Women in Combat

[JimmyMack]

This is a bit of a touchy subject for some but it is now real. The Secretary of Defense has dropped the long standard rule that women cannot serve in direct combat arms units. Each of us have young women in the family who could be subject to this. For example, how would you feel about women being drafted into combat arms in a national crisis situation? Please think about it and respond.

[Accord64]

At this point, there is no draft. There's always the chance there could someday be one, but I hope it's at least governed by my point in the next paragraph.

I'm fairly certain that under the new rules, women currently serving would have to volunteer for combat duty. They must also pass the same physical requirements that men do.

Please don't get me wrong, because I'm not at all comfortable with women serving in front line combat roles. I've never served in the military, so I defer to those whom I know that are serving (or have served). None seem to like the idea. Apparently, there are many factors in combat that you don't see discussed by proponents, or the media. Let's just say that a typical combat squad shares a lot, and putting a female in the mix would open up a number of troubling issues.

[Shann]

As a mother, it is terrifying regardless of whether a male or a female. I know different people with different life experiences will have individual outlooks. Like I can only really see it through the eyes of a mother and while it's unlikely that any of my kids would be drafted, there's always the next generation to worry about, even if for me the next generation hasn't been born.

My husband was in National Guard but never saw combat and I think women on the front line would bother him because you have to put your life in your fellow servicemen's hands and because there are physical and emotional differences in male and female, he says many guys would be nervous.

I wonder what the women who are into women's rights would feel. I suspect some would say it's about time while others may not like that idea at all.

It is an interesting topic to ponder.

[JimmyMack]

Your candor is appreciated, Accord 64, and this is indeed a very serious issue. I do, however, take slight issue with your comments on the draft. This new rule, signed by a Secretary of Defense on his way out the door, sets the precedent for us of women in a draft situation. While women now must volunteer, all bets are off when, or if, a draft is required. And I fear that with the current drawdown in active forces, this is inevitable at some time, particularly if our government continues to extend our military exposure to more hot spots around the world.

The other issue that needs to be addressed is personal privacy. In a combat situation, often the basic creature comforts for personal hygiene and cleanliness are not available. Soldiers are required to take care of bodily functions in front of their comrades and this is a squeamish situation even among men. What do you think it will do for morale with a unisex force?

Also, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs has already stated that if this creates problems regarding physical standards, the military may indeed have to "reevaluate" those standards. Currently just to site one example, basic training standards do vary considerably by sex.

I think we all need to ask for God's guidance and pray about this regularly. As for me personally, I think that men and women are uniquely different, each with special talents and strength, and I thank God that we are.

God bless you, Accord 64, for having the courage of your convictions to speak up. This is certainly not an easy issue.

[wandasewell]

While in the Air Force my job was as an Airfield Management Specialist which for many years had been a field for men only. I liked the fact that the Air Force was the most liberating of services allowing 95% of their fields to be opened to women. Even my basic training was in many ways alongside the fellows. I was athletic and energetic. I trained and qualified on an M-16 and worked in a chemical warfare suit at times and trained in the gas chamber. Do I want to see women on the front lines? No! War is not kind! As it turns out I was in from 1979-83 which was peacetime. In a drug and alcohol rehab ministry in VA., one of my students was in a war and it messed her up. War is not kind!