Women in the military draft, or dump the system altogether? New report looks at radical options

MY COMMENT: It is practical to retain the Selective Service system, just in case. But with the combat military role for women still evolving, and social expectations in this regard still in conflict, at most one would think any draft of women would not include combat roles, but perhaps keep them as an option for drafted women to consider.

Combat roles for women are opening up, but only a handful of women have passed training standards for Army Ranger School or Marine Infantry training, to name two. That said, women have a very good but limited track record in combat with especially Military Police units since the 1980's and including Operation Iraqi Freedom, where MP SGT Lee Ann Hester earned the Silver Star achievement for her role in defeating the enemy after the convoy she and her unit were guarding came under direct fire from insurgents.

My opinion is that together, women would prove as effective as all male combat units or better, given the opportunity to design training, tactics, uniforms, equipment and weapons to meet their specifications and needs. As we do in competitive sports, we separate females at about the 7th grade. Remember, the best women athletes outperform most male athletes. This would be true in combat as well, again, in my opinion.

With the exception of my first few years in the military as a combat medic with mechanized infantry, and later in my first officer role as a medical platoon leader in a leg infantry unit, the majority of my service time, enlisted, Officer Candidate School and as an officer, I have been in integrated units, combat service support and combat support. My last nine years in uniform, 1 LT through Major, were with Enemy Prisoner of War Military Police liaison units, with female enlisted, NCO and officers.

So, after 22 years of service, my opinion is that soldiers are soldiers. Some work hard, integrate themselves and their skills into the team effort and follow the Army Values, and very few, but some do not. Male, female, gay or straight ( I don't know if I have ever served with a transgender soldier, nor do I care), we care more about performance and accomplishing the mission than about personalities and personal preferences.

I believe that keeping the Selective Service is valuable, and whether or not it someday includes women is fine with me as long as they have a CHOICE to serve in combat arms (for now).