The Army is studying whether to open combat arms units to female Soldiers, the Army's top officer said Jan. 6.
"We're looking at revising the policy," Gen. George W. Casey Jr. told a breakfast gathering of the Association of the U.S. Army in Arlington, Va. "We've had some work going on for a while, and that'll double back up to the secretary, I would think, in the next couple of months."
Women are currently barred from infantry, armor and Special Forces branches, Casey said. He did not say whether the Army is considering opening up all three areas to women, but he did say the study looked at the possibility of women in infantry
"We're looking at revising the policy," Gen. George W. Casey Jr. told a breakfast gathering of the Association of the U.S. Army in Arlington, Va. "We've had some work going on for a while, and that'll double back up to the secretary, I would think, in the next couple of months."
Women are currently barred from infantry, armor and Special Forces branches, Casey said. He did not say whether the Army is considering opening up all three areas to women, but he did say the study looked at the possibility of women in infantry
While female Soldiers have engaged in combat, they have done so as members of combat support units -- transportation, maintenance and military police -- not infantry. This was highlighted early in the invasion of Iraq when a convoy of the 507th Maintenance Battalion came under attack.
Three of those wounded and taken prisoner by Iraqi forces were women: Pfcs. Jessica Lynch and Lori Piestewa, and Spc. Shoshona Johnson. Piestewa died of her wounds while a prisoner; Lynch was rescued in a controversial, reportedly staged-for-the-camera mission; and Johnson was subsequently rescued along with other members of her unit.
Three of those wounded and taken prisoner by Iraqi forces were women: Pfcs. Jessica Lynch and Lori Piestewa, and Spc. Shoshona Johnson. Piestewa died of her wounds while a prisoner; Lynch was rescued in a controversial, reportedly staged-for-the-camera mission; and Johnson was subsequently rescued along with other members of her unit.
12 comments:
I think it's a fantastic idea. There are times when women can be just as rugged and hard-core as men--especially when they are jacked-up on estrogen. That may sound sexist, but it's true. And before a bunch of women get on here to call me sexist, I'm a woman. I know how I can be sometimes, and far from being emotional, I can be tougher than my hubby at times.
I think it's the worst thing we could ever do which means they will do it anyway. It's time to have one set of standards for men and women if you can hack it then you're in if not don't complain.
Women are not as strong as men they tried this in Israel and it failed completely. The men become protective of the women and breaks down unit cohesion.
Who cares if it weakens the military it's for equal rights.
All I can say is if they do it, everything has to be equal: running times, swimming times, pushup's, pullup's, fighting skills, same bathrooms (it will be the same in the field), EVERYTHING! When I was in, I wanted to know the person (PC) beside me was capable of carrying me out and holding their own in a fight to the death. Equal rights should (EQUAL) equal standards! Or, don't do it! A combat unit is only as strong as it's weakest link! For those of you who've been there, you know this to be true.
I think serving in the military should be mandatory for all who reach the age of 18. Two years of service.
Why not they let the queers in openly! They could pair the women with the Gays and there wouldn't be any sexual issues because the queers don't want the women and the women don't want the queers. Problem solved!
As long as a women can handle the job why not let her do it. Heck i know men who are in the service who cant handle combat. Dont judge the sex of the solder nor thier sexual prefrence judge thier strength, training, and endurance. And as for the person who said everyone should spend 2 years in the service that realy is stupid. Why send someone who is not mentaly or physicaly capible to join.Would you want thier death or the deaths of those fighting next to them on your hands?
I think every convict now in jail should be put through basic training, sent to a foreign country, given a gun and placed indefinately on the front lines for battle. Maybe they'd learn to appreciate the country that they all take so for granted. Housing them is a waste, the recivism statistics prove that rehabilitation does NOT work. Convicts would quickly learn the the true value of freedom and the costs to keep it. They might even learn the words "Patriotism and Pride".
10:46...I agree all the way
Been deployed 3 times, twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. I was with the 10th Mountain Division Light Infantry. We carried 75-120lbs worth of gear through the mountains and did not have showers for 45 days at times. We trained equally as well...everyone had high standards and you were carrying your weight along with your buddy on top of your shoulders. My personal opinion is DO NOT ALLOW WOMEN INTO THE INFANTRY. In the infantry the bond is strong and throwing a woman into an all male unit is asking for problems for her and the unit cohesion
I'm a woman and I'm all for equality and fairness and womens rights and all. But, I don't feel that women should be in the infantry and combat. There are some exceptions. You have the larger size women who are stonger than most men. Yes, they can serve there. They can hold their own against other men, carry another wounded soldier and so on. There are some super bad a## girls out there, and if they want should be allowed. If you can't carry another person and your gear. They you have no business being out there. They are gonna get theirself or anther "man" soldier killed trying to save their butt. Not to mention the whole ugly, but real distraction one or two women can bring to a unit of deprived men. They could find theirselves in trouble within their own unit.
How about we stop killing people until we are attacked again by a country's army?
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