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

I've been out of the Army since the end of 1974. As I advanced through the the ranks of the civilian industry I retired from I was, and still am, a strong proponent for women in the civilian workforce. I've always had the mentality that I was going to hire or promote that individual that I felt would do the best job and subsequently get the best out of their subordinates. During my 30 years prior to retiring I only had to fire one female and I've lost count of the number of males I had to let go and most of those I inherited due to mergers, acquisitions, etc. That being said I'm all for women going into combat MOS's. My main concern is can women handle the rigors of combat. It's a hell of a lot more than just shooting a weapon and I don't believe women fully understand what exactly will be required of them. I may be proven wrong and truthfully, I hope I am. I also believe that in the short term there will be a lot of problems. Conversely, I see it as a benefit in the long term. Bottom line is I fully support the effort and anticipate a better military for instituting the program. I suspect I may get blasted somewhat for my thoughts but the military needs a varied perspective and by allowing females into an institution that was in the past a male only environment will offer that new, and different, line of thought and logic. And yes, I have three daughters and five granddaughters and I would fully support their decision if that's what they wanted to do.

Train. Cardio and weight training. Build your muscles up. The combat load of an infantryman these days is crazy. You will need stamina but more important is your ability to carry the combat load and then some.

Be extremely competent in your craft, always maintain military bearing (professionalism) and appearance (ht/wt), treat all people with dignity and respect.

Be exceptionally competent in your craft/field, stay physically fit (APFT 290 and above) always maintain bearing and appearance.

Be prepared to carry your own weight. Don't go into it thinking if it gets hard you can quit. If you want to do it, buck up and do it.

Wow, this is a difficult one and an easy one. You see, all Soldiers go through Basic Training first. Basic training is designed for all Soldiers regardless of their selected specialty, to prepared them with the basic skills to survive, and defend their self in combat. What we need to understand is that the combat zone is located where ever their strongest missile can reach or where ever cells of attackers decide to move with the intend to terrorized, injured or kill their enemy. Anyway, to my Female comrades, I tell you that you must understand that as well as men, you are placing yourself in a increase position of danger when selecting a combat specialty where you may be in the position to survive without most of the commodities that women expect, in my opinion, like privacy to perform physiological needs and personal hygiene when needed during the month. Don't forget that some of you may also suffer of health changes that may limit your ability to perform, and I mean cramps and other things. All of this things are related to your body natural changes in how your body prepares for natural things of you physiology like being ready to conceive, etc, but I fill that if joining in a combat specialty is what you which to do, then, you will find the way to controlled and you will have a plan A, B, C, and so on, so that you may achieved you goals and be successful no matter what the possible obstacles may be. It doesn't matter what you do in the military, you may face with a situation that may place you in a position worse than any combat specialty may face. Been in a combat specialty will prepared you to better overcome the reality of war and give you superior skills to accomplish the mission of the armed forces to fight and win wars. Ladies, don't limit your self for anything if you understand what you may face and go through, if you know you have a plan to overcome the obstacles. Go forward, Godspeed and so help you God.

I would tell all females to be supportive of each other. If they join thinking they have to compete against other females who are right there beside them joining, it will be that much harder for them. I know back in my day, this was an unfortunate truth. Hopefully things have changed as more females have competed together on teams and developed a support system. I would advise them to seek out any support from higher up that is available. Probably not going to be to many mentors out there for them though.

Here is my advice, based on nothing at all other than having spent time in 2 of the combat arms. Don't act like you are expecting special treatment, don't try to over compensate (there are enough big egos in combat arms already), expect a measure of shit and don't assume all the shit you will get is because you are female.

I would say make sure you are up to the job in every aspect. Because everyone is dependent on the other to be able to do their job efficiently. And don't be afraid to ask for help from time to time. I remember the day back in the summer of 87 I was in A6 Squadron VMA 533. We got our first and only female Ordnance technician , she was doing OK until it was time to lift a 500 lb bomb off a rack. It usually takes 4 able bodied men. Well this time you had 3 and one female, we'll they almost dropped the bomb on the hanger deck. Needless to say she was gone by the end of the week. That part of the job was one of the most routine aspects of ordinance to load bombs on the wings of the aircraft weather station on dry land or when signed to an aircraft carrier. She did not get in any trouble but the truth just came out she just wasn't strong enough for that part of the job so she was able to transfer to another MOS. There are nuances to every job that a lot of people don't think about or consider so make sure you are able to handle every aspect of that MOS. Because when the time comes and you're needed to perform it will be too late to say I changed my mind.

Find great mentors. They will be those that you turn to when you feel like quitting.