18 replies to this topic

[Adam]

The U.S. military's leadership lifted the official ban on women serving in combat roles Thursday. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said removing gender barriers within the U.S. military will improve the fighting force as a whole.

"It's clear to all of us that women are contributing in unprecedented ways to the military's mission of defending the nation," Panetta said. "Female servicemembers have faced the reality of combat, proven their willingness to fight and, yes, to die to defend their fellow Americans."

http://www.military....23431425&rank=1

 

I'm in the U.S Air Force and I have many friends and a few family members in all branches of the U.S military. I've heard conflicting opinions; some have no reason behind their opinions and others support their reason(s) with real life experience. First off, I believe women holding combat roles would be a great thing. I've seen a lot of women so far in what I do, that are a lot more hardcore then men. I've been on mach deployments, where we are placed in a situation for 2 weeks. We have limited supplies and have to follow the chain of command. I've seen women take charge and give great orders and really kick ass in the field.

 

However; I believe we should mention the physical side of this. It's common knowledge that most women cannot obtain the strength of a man. There are always certain situations, especially in a fire fight, where pure strength will decide life or death. Will a woman, who trains the best they can, carry a 200lb troop/solider/marine etc. Also, during the menstruation cycle women are more susceptible to vaginal infections, because lets face it, sanitary supplies are not always available. How will menstrual complications affect the fighting ability.  Treating infections is a big skill we learn in first aid (Self Aid & Buddy Care in the AF). I'm no expert on periods, so I'll leave that to the experts...

 

I think that women should be able to join combat roles, but they need to meet the same physical requirements as men. The way it stands women have to do about 10-15 less reps then men in each fitness assessment (Push-ups & sit-ups) and can run each branch's respective distance at a much slower pace. The only thing I can really see women being able to 'get away with' is having a slower run time. They generally have a little extra baggage, if you will. We don't have hips designed to birth children, or breasts (well..some men do). I'm not sure if this should fall under the right to serve as an American citizen, or having the ability to serve.

 

What are your views on women in combat? Please, if you have any experience in combat with women, or just in general, share it with us. No matter what branch, division or country you're from.

Edited by Adam, 06 February 2013 - 07:59 PM.

[Mishelle]

I don't have a problem with it. Women fought in combat dressed as men in the Revolutionary War and in the Civil War. And even the ones who weren't dressed as men put themselves in harms way as nurses and spies by working near combat zones or directly in combat zones. If they want to then by all means let them. Just because a man has a lot of strength doesn't mean he won't be killed either.

[Lucian]

I don't think it's a good idea. At least considering a female PoW.

[Romy]

I also don't think it's a good idea unless they (women) are held to the same physical standards as men are.

 

Equality is a double edged sword in this case.

 

If a guy signing up for the armed forces get rejected because he can't run a mile in a certain amount of time or complete a course in a certain amount of time, why should a woman be allowed to join if she does just as good as he did?

[Mishelle]

Women have been PoW already.

[Silverblizzard]

I think women should have the same chance to defend their country as the men do.

 

And while I don't doubt the prowess that women bring to the battlefield, my only concern would be in the upper body area. Lifting those huge shells into one of those large gun turret/ cannons is insane. Most women I know in the military don't just do the minimum standards for the PFA (I think that's what it was called back when I was in), they go above and beyond what is expected. A few were matching the guys.

 

When I went in, I went in the knowing the fact that I was going to be judged and looked down upon by the other sex, so I did all I could to prove I wasn't like the other females that also compose the female population in the military....the ones who won't lift a finger because they are "on their periods" or would skate off and disappear when the physical aspect of the job came into play. I can't list how many pants/ underwear I ruined because I worked through it. Granted...both my feet are shot to shit (achilles tendonitis in both feet when I left service, no arch in either feet anymore, have developed plantar fasciitis over the past 2 years and now have bone spurs due to the tendons in my feet being useless and not taking the demand I put on them)...a *cough* few mental health issues, but shit, nowadays, who doesn't have some kind of issue? Lol...

 

But I also understand the negative attitude toward it from the male side because I'll be honest in what I saw on my ship....most of the drama was started by the females. Not all...but most. When a female accuses a male of sexual assault/ harassment when he really did nothing wrong and was actually innocent on his part, the male is almost sure as hell going to get some serious consequences for actions that didn't even happen. I'm not sayin it doesn't happen, but when a psycho bitch wants a guy and guy says no, all she has to do is drop the word rape and shit hits the fan. This is what I have seen when I was in. From my gathering, it's slowly going down-hill. 

 

You got guys that abuse the system and females that abuse the system too. But the good ones make it count. I'm not ever going to say I was a great sailor, or even a good one, but I did my jerb and helped every time I could.

[Romy]

Women have been PoW already.

 

 

Do you believe women should be held to the same physical standards as men if signing up for combat roles?

[Mishelle]

Do you believe women should be held to the same physical standards as men if signing up for combat roles?

 

I don't understand what the point of that would be? Women have already engaged in exchanging fire in Afghanistan and Iraq. Women troops have been ambushed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Women have been captured of prisoners of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. All this is doing is making it official. I'm not saying the standards should be lowered drastically for women I'm just saying I don't understand in saying "women must be just as strong as men in every way or they're not allowed!" cuz women have already proven that they're totally capable of combat. They're soldiers, that's what they're trained to do. 

 

And in regards to the periods thing. They're really not that big of a deal unless the woman has PCOS, heavy bleeding or something medical going on. You don't need sanitary napkins or tampons, women can use a reusable sponge or diva cup. That is if they even get periods. Not all women get them to begin with and being very physically active can lighten your period or make it stop altogether.

Edited by Mishelle, 06 February 2013 - 10:14 PM.

[Romy]

I don't understand what the point of that would be? Women have already engaged in exchanging fire in Afghanistan and Iraq. Women troops have been ambushed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Women have been captured of prisoners of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. All this is doing is making it official. I'm not saying the standards should be lowered drastically for women I'm just saying I don't understand in saying "women must be just as strong as men in every way or they're not allowed!" cuz women have already proven that they're totally capable of combat. They're soldiers, that's what they're trained to do. 

 

 

I'm not arguing whether or not women are capable of performing the same duties as men do in combat.

 

Let me clarify a bit..

Why should a woman (that doesn't meet the minimum physical standards set for infantry) be allowed to sign up for a combat role if a man that didn't meet them is not?

 

Aren't those standards set to designate whether or not a person (not necessarily  male or female) is physically capable or handling each and every situation that may present itself in a combat situation?

 

Edit: sorry if this isn't clear. I'm cramming for chem at the same time.

Edited by Ivysaur, 06 February 2013 - 10:26 PM.

[Mishelle]

I'm just going to be real here I don't know anything about why they set whatever requirement or what the reqs even are but at the same time I don't see any women asking for the standards to be lowered for them so I don't see the point in really discussing it.

[Orbit]

I can't think of a reason why women should not be allowed to serve in combat roles. If a woman is able to meet the minimum physical standards set for such roles (and not those of a lowered standard) and also serve some helpful purpose in a combat role in the armed forces, what reason is there to forbid her from serving in such a role? 

Edited by iGIR, 07 February 2013 - 01:44 AM.

[Waser Lave]

I think anybody stupid enough to want to join the military should be allowed. There should be no other requirements than that.

[Pilot]

I think anybody stupid enough to want to join the military should be allowed. There should be no other requirements than that.

 

lmao this guy

[Adam]

I think anybody stupid enough to want to join the military should be allowed. There should be no other requirements than that.

I dunno lol..the benefits and pay are quite nice. Not too many stupid things about it. We're not talking about general entrance into the military, just certain jobs.

[Dazz]

I dunno lol..the benefits and pay are quite nice. Not too many stupid things about it. We're not talking about general entrance into the military, just certain jobs.

 

He's just baiting. I'm half and half on the issue, one side of me says equal rights and all that, but the other side of me thinks about most mens natural instinct to protect the women. I know people who can be the most professional people in the world, but as soon as they see a woman get hit/hurt by someone then they go absolute ape shit. And then there's the whole case of the woman who gave birth in Camp Bastion, imagine the media shitstorm that would have followed if she had been kia whilst not knowing she was pregnant.

[Waser Lave]

He's just baiting.

 

If giving an honest opinion is considered baiting then, yes.

[Dazz]

If giving an honest opinion is considered baiting then, yes.

 

You're calling everyone that wants to join the military stupid knowing that in the very first line of Adam's post he says "I'm in the U.S Air Force and I have many friends and a few family members in all branches of the U.S military". I know you be trollin'

[Waser Lave]

You're calling everyone that wants to join the military stupid knowing that in the very first line of Adam's post he says "I'm in the U.S Air Force and I have many friends and a few family members in all branches of the U.S military". I know you be trollin'

 

I don't personally regard a job where you can be sent to kill or be killed on the whim of politicians to be a particularly sensible career choice.

[ZERO]

I don't personally regard a job where you can be sent to kill or be killed on the whim of politicians to be a particularly sensible career choice.

Isn't this the post modern outlook? lol

 

I have to kind of agree to an extent. I just personally know a lot of people who joined the military and were using it as a last resort because they couldn't get real jobs or didn't want to go further their education after they graduated, it was simply the "easy way" out for them. Im not saying this is everyone's path who joins the military, simply just the bias that I have from personal relationships. On the same side of the coin, I've had friends who joined the military because it was just in their family, but they absolutely love it, and frankly are quite good at doing whatever it is they do, enough to where they keep getting asked to go back and are making a pretty decent amount of money.