Posted on Aug 20, 2015
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With the recent completion by two female Army Soldiers of the Ranger Course, should women be allowed to try our the SF Selection and Assessment Course?
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Responses: 13
COL Charles Williams
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Edited >1 y ago
Yes! We should (A) allow women the opportunity to compete for any positions, (B) so long as they can meet THE Standards!
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SSG Trevor S.
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I see no reason for the Armed Forces not to exploit every resource available. Women in SF would expand perspective and capabilities. So long as no standard for qualification is compromised I cheer on those who can take the mantle of the military's most challenging missions.
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I'm with COL Charles Williams, THEY MUST MEET THE STANDARDS.
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
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CPT (Join to see) My concern all along, was they we have (thru the years) lowered standards, changed standards, double standards, to allow things to happen. I am good with anyone doing anything they desire... having the opportunity to try... So long as they meet THE STANDARDS - one standard... the current standard.
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COL Charles Williams - Exactly how I feel, Sir. if you lower the standards then you get below standard. That doesn't save the the buddy next to you, it only satisfies the one trying to be "politically correct" and wanting to advance their career by sucking-up.
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SSG Robert Webster
SSG Robert Webster
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COL Charles Williams - I am a little confused by your statement. "...the current standard" appears to be in contention by many.

The big issue now is going to be the perception that they were/will be given special treatment. I do not know if a press conference with students being the primary board members has been done in the past before the actual graduation. But if one has not been done before in this manner, then the standards have changed, whether anyone wants to admit it or not.

We do know that the media wanted to interview the women that made the cut. But will they be allowed to interview the women who did not, or will they even try?

Next, I am very confident that women can perform in combat roles without a lowering of standards, my best example are those in the medical fields that are field medics and those that have earned the EFMB.
Currently, I have a different issue with this whole mess, and that is the mis-utilization of units by type. It seems like everyone wants a piece of the pie that makes them appear to be a "door-kicker"/"operator" and not fulfill their actual job/position. An excellent example was from during the Iraq conflict where we had Artillery units performing patrols of various types and also conducting "door-kicking" operations. Another example, using the Special Forces primary mission statement - Why are we sending Infantry units to perform Advise and Assist missions? That is supposed to be the "bread and butter" missions of Army Special Forces. In addition, in a budget tight era, how can we (the US) justify the expense of using 600+ soldiers to perform the job of 300 soldiers? But today it appears everyone wants to perform the SWAT Team mission as opposed to their own. That, and not women in the combat roles, is the problem that we should be trying to resolve with our discussions.
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