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

I've never been in combat, but l've spent 5 years as a wildland firefighter. Not exactly the same thing, except for massively long days, hiking and packing in supplies and tools, no showers, sleeping on hard ground etc. So the biggest thing I'd tell them is make sure its something you truly want to do. Make sure you know what you are getting into. And prepare a head of time. When I entered the army, I'd already spent 4 years in JROTC during high school and 2 years at a military Junior college so I was ready, and I knew I didn't want any type of combat position. So that's the very first thing I'd say. Then I'd tell them they have to work hard for it. They'll be compared to all the men they are serving with and they shouldn't expect to be coddled or babied along. Working as a wildland firefighter there is no difference in standards. If you can't hike 3 miles carring a 45lb pack in under 45 minutes, you don't qualify for full line duty and gender is not considered at all so make sure you can meet the existing standards.

Most of the responses seem geared towards unit cohesiveness and acceptance but there is a bigger picture to keep in mind. Go in, do the best that you can, but if you can't keep up then you should be looking for another MOS. Forcing the issue and changing the standards only puts everyone in jeopardy. The Marines did their study with an all male combat force competing with a mixed gender force and not 1:1, it was only 25% female. The all male combat force outperformed the mixed gender force. Your recruits are not just applying for a job, they volunteering to serve this nation. The goal is to go to battle and win period. War is not about fairness. You win or you lose. There are no trophies because you showed up. Fielding a fighting force on the battle field is about preserving our nation and our way of life. If they are up to the challenge then who cares if they are a man or woman. But they need to be able to do the work day after day after their initial training too. It's not about just completing infantry school or ranger school, you have to be able to perform at that level day after day. That ruck sac isn't going to get lighter with time (somehow is seems to get heavier).

winning.http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/09/10/mixed-gender-teams-come-up-short-marines-infantry-experiment/71979146/

My advise is don't do it just because you can or to make a statement. You will be sorely disappointed in your decision. If you decide to join the Infantry, Armor or any other combat arms branch, do it because you feel it is the right thing for you. Understand it won't be easy, glamorous or fun. It will be hard, backbreaking work. You will be expected to carry the same load as your male counterparts. You will not be given any breaks and when your Sergeant tells you to ruck up and move out, you will be expected to pick up your load and move out with your sometimes 100+ pounds on your back and your weapon. I would also tell you that even though it is authorized by the military, a lot of the soldiers may not except you until you prove yourself. However, that it like any new soldier in an Infantry unit. It will just be more intense for a female.

Get in the best shape possible. Get a pack and do lots of road marches. Work up to 45 lbs. and 12 miles. You have to have tough feet or be able to walk with bad blisters. It doesn't matter which so long as you can perform.

SSG Bethany Viglietta This has to be one of the best questions I've seen posted in several weeks. Kudos to you for asking such a valuable question.

Be prepared to not have any privacy.
Nothing is off limits when it comes to humor.
The Infantry are not happy about women joining.
There is going to be some jealousy and flirting.
You will be expected to maintain the same standards as everyone else.
You will be expected to keep up with everyone else.
If you cant hack it you will probably end your career after four years because they will label You a shitbag and treat you as such.

Look the bottom line here is that the combat arms guys don't see women like the rest of the military. Its black and white, either you can keep up or you cant. If you can then there wont be many issues, but if you cant youre going to have a long 4 years. These guys are already disgruntled about this, so women are facing an uphill battle here. You have to go in with the mindset that youre going to show them all you can handle it. If they adopt that mindset and strive to outperform their peers they'll do fine. But like I said, this is an all male field. Its like being the only girl on an all male football team. Nothing is off limits and don't expect special treatment.

I have always felt that as long as ANYONE can meet the set standard and get the mission done, then it's no skin off me.

Well...my opinion on the matter is this:

Be prepared. Meet (and exceed) your standards. Attend to your duties and responsibilities as you should.

I'm a retired submariner, so combat for me takes on a different perspective than for Army Soldiers. But male or female, combat is no joke. Perhaps more so than at any other time, your life, and the lives of those around you, are directly dependent upon your capabilities.

Those capabilities are physical, mental, and emotional. And they aren't any different between the genders.

So maximize them. Don't compromise. Know your job. Learn the jobs of those around you and above you. Do your duty. Know your limits and push them. Don't accept any less from yourself or your team mates.

And if anybody should contest the gender issue? So long as you're doing what I've said, as far as I'm concerned, they can bugger off.

Wow, there seem to be a BUNCH of people saying "don't expect to be treated differently" and "just do your job and everything else should work out" or some such thing. The problem with those types of comments, as well-meaning as they are, is that they are basically WRONG. The truth is that female Soldiers aren't treated like "one of the guys" in most NON combat units, and they damned well aren't going to be treated like @just another Soldier in combat units. Young Soldiers will vie for a female Soldier's attention and for her, ahem, attentions.
So what's a female Soldier to do? Well in that I completely agree with what most of the other posters have said here - do your job, don't let the good 'ok boys network ruffle your feathers, give as good as you get. But to all that I add this: don't fall into the trap of being the "Unit Princess." Don't let the fact that men are essentially a bunch of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals who follow their libido wherever it leads them become an issue by buying into all of the platitudes that will come your way. And it doesn't matter whether your a beauty queen or a bulldog - young guys will find ANY excuse to "hot that," and be the guy who "conquered" that particular obstacle before anyone else.
So yes, do your job. Yes, don't just deal with toilet humor but either definitively tell the assholes to stop or join in and hit them all with both barrels. And yes, do what you need to do in order to fit in with the rest of your unit while maintaining both your integrity and following the Soldiers and (if you're of that rank) the NCO Creed.
But ALSO be constantly mindful that your generation is NOT the one that will erase the thought of gender in combat units - yours is the generation that paves the way for that future generation, and the best way to do that is to both keep showing that you are worthy of your billet and to "keep it in your pants" so to speak, and keep the business of being a Combat Arms Soldier SEPERATE from whatever pleasure here may be out there.
Godspeed.

As the first female SMP in the AR National Guard in 1980 and one of the first female CE Officers in the 39th INF BDE HQ's in the mid 80's I would tell them to carry their weight but most of all be a Soldier and do the job that you signed up to do without asking for special consideration. Be a team player and they will accept you as part of the team. Remember there are those that are negative in all areas of work whether it is in the Military or Civilian world. Do the best that you can do and the expertise will follow. Good luck.