What do you think the final answer will be to Congress? "Women in Combat: Silver Stars, Combat Action Badges and Casualties."

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 08:30:33 -0400

In the coming weeks, the service chiefs will likely cite reams of data to support their positions on whether to lift restrictions on women serving in combat jobs.
A couple of the statistics will be hard to miss: More than 9,000 female troops have earned Combat Action Badges during modern combat operations, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan, and hundreds more have earned valor awards, including the Silver Star, the Army's third-highest valor award.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/08/31/women-in-combat-silver-stars-combat-action-badges-casualties.html

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 1 at 2015 8:43 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 08:43:15 -0400

After everything females have gone through and accomplished, I don't see how they can say no.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 1 at 2015 8:56 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 08:56:58 -0400

This train started back in Gulf 1. It's been speeding up ever since.

The USMC has been putting ALL Marines through the School of Infantry (ITB/MCT) and the TBS since 1995~.

Per the article: "When the service chiefs send their findings to Carter late next month, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford will be the first to report and the most closely watched. The Marines are considered by some the most tradition-bound and resistant to change of the services."

For us, the "tradition" is Marines go through Combat Training. We don't have two flavors of Marines. Just one.

Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Holcomb who authorized the mobilization of women into the Corps on February 13, 1943, was emphatic that the Women Marine reservists were not to be ascribed any sort of nickname. In a March 1944 issue of Life magazine, he announced, “They are Marines. They don't have a nickname and they don't need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere at a Marine post. They inherit the traditions of Marines. They are Marines.”

Each time this gender divide issue comes up, I get angry. I realize there are valid data points, including physiological differences, etc. However, every single PERSON who joins, in the modern era of the All Volunteer Force does so of their own free will. We all know the risks going in. I weighed 108 pounds and was 5'6" when I joined and not one person told me I couldn't cut it. If that isn't a physiological disadvantage on par with what the average female has, I don't know what is.

We're the most capable warfighting force on the planet, and if anyone wants to serve. Let them. If they can make the cut to get through the schools, let them. After professional sports, we're the closest thing left to a meritocracy there is. Those who can't cut it, won't make it. Those who can, will excel. We need to get over which bathroom they use.

COL Charles Williams Thank you for sharing the article. It's a good read!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 9:08 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 09:08:20 -0400

COL Charles Williams,
Sir, I believe that we will see a rise in women standing shoulder to shoulder with their male peers in combat; however, if we have a sudden rise in female casualties I think we may encur the wrath of some groups out there that may claim that we are sending our female troops out there to die.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 1 at 2015 10:51 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 10:51:46 -0400

COL Charles Williams - My opinion is that, right or wrong, it is going to happen. That train has already left the station and will not be called back.

What actually needs to happen now, if people really care about "equality", is that females should now have to register for the draft and no longer have any "exemptions" from anything for any reason because of their gender. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You should not be able to pick and choose what you want to be equal in and what you don't.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 1 at 2015 12:57 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:57:03 -0400

The women who passed ranger school are in a Trojan Horse and will be the beacon and justification for women in combat.

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Sep 1 at 2015 5:50 PM

CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:50:21 -0400

I've been in the Army both active and reserve for 36 years, I've served in infantry, airborne infantry and now MI units. I've had multiple deployments and have worked with women in combat zones and otherwise. I am not a sexist (in my opinion). So, regarding placing women in combat arms: I personally know some tough women whom I believe could hack it but the majority of women I've seen could not, for physical and/or mental reasons. I've seen a 5-3, 100 lb female hump a 90lb ruck 8 miles in a timed event and make it, while the majority of other bigger and stronger females fell out (along with some males) – the point being it’s not necessarily their size, it’s desire, along with mental and physical conditioning for BOTH sexes.

Generally speaking, men are bigger and stronger. Men and women are “wired” differently. The military recognizes there are physiological differences between the sexes. We have different PT standards for a reason. Let’s not kid ourselves: generally speaking, men and women are different. Most women don’t WANT to be in Infantry or Ranger units – that’s fine, a lot of men don’t want to be there either. Regarding a draft or conscription scenario, I would think females (along with males) would be placed in MOS's they qualify for. But if we have something akin to WW III that results in placing thousands of females involuntarily in Infantry units going straight to the front lines, I believe the end state would be disastrous.

Regarding the awarding of CAB’s and Valor medals: I believe award of the CAB has been horribly abused due to the way the regulations are written and MANY CABs have been handed out to males and females because interpretation of those regs were stretched to the limit. I know Soldiers who don’t bother to wear their CABs because of this. So, in my opinion, award of a CAB is not an accurate measure of a female’s mettle. On the other hand, award of medals for valor requires substantial justification and I believe the women who’ve earned these awards deserved them, however, this only shows that these individual women were capable of bravery and some sort of physical act – such awards should not be a measure that ALL women have the same mettle. Same for men.

So what the hell am I saying? I think it comes down to this: If women want to be in combat arms or special operations units, they need to meet existing standards – open it up and let them volunteer – don’t change standards to accommodate women. There is a reason MOS’s have standards and let’s remember, not all men make it in these MOS’s. Lastly, let’s hope we never have to face a WW III scenario.

Response by CPT Russell Pitre made Sep 2 at 2015 11:07 PM

CPT Russell Pitre — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:07:44 -0400

I am not going to apologize for this. It just seems so fitting.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Sep 3 at 2015 10:32 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:32:03 -0400

It will probably have a strong chance to be approved no matter if the majority with or against it!