I had said earlier a man put this into words far better than I could and I felt the need to share what was said in hopes that if ever I have any "followers" they too can see why so many are opposed to this idea.
The combat arms branches are traditionally considered Infantry, Armor and Artillery and typically require a 1 to 10 ratio of combat support units. As many of you are aware, I consider most officers to be an impediment to getting things done, so the fact that the Joint Chiefs signed off on this doesn’t immediately convince me of anything. I am, however, the father of a little girl with whom I am constantly striving to imbue a can do spirit by telling her daily, “Girls can do anything boys can do. You can be the president, a princess or a pirate.” I do not believe however, that means my daughter, nor anyone else’s daughter, should now be allowed to serve in the infantry just because the military hierarchy says it is okay.
Women, as a general rule, are simply not suited to the rigors of life in the infantry. That does not mean some women aren’t capable of graduating the Army’s Infantry School at Ft. Benning, GA. As an Irish-Catholic kid I know a few tough Mick Chicks who could probably make the cut, but they are not the norm, nor even an average aspiration. The day to day life in an infantry unit is simply too onerous and physically wracking for women. As a 17 year old infantryman, my maximum encumbrance was around 120 pounds, while I myself weighed just under 140 pounds. It was not until I reached my permanent party that I learned “light infantry’ simple meant there were precious few vehicles to carry anything. Our leather personnel carriers (speed-lace combat boots) were designed for that task and my back shouldered the burden. A 17 year old female, even one of roughly the same weight of 140 pounds, would just have been unable to do what I did, for the same time that I did it.
Understand that I am not speaking in absolutes. I find it somewhat irritating that I must write that sentence, but I am sure someone will give me anecdotal evidence of some female somewhere who could do anything I do better and tell me that, in her day, Brigitte Nielsen could have kicked my ass AND carried my ruck. For the record, I stipulate to those facts. What this discussion entails is the average male and female. I am also quite well aware that the Israel Defense Forces have female infantry. According to the latest statistics I could find, in October 2011, 27 female combat soldiers completed the IDF Ground Forces Training Course, along with 369 male soldiers and were promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant.” That is hardly evidence of anything, much less that the new policy in the US military is behind the times. According to the Israel Briefing Book: Israel Overview- Israel Defense Forces “90% of all military positions in the IDF are available to women,” including the Caracal Battalion, a mixed gender battalion which patrols the Israel-Egypt border, although most serve in armor and artillery units.” The results have been mixed at best and simply Googling the battalion will tell you why.
No woman could be expected to endure the daily rigors of an NFL franchise, at any position, because of the constant brutality. The same is true of the Infantry. I desire total equality for my daughter and would be beyond proud to see her in Army blue one day, but not in the sky blue of the Infantry. That is a “boy’s club” and no females need apply.
You can read on this at EatMoreBugs.blogspot.com titled No Ma'am there is far more detail and insight given but in the end his argument is one shared by countless combat veterans such as myself. There are men who cannot do what we do nor want to and the women who do want to are just out to prove something and will get countless people injured and killed. Those that do hack it and "make the cut" and become good combat soldiers are going to be such a minuscule fraction or a percent that will never get the recognition anyway because those that shouldn't be there will have already made a bad name for all.. Its inevitable and I just don't understand what is going through the minds on anyone these days..
Call me what you want, I dont see a place for women in front line combat. The End.
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