Is service the same as combat?

Question

I need to know this for the women in combat debate. The thing is that they (the goverment and upper powers) dont alow women to go into direct ground combat (engage with the enemy) all they can do is fly transport vehicals. They consider that serviece and we want to get them into acualy combat.

Answer 1

If a woman were taken prisoner in combat, the enemy would probably do terrible things to her. Especially fundamentalist muslims because they have little regard for women. They could torture a woman a lot worse than a man. I assume this is why they don't allow women on the front lines, but I say if they volunteer they should be allowed.

Answer 2

No. Combat is being shot at and returning fire. Service is just being in the military.

On a side note, I disagree with those that say women should be on the front lines. We're talking averages here, and your AVERAGE woman cannot go as fast, hard, or long as your AVERAGE guy. Besides, studies have been done on the psyche of warriors, and if women were on the battlefield, the men would feel too compelled to look after and protect them, sometimes at the cost of doing their job. This is all a side point to the one that was already mentioned...that if a female ends up a POW, she's going to get raped. It isn't worth the suffering they'd endure, and the political fallout in the media from the occurance of such an event.

Answer 3

Women in combat is a real tricky subject. It is difficult enough to watch your buds get blown apart in a fight. The psychological trauma of a woman getting blown away is a difficult concept to accept by their male counterparts. No matter how hard you would try, relationships would form in a combat unit and strong feelings would probably enter into decision making during an engagement. Not a good thing for anyone involved. Then there is the second guessing that would go on if a lady were killed in combat-especially by someone who may be emotionally involved with the soldier. Intense would be an understatement. It is difficult to imagine a cohesive unit with a sexually integrated combat organization. Not sexist-just real life.

Answer 4

Good Question. Women can not engage in "Direct Combat" however, there are many roles that support Direct Combat on the front lines where women serve.

I don't know if you meant your statement "all they can do is fly transport vehicles" they way it sounded, but Medics, logistic support, police, drivers, pilots etc. are in harms way on the front lines everyday. It's really a little decieving to believe or lead people to believe that women who are serving in the military are not in areas or jobs where they can be involved in armed conflict. In todays environment, you also have those who may be trained as an "Administrative" troop, but get tapped to be a "Security Forces Augmentee" or Vehicle Driver because there is a huge shortage of troops filling those roles. I don't think the enemy stops to see if the driver of a vehicle is a man or woman before they lay a roadside bomb or IED.

Answer 5

Combat isn't the same as service. Combat is the actual fight, but don't be mistaken just because a service member doesn't have a combat related job "tanker, infantry" that they don't see combat and soldiers in transportation units see the most combat in Iraq with IED's.

Answer 6

Everything in the military is service. Everyone has a job that has to be done. But there is a difference between serving your country and fighting for your country.

If they want a combat job they can do EOD in the Navy(not sure about the other branches) or 14T in the Army, PATRIOT Launching Station Enhanced Operator/Maintainer.

Answer 7

Depending on the job, Yes woman can be in combat..although they do not have Combat related MOSs....Combat does not discriminate and anyone in the line of fire is a Combatant.
They do lots more than fly transports......

Answer 8

If there is EVER any doubt about female soldiers in combat, let this stand as an example of what female soldiers can do.

Let me tell you that Kentucky girls don't mess around....

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2005/03/after_action_re.html

Answer 9

NO, service is just doing your time.
Combat actually involves being in agressive action.

And there's no reason why women can't go into combat.
The Palestine Army allow their woman into combat.
Women can kill just as well as men.