What is your advice for Females joining the ranks of the combat jobs in the Military?

I am one of those who opposes females in the infantry because I have sen a fair amount of serious infantry battle (think LZ XRAY), but your question is of interest to me as I believe that I need to help all soldiers succeed. I have never given this any thought before but, off the top of my head here is what I think;
1. Sexuality among 20 year old males is always on their mind. So, young females need to be aware that they will be looked at and thought of as sexual objects and learn to comport themselves in a manner that reduces sexual attractiveness. Be professional and friendly but do not play favorites with soldiers of your unit because that will create schisms in the unit. Hopefully, the soldiers will treat them as their sister rather than as a potential sexual partner. If a soldier behaves inappropriately tell him you don't appreciate that. If it continues let the chain of command know.
Never get drunk at a party or with your fellow soldiers. Think of all the date rape that happens at colleges.
2 Be prepared to live with little or no privacy when in the field, or, more important, in combat. Think how you will survive two or three weeks in a jungle setting without changing clothes, with the enemy around you, and occasionally bathing naked in a stream.
3. Be super professional in your MOS. Do more than your share. Everyone is prepared to notice and remember if the "girl" couldn't carry the machine gun or the radio when going up the side of a mountain.
4. You will, in all likelihood, be the only female in the platoon or even the company. There are not likely to be too many women volunteer for the infantry so learn to rely on yourself for intimate conversations. Remember, men like to talk about their sexual adventures so don't give them something to talk about.
5. In combat, be courageous.

I'm of two minds about this topic, which you may discern, but as was said, that "ship has sailed". As for my advice, I'll keep it specific to Infantry as that is the combat arm I am familiar with.

To start, the politicians, "activists" and other assorted characters who have NEVER done the job have been treating women completing basic training (OSUT) as the goal; like it's the finish line of a race and ignoring or giving short shrift to the years-long job that follows graduation. Getting your Blue Cord simply buys your ticket into the "big race". Don't get me wrong, OSUT is hard, and it should remain so. Some activist may decide that our standards are not "fair", though I assure you our enemies don't care about an activist's idea of "fairness", but they're damn grateful if we do lower our standards. Ignorant activists should never set standards, and "you" (i.e.: women, not you specifically) shouldn't let them! Undoubtedly there are women who CAN graduate from Sand Hill Infantry OSUT without having the standards lowered for them, and it's patronizing to those women to have someone make things "easier" for them when it's not beneficial or needed.

Now, let's move on to the "big race"; and understand it's a marathon.

It's long days and long nights. It's living for many weeks--not days--in the field. It's bad food. It's no showers. It's little sleep. It's motivationally salty language used since time immemorial. It's constant training. It's fighting in close quarters. It's going to be a job where nearly all the men around you either do not want you there, may not trust your abilities as a Grunt or may feel some misplaced chivalrous responsibility for you. It's inherently dangerous work even when training. It's a lot of weight on your back. It's living in close quarters in a training or combat environment where special accommodations may not be possible. It's dress right, dress. It's pooping in a hole you dug behind a cactus. It's sleeping in dirt. It's often hard, monotonous, grinding physical work. It ain't Hollywood.

So my advice relates to the latter paragraph. If you are a woman, and you want to join combat arms, specifically the Infantry--particularly if you're one of the 1st to do so--know that if you're determined enough and physically ready, you can graduate as an Infantryman, BUT you absolutely need to understand that there is so much more that will follow. Know all you're getting into and make yourself ready for that.

1. Insist on being treated like everybody else. Neither accept nor request any special consideration due to your sex, age, or anything else.
2. Don't be afraid to seek medical treatment for legitimate injuries. If you are hurt, you and the Service gain nothing by you "playing hurt."
3. Accept the fact that you may have to work twice as hard at everything and be twice as good just to be respected as a member of the team.
4. Have a sense of humor.
5. 20 years from now, that which is novel and exciting will be no big deal.

Females have been in combat zones forever now they are being recognized for being there. My advice for anyone male or female if you CAN NOT do the job go in a different direction. Women have worked too hard to earn respect to have it thrown away by someone not mentally or physically able to do the job. ( When I served in the late 70's we had to work twice as hard to prove we could do our jobs and nothing made me madder than to see a girl bat her eyes to get a man to carry her stuff or do her job for her. It was a insult to all of the women that had taken crap for her to be there.)

My advice is just meet the standard and don't accept the DoD's urge to lower them. I think that if a group of women service members (enlisted and officer leadership) collectively sent a message to DoD leadership expressing that while they appreciate the DoD's confidence and support, they (women) don't want the standards to be dropped just in order to get females in the combat ranks. Women would gain respect from the entire force and possibly help prevent this political move from getting out of hand.

Be sure of the your commitment. No one will judge you unfairly if your abilities fall short. If your commitment falls short, you risk that label being generally applied to everyone who follows behind you.

Females are already in combat arms units. We lead in them, we command in them. We all know that, we just serve in different capacities. Many of us have run the gauntlet and earned respect by being able to keep up and know our craft.
But there are some disturbing trends over the years I've noticed while serving in combat arms units.
First of all, respect yourself. Don't compromise. Do not give anyone any reason to question your integrity.
Second, do not ask or demand special treatment. You are an example which will reflect on the rest of us. You had better be tough. Tougher than you ever thought possible.
Third, learn to pee where the boys do. Learn how to clean your body quickly and thoroughly so you don't get sick.
Forth, do not be the female that lets every man "run through" her. I had the most problems with females trying to fit in by letting themselves be passed around.
Fifth, never lose control of yourself. Not just emotionally or mentally, but physically. If you're not able to drink and keep up, don't.
Sixth, start working on your run, push ups, and trigger squeeze now.

First, this is going to be hard. If you're doing this for any other reason besides your burning desire to be the tip of the spear and take it to the enemy, find another MOS. You are going to be breaking barriers...with your face, your fists and your heart. When your fists and face run out (and it will), your heart better be HUGE. People are going to try and drag you down. You are going to be carrying the weight of future female combat soldiers in your rucksack every day. That combined weight will feel like a yoke dragging you down. Find someone to talk to...a senior female enlisted member or officer. It will help. Be a bitch. Be proud of it. Own it. Every good female officer I have known has been labeled an ice-queen or a bitch by someone. It's a label of pride. That means men who are incompetent, ignorant and feel threatened by a powerful and competent woman see you as capable. It is unfortunate, but again...this is going to be hard. 25 years from now, it won't be as hard. 50 years from now, it will be normal. 100 years from now, we will question why we even thought about keeping women out of this line of work...but right now...it's going to suck. You still want to sign up? Good. Put your big girl pants on and ruck up. Make history. Don't take any shit. Give it as good as you get it. Stay strong. If you quit...you quit for everyone.

My only advise is to not wear your emotions on your sleeve, and remember the type of soldier that makes the best grunt tends to walk a thin line between confident and cocky so they may seem arrogant. Also grunts are highly competitive so don't be afraid to push yourself to be as good as or better than them in any event, pt included.

Do your job! The military isn't what you thought it would be. Nor is it what the men thougjt it would be. DO WHAT YOU ARE TOLD! Unless it is immoral or will harm you.