The ban on women in combat in the US has finally been lifted. We won't see changes for a while yet, but I am so glad to see progress being made.
Been keeping up with the chatter on this from people in an former military. Most seem rather unhappy about this. No one is saying that they cant do these jobs but apparently it is normal for the military to give women a lower fitness standard to get some jobs. People that have been in co-ed details are saying the double standard kills the teams ability to work together. There is also the opinion that many guys are not as willing to order a female in to a deadly situation.
I come from a military family. I live near a large base and shop there frequently, most military men I know are for it, and find that the ban is ridiculous. Also when the ban is lifted women will be required to meet the same guidelines. In many cases they already are.
Here are some quotes.. Quote: Quote: Quote: Not full quotes by the way. I think I filtered out the language. Not that any of it was bad but not nice for here.
I was not military so I dont know much about it. I do know from the stuff I have done that some people can handle more than others an you have to filter based on ability.
I'll comment only generally on this as an issue facing all military around the world. Equality by gender is seen as the required norm now in most walks of life in the West. I agree but equality by gender is not the same as standards of ability or aptitude. Requirements for a job must be exactly the same for male and female, with due regard for pregnancy issues. Making it easier for a woman, or any other target group, to qualify is wrong and, in military front line operations, downright dangerous. Front line work is, I suppose, about killing more than anything else. I have to question whether the proportion of women who are prepared to kill a man, woman or child is as large as the proportion of men willing so to do. I have no opinion but views of others, or preferably some facts, would be welcome. When any government opens the doors to greater equality, we must question the motive. Is it, in this case, the fulfillment of an election promise or is there a shortage of male recruits? Perhaps a new campaign on on the cards. Iran or Africa?
Since less than 10 percent of the military actually sees combat it is pretty much a hollow victory and most likely when a war comes women will be picked last like grade school kids picking players. It makes a few people feel good but is not really practical honestly. I have many family members in the military some women and very few women really want combat unless they have something to prove according to the relatives.
All I can think of is the Daily Show bit a while back on the subject of women in combat. Few things manage to make me double up in bitter mirth as much as that did. But yes, my feelings on modern combat aside, this was past due.
