Women and Special Forces??

Question

I just wanted to not why so many occupations in the special force dont allow women!?! this is huge discrimination, in my oppion, even some simple jobs in the special forces and women can't be invovled in? anyone offended by this and also why is this so?

Answer 1

Yes it's discrimination and unfair but very very necessary. I am a female and I have been in the military in non-traditional roles (artillery and explosive handling) and I see why it's things are the way they are. Like it or not, most women are not as strong as men and physical strength can come into play for the success of a mission. Also, it's difficult to separate the "woman" from the "solider" A woman in a foxhole could jeopardize a mission just by being there... because she serves as a distraction.... either sexually (cuz men can be pigs) or by the fact that a man would act TOTALLY differently to a woman partner being shot than a man. His mind would be split between doing his job and protecting a woman. It's not something that's easy to overcome... it's part of our culture.

Answer 2

It's not discrimination; it's policy, and for good reason. The physical standards that have to be overcome in ANY special forces unit is rigorous enough for a man. The standards are set so high in fact that only a fraction of men (10%) ever get through the first 3 weeks. So of that fraction of men who do succeed, it only presents a handful of women who can meet the same standards. This being the case, primarily, because women are typically weaker and smaller in size than a male. Besides the physical mandates of the job, it has been thouroughly studied that putting a woman in a small unit of men would devistate combat effectivness, and probably reduce moral. This due mainly to unproffesional relationships that result.
Society has taken a mindset that women are the lesser of the sexes in many ways, and that is, in some cases is true. You also don't have droves of women lining up to join a special forces unit either. So it isn't really a big issue when it comes to equal rights. There are, however, units attached to special forces units, and these units work very closely in correlation with combat operations. Many women are located within these units.
Also, this is just a side tip...The only combat desiganted unit that puts women in direct combat with men is Military Police or Air Force Security Forces, and while it is primarily a law enforcment (MP) unit, it does see it's fair share of women casualties. Air Force Security Forces also has a "Special Forces" branch at Moody AFB. It's the 820th Security Forces group and they deploy with Army Rangers wherever they go. I do believe women are accepted as candidates their. Something to think about.

Answer 3

It's not just special operations or Special Forces (I'm taking special ops and Special Forces out because few even know what it's really about- my husband was a Ranger and part of a Special Forces Company- no tab tho). Women are not allowed in combat arms.
Women can be in support units just not directly in a combat arms unit. Women can do great and amazing things in combat- it's being witnessed every day.
Men and women are different. This doesn't mean 1 or the other is better, just different. Women excel at different things than men and men excel differently than women.

As the wife of a former infantry solder, I would never want a woman in the same unit. I know I could never drag my husband and his ruck which is around 150lbs....but another man could (one who's in the same position).

Our bodies are just different- smaller heart, smaller lungs, less upper body muscle, etc, etc. We're not inferior, just different. I can kick my husband's a$$ in some things but when it comes to "manly" work, he can have it.

I am not offended that I'm not allowed in combat arms. One day, maybe women will be allowed in infantry- however, it should be an all female company. Women have different needs-hygiene for one. I can't count the times my husband has gone more than 1 month without a shower. Even 2 weeks is DISGUSTING!

Honestly, I don't think America can handle their daughters, mothers, wives, girlfriends to die. Let's not even consider what could happen if captured- Jessica Lynch ring a bell?

I'm grateful for those who have served and those who continue to serve. I know what a sacrifice it is on their families and the soldier himself. I'd rather focus on supporting the troops.
HOOAH

Answer 4

Right or wrong, women aren't allowed into the actual Special Forces A-teams because it is federal law that women not be assigned to direct land combat MOSs or units. Trust me, all the macho BS aside, the brass wouldn't mind a few female SF. They would likely infiltrate many areas of the world where women frankly aren't given a second glance, and enemy troops are looking for SF guys in gilly suits. Misdirection, that's what it's all about. Why do you thionk the CIA has female spies?

Really, there is only one legitimate argument against female SF. The primary mission of SF is to train and assemble indigenous guerilla forces behind enemy lines. Most of the cultures they do this in are highly male dominated, and a female operator would be dismissed, ignored, or worse, regardless of her abilities. This means the mission doesn't get accomplished. Now, if you had the time, and it was a fairly tolerant culture you were embedded with, this might not be much of an issue, but cultures like that are rare in the conflict ridden areas we send SF.

Answer 5

In the infantry a women cannot serve because she can be more of a distraction. The same can be said of the special forces, but it is more down to physical ability. Hardly any women on earth would be able to pass the SAS ( if any at all ) selection, nor would a woman be able to take the immense levels of torture that may be inflicted on them if they were captured. Women do serve in certain Specialist Forces though, working alongside Special Forces but mainly in a espionage ( sp? ).

Also women are more important to the continuation of the human race in many peoples eyes so it is better to keep them from harms way. One man can impregnate many women, but one women can only be impregnated once every 9 months max.

Personally I think women are better suited to the jobs they do in the military and there is no need to increase what they can do. Front line fighting should never be done by women

Answer 6

This is so because jobs in the military involveing streinous combat are available to men only besides tradition this is so becuase of a few phisiological reasons. Women being generally smaller and less strong than men are at a disproportionate ability to handle carrying heavy loads for many days or carrying a wounded buddy? Could you pick up a 225 pound soldier with 50 pounds of gear and get him out of harms way? Most soldiers gear on a mission ie: Infantry/special forces can excede 120 pounds and need to be carried many miles. Some women could but far more men could. Womens hygenic cycles could be a problem in a combat environment. In a hand to hand fighting stuation men have a clear advantage. Women don't have as much testosterone than men so even if they trained up to be as strong as a man their strength would ware away without constant weight lifting. Unit cohesion is most important in fighting units and sexual temptaion would be undesireable. These are only a few reasons women are excluded from tanks artillery infantry and special forces. Women are allowed to be military police who engage in combat regulary. Fighter pilots and attack helocopter pilots. In the Israel defense forces women are not excluded from combat jobs and every israeli serves in the military. In the israeli army it's said that women are especially fearless and courageous when they and their friends are in danger due to a heightened protective instinct. Personally I'm undecided on the issue I think that as more and more technology is used in the military more jobs will open up. Also i just remembered in army special forces one of their main missions is to train foreign allies and possibley women wouldn't be well recieved by foreigeners who arent as gender equal as the west.

Answer 7

Once again...women can NOT handle the physical aspect of it. A normal infantryman has to carry rucks that are between 50-80 lbs. BUT a SF soldier has to have his ruck reinforced to be able to carry 150+ lbs not including weaponry. Do you know many women that can carry their body weight+ on their back without assistance? I sure don't. And let's not forget the whole aspect of being captured and what a woman would have to endure etc etc etc
Someone said they saw a woman with an SF tab...women can be support. BUT they do not go through all the training, selection etc etc (it's the same as with infantry units...women are support but are not in infantry MOS's)
Oh and no I'm not offended. I'm glad that the feminists are not getting their way at the expense of our soldiers (both male and female)

Answer 8

Im not sure about women cant be in Special Forces. Ive seen some female officers wearing the Special Force tab before. I can already see a few problem with women being in the combat MOS though. Like our female searcher who is in the military intelligent MOS but she has to ride in the stryker with us all the time because we need her to search females. When she has to use the bathroom we have to dismount a squad to escort her to the nearest house. She said one time, she had to go so bad but couldnt get out she had to pee inside the stryker infront of a whole bunch of dudes.

Answer 9

its the same reason why you dont see women playing in the NFL. no offense but for a week i had to train with some female marines and i literally had to drag them up hills and over obstacles so they could keep up with the rest of the squad.

Answer 10

Women just do not have the physical strength, or psychological strability for some the the thing special forces soldiers have to do. For example, killing a man by cupping your hand over his mouth, and ramming a knife into his guts.