Pioneering Female Ranger School Grad: Lowering Fitness Standards for Women Is a Bad Idea

My big concern for women is the impacts on their bodies due to rather intense exercise needed to compete with tier-1 operators. Intensive exercise is associated with a unique set of risks for females. One particular area is related to hypothalamic dysfunction which is associated with strenuous exercise. This results in a disturbance of GnRH pulsatility, and can result in delayed menarche and disruption of menstrual cyclicity. Some may say whatever women not having to deal with periods in the field is not necessarily a bad thing but there may be long term effects that need to be considered by any females looking to cowboy or more appropriately cow-women up.

As well their is a bone density issue. Women are far more likely to develop low bone density and osteoporosis than men and while I'm not a doctor I feel confident in saying this could as well lead to injures or at least impact women negatively in a highly demanding op tempo.

However with that being said I think we need to look as well at other militaries that have added females into their combat arms as many other countries have been able to make this work to some degree of success.

As well with rescinding of the 1988 “Risk Rule” women have been allowed to serve in all positions except those engaged in direct ground combat roles; subsequently, women have been able to serve in almost all Air Force and Navy positions since the mid-1990s. (except submarines and some small vessels). This has allowed more female sailors and airmen to achieve general officer rank than their soldier and Marine counterparts. So there is as well an impact on the CoC. Point being I feel Air Force and Navy will have a leg up in integrating women into their ranks due to the CoC being comprised of more females.

In knowing this if I had a daughter considering joining the military I'd try to steer then toward AF or Navy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5457858/

What are your thoughts on this article, 1LT (Join to see)?

Agreed. I am proud of the Female Grads od the Ranger School but the Standards Should NOT Be Waived!