Women in combat?

Question

For the last 3 years, the US Army and US Marine Corps have been using women in combat in Iraq, due to military necessity - even though, on paper, this is illegal. These women soldiers have proved in action that all the sexist stereotypes that "women aren't suited for combat" are incorrect.

Should the Department of Defense catch up with the reality on the ground, and open combat assignments to women? Or should they continue the hypocracy of assigning women to non combat MOS's, but having them actually fighting?

Answer 1

I think the combat assignments should be the woman's discretion, as a volunteer service. Much like the Special Forces for the men.

One of biggest mistakes any man can make is to underestimate any woman who is properly trained in CQB (Close quarter battle) as women are the gentle sex, but when motivated can become extremely vicious fighters.

Another asset is a woman can engage right and left brain simultaneously, which allows them to think and react with extreme speed, not to mention being able to properly condition their minds for any situation and react accordingly.

If I had to make a choice between a woman or a man taking point in combat, . . . . .think I would be inclined to go with the woman. You can count on them, and they won't let you down when the going gets rough.

Good question,

Darryl S.

Answer 2

Though my answer is definitely "politically incorrect", I still stand by it. With this said, here's my "opinion" on this matter of allowing women to fight in combat....not the wisest of things. Why? Because it's not about whether they can handle the physical part of combat. It's because the enemy targets women more than men. They know that it's natural for a man to protect a woman...that's just the way it is, gals. And the enemy will take advantage of this fact. So, if they can capture a woman soldier, they will use her to get what they want, using psychological means or threats of violating her. This is the only thing I have against allowing women on the front lines. It's just a fact of life that women are treated differently, by our side as well as the enemy. Otherwise, I think women are just as capable of handling themselves in a professional manner. I know that that's what our military is thinking about when considering where women should serve. Don't you remember the hullabaloo when the news reported on the first woman soldier taken as a hostage? You'd a thought that the world just stopped spinning! Anyway, that's just my thoughts on the matter. <*)))><

Answer 3

"Women by their nature are not aggressive", you are so cute! Who told you that one? I don't suppose it has occurred to you to evaluate the careers of female combat pilots vs their male counterparts? Why don't you do a little research and get back to us? NOTE to JMS: This is going to come as very unpleasant surprise to you but male POWs get raped/molested all the time. But I don't hear anyone making a case to keep men out of combat. You might want too google that.

Answer 4

Women do not belong in combat! Women may be as brainy as men are however, they do not have the upper body strength a man does. If they did the standards for PT would not be lower for women than for men. Women are also distracting from the task at hand because men are more interested in protecting the women than fighting the good fight. To see women being captured and tortured brings down moral. Women should serve in a supportive role like they did in WW2. Otherwise, they need to stay home and raise their kids. Mothers have no business leaving their children and going off to fight in combat. They need to be home with their babies. I remember seeing reports of women who have to come home because of getting pregnant while they are on combat duty. I think this is ridiculous. They have to come home at the taxpayer's expense and nothing is accomplished anyway. No, women should have separate and supportive roles in the military but should not be pushed into the front lines to fight with men. I know this is not a popular stand but this is my opinion.

Answer 5

No they have not been using women in combat positions; only in the close support positions and air strike positions. I can see that you have never been in combat, so you would not distinguish infantry from supply transport, or artillery from ammo supply. Women are being killed in these jobs, but I do not think we are prepared, As Americans, to see woman combat solders. Even the Israelis keep women out of infantry units and for good reason.

Answer 6

..."using women in combat in Iraq, due to military necessity - even though, on paper, this is illegal."

it simply shows what of the contradictory and ideal remains obscure and confused.

if a woman wants to go to the front of line ... let her. she must have some realization of her cause/purpose and risk.

she is assuredly wanting to be there for social if not personal acceptance. is this not what she has been fighting for....the right and privilege or honor of killing others whom she perceives to be less as worthy of breath or faith or prosperity. or was it to prove she is able a killer as her male counter-part..? whatever....determines which is more valueable to her...social or personal acceptance...

ask her to regard the men in the front now with her.....do they have the same rights/privileges/honors and purposes ..?

trust me....when the dude with the gun sees the dudette with the gun put a hole into the 15 or 16 y/o youths head....he will respect her as not only a worthy soldier but a true human killer....

which the military loves to see.....there is nothing they enjoy more than to know that their corps of young killers are doing their job and not wasting tax-payers money....

it may create something of a dilemma for the public relations team though in the media....since many many many young and older women (and men) are not very comfortable with the notion that young ladies are turning into killers and other less than noble creatures......but hey.......isn't that what ''feminsims'' is all about...

being like and having access to the re-creations and re-destructions so many young men have been forced into by dumb human intelligences....?

or could ''equal rights'' mean something else altogether...?

i don't know.....i think if you look at the great numbers of young men in the military that have been given acceptance to carry heavy munitions and automatic weapons.....many will question why they have gone out of their way to be accepted by persons who accept them conditionally only anyway.

what frightens me though is this....as may be outlined by the reality of young men whom go to fight and kill without any 'rights' of their own in their own homeland.

if young ladies are gaining social acceptance (military et.al.) by becoming willing to kill whom they have been directed to kill by whatever illusionary supports and conditions have been provided by the glossy enclosed men and women of elite determination...is it possible to with-hold the families of these young ladies until they meet a ''kill-quota''.?

or will they be able to love and support unconditionally their own in a world which will accept them conditionally..?

what is most sad is that the most dumb rule over the most needy.

meanwhile.....those whom love unconditionally but have not social acceptance will be minimally supported in the cause to pick up the remains of they whom hungrily eschew certain greater truths.


good luck....with your social acceptances...

please....

don't wait for applauses.

simply get to be well

Answer 7

Yes duhh. My brother is 16 and he wants to go into the army really bad but my little sister complains about that all the time.

Answer 8

I'm all for women on the front lines, equal rights and all. I'm even for women signing up at 18 for the draft. The only thing i would change is the double standard for fitness. one standard for both sexes

Answer 9

The aspect of this debate that makes me uncomfortable is when female soldiers are captured as prisoners of war, and then subjected to sexual torture and rape at the hands of the enemy.

Answer 10

It's not the fact that they cannot die as well as men . The question is do we want them to ?