I feel like if women can meet and uphold the same standards as the men do then I have no problem with them being in the infantry. But I want them to have to meet OUR (male) standards, not the army female standards.
Posted in these groups: 
Women in the Military
Women in the Military
Posted 10 y ago
This is a duplicate discussion. Click below to see more on this topic.
I keep getting these surveys from the TRADOC Analysis Center wanting to know how I "feel" about Females joining combat arms positions, and jobs currently closed to them. Not so sure I believe the Army really cares how I "feel" about the topic and not sure it matters.
This has been an ongoing debate in a couple units I have been in and I'd like to hear something other than: "that's a ridiculous idea", "If they can hack it, let them" and "the sexual harassment/assault rate will go up". I'd like to hear from other branches and females as well.
So, tell me, what's your take on it?
Note: Image added by RP Staff
This has been an ongoing debate in a couple units I have been in and I'd like to hear something other than: "that's a ridiculous idea", "If they can hack it, let them" and "the sexual harassment/assault rate will go up". I'd like to hear from other branches and females as well.
So, tell me, what's your take on it?
Note: Image added by RP Staff
Responses: 2
The biggest issue with this is that there is no way to 'fairly' test males against females using a single standard such as a SINGLE Physical Fitness Test.
Men & Women are just different from a biological standpoint.
Having a woman meet the male standards means she is working harder than her equivalent male counterpart, doing the same function. This is a concept that has to be overcome.
On the Marine Corps side, ALL (non Infantry) Enlisted Marines must go through MCT (Marine Combat Training) at SOI School of Infantry). Officers must go through The Basic School. This qualifies us to call ourselves Riflemen (Not Infantryman). A Rifleman for us is the LEAST-Skilled member of a Fireteam (PVT-E1 billet), but capable in the field. That means regardless of of anything else, all Marines can function within an "Infantry Capacity" (as the least skilled member, with direction).
Does this mean every Marine is capable of being Infantry? No. Only those who are able to graduate ITB (Infantry Training Battalion) at SOI or the IOC (Infantry Officers Course) are.
The Marine Corps has tried sending females through IOC, and has not had success yet. It has just been too physically demanding. That doesn't mean females aren't capable of it, just that the USMC isn't going to change the standards.
The Army is testbedding females through Ranger school. We'll have the opportunity to see how that works.
The military is very very good about "not lowering standards" but they are also very good about refining the standards to what is actually needed.
The big takeaway of this is. Don't think about it being an us vs them issue. Think about it being "can they meet the rigors of the job/school." If they can't pass the school, then they won't be Infantry. That's the standard that needs to be maintained.
Men & Women are just different from a biological standpoint.
Having a woman meet the male standards means she is working harder than her equivalent male counterpart, doing the same function. This is a concept that has to be overcome.
On the Marine Corps side, ALL (non Infantry) Enlisted Marines must go through MCT (Marine Combat Training) at SOI School of Infantry). Officers must go through The Basic School. This qualifies us to call ourselves Riflemen (Not Infantryman). A Rifleman for us is the LEAST-Skilled member of a Fireteam (PVT-E1 billet), but capable in the field. That means regardless of of anything else, all Marines can function within an "Infantry Capacity" (as the least skilled member, with direction).
Does this mean every Marine is capable of being Infantry? No. Only those who are able to graduate ITB (Infantry Training Battalion) at SOI or the IOC (Infantry Officers Course) are.
The Marine Corps has tried sending females through IOC, and has not had success yet. It has just been too physically demanding. That doesn't mean females aren't capable of it, just that the USMC isn't going to change the standards.
The Army is testbedding females through Ranger school. We'll have the opportunity to see how that works.
The military is very very good about "not lowering standards" but they are also very good about refining the standards to what is actually needed.
The big takeaway of this is. Don't think about it being an us vs them issue. Think about it being "can they meet the rigors of the job/school." If they can't pass the school, then they won't be Infantry. That's the standard that needs to be maintained.
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google