015 12:02 PM

2015-08-12T12:02:51-04:00

They had women in MiTT, ETT, and PRT teams. And although MP's aren't considered "front line fighters", when engaged, they have very capable women behind the guns and directing action.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 12 at 2015 12:03 PM

2015-08-12T12:03:00-04:00

This should not be a surprise to anyone.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 12:08 PM

2015-08-12T12:08:00-04:00

I saw some information on this before. It's important to realize that even when something has happened once it doesn't mean it's mainstream and going to continue.

A prime example is World War II. We used women to do all kinds of jobs that men traditionally had done, but when the war ended, a large portion of them were pushed to the side so men could resume those roles. It took a long time afterwards to come to a semblance of equality.

Great article, thanks for posting!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 1:07 PM

2015-08-12T13:07:20-04:00

I think the jury is still out on the effectiveness of FET teams. In theory, they are able to access and interact with the female population in a way that SF members can't in a society like that in Pashtun areas. I have heard of some success, and back when the concept was first stood up I sent one of my Soldiers to the selection course.
However, it became the fad of the day. I watched as conventional units attempted to replicate the concept without the rigorous training involved by cobbling together their own FET teams out of their organic medics, mechanics, and other elements of the BCT with females in it. I watched and mentored it at NTC in 2012. It was a mess. They had no idea how to engage or do the more subtle art in interpersonal civil-military interaction.
I suspect that the current experiment will go away when Afghanistan operations conclude, with a lot of lessons learned. Gender interactions in a foreign culture are dodgy at the best of times; in Afghanistan, perception will get you maimed or killed by your own family.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 5:21 PM

2015-08-12T17:21:35-04:00

This is such a nonissue

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 13 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-08-13T11:17:05-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Thanks for posting the article. I find it very interesting and I believe it will be the waive of the future. I'm hoping that the two women trying to become rangers succeed and I hope that Congress will start allowing women into the combat arms. It is about time that we allow women to participate in all MOS and specialties in al the service branches. Everyone should be treated equal. If they can't meet the standards for any particular MOS then they are a "bolo" in that MOS and should be reclassified as such. If they perform and meet standards then they should be considered for all future leadership positions and treated as all other service members for that specialty (promotions, evaluations, physical fitness testing, etc.). There are men and women both that can't make the grade in certain MOS career fields throughout the Army and other services. Treat them like we would anyone else that can't make the mustard in that specialty. Let women in to all combat arms as they want or request and let's move on with one of the greatest militaries on the earth. Keep in mind all of our enemies employ women on the front lines! Let's train and recruit like we fight!