Ban on women in combat to be lifted

[Devildog]

lol. There you go. Wag it again!

I must really intimidate you.

Seriously bro... I aint even tryin'.

[wuapinmon]

[Surfah]

This morning on local radio listeners were calling in and opining on this subject. A significant majority, I'd say 4-1 said it was a bad idea. I was surprised by all the women who called in. All of them were against it. Small sample, but it was interesting. Especially given the demographics of my area.

Women should have to register for the selective service IMO if Panetta and the JCs really want this. Standards for infantry and special forces cannot be lowered to accommodate a certain percentage of women. Women who qualify for these MOS need to be fully integrated with men in their battalions beginning in boot camp where they are currently segregated. The distribution of work needs to be equal as well.

Personally I side with the Notorious GNP. I think he has articulated the argument for me well enough. I also think the Devil himself has as well, in his own way. I think he perfectly reflects the attitude of many of our guys patrolling outside the wire. Putting women with them just seems like a disaster. This isn't necessarily an indictment on a woman's ability as much as the pervasive culture and attitude towards women that I think will be extremely difficult to break. The lessening of any standards or requirements for females will only cause resentment among these.

[Moliere]

This morning on local radio listeners were calling in and opining on this subject. A significant majority, I'd say 4-1 said it was a bad idea. I was surprised by all the women who called in. All of them were against it. Small sample, but it was interesting. Especially given the demographics of my area. .

I'd bet that ratio would be similar to a ratio of Mormon women who would say they don't need/want the priesthood. This is more about social change and opportunity.

[All-American]

This is more about social change and opportunity.

That I find troubling.

[Surfah]

That I find troubling.

Agreed.

[Moliere]

That I find troubling.

I don't as I think women will prove they are capable to fight just as they are capable to fly planes, run companies and work in factories. The perception right now is that they aren't capable and that perception needs to change.

All the other issues are small and can be managed.

[Surfah]

I don't as I think women will prove they are capable to fight just as they are capable to fly planes, run companies and work in factories. The perception right now is that they aren't capable and that perception needs to change.

All the other issues are small and can be managed.

This isn't flying planes, running a company or working in a factory.

[All-American]

I don't as I think women will prove they are capable to fight just as they are capable to fly planes, run companies and work in factories. The perception right now is that they aren't capable and that perception needs to change.

All the other issues are small and can be managed.

How the women fight is just one half of the problem. How the men around them fight is another.

I'm all for social change and equality, but tinkering with the military with any objective other than making our army the most effective fighting force the world has ever seen makes me nervous.

[Surfah]

One of the women callers this morning said she thought women should be able to serve in combat units so long as they qualify and they're not mothers. I thought that was interesting. She hung up before offering her reasoning.

[Moliere]

One of the women callers this morning said she thought women should be able to serve in combat units so long as they qualify and they're not mothers. I thought that was interesting. She hung up before offering her reasoning.

LOL! That's because these is no good reason.

If women ever want to throw off the shackles of being the caretakers of the home, and not much else, they would stop acting like this. I hope that someday our country will mourn the loss of a man just as much as they would the loss of a woman. I also hope that our country would be just as concerned about the welfare of a man than it is with that of a woman. I believe the only way to do that is to force change on a group. It worked (somewhat) for segregation although I'll make it clear I'm not making a 1:1 comparison of this sexism to racism.

[Bo Diddley]

So no one answered my question. Is it social injustice that there are no women in the NFL? My point is that there are physical differences between men and women that actually matter when it comes to fielding your most effective fighters.

[Indy Coug]

Yes, undoubtedly combat equality is one of the key components for casting off the shackles of a chauvinistic society.

[Colly Wolly]

I'd like to see cross gender boxing or UFC fighting.

[Goatnapper'96]

I don't undestand your response? Are you saying that non-civilian military leaders are against women serving in combat?

I understand that there will more than likely always be a need for "nuckle draggers" (as you called them) to fight on the ground, but you cannot tell me that every single position in a "combat" unit needs to be one. I would hope that there is more than brute strength in our forces.

I like what Creekster said earlier, it is not that we want there to be a 50/50 split of men and women, simply an opportunity for women who qualify to be able to serve their country like any man.

I finally read what Panetta is proposing and it isn't what many are reporting it to be. What it changes is it allows women to serve in combat units in their MOS. As most are aware women do many jobs in the services in combat support and combat service support MOS's. The restrictions were that they could not serve in certain combat arms MOS's and they could not serve in combat units even if those units were assigned MOS's in which women can serve. This change allows them to now serve in combat units within the existing MOS's women may be. Each branch of service must now justify which MOS's women will be precluded and why.

My point in the comment is that very few people understand the military. That is why we often read statements deferring to the judgement of military brass. I thought some of your comments reflect a level of patent absurdity about military service, namely the one about women bringing a level of intelligence and strategy that might improve our military. I think you value social change a great deal, and I think that is really ok. However from my perspective it really influences how you view this situation. Folks that value social change often say these lovey-dovey all inclusive comments that go over real well in a University Poly Sci course. However, you will notice that there is almost ubiquitous opinion from those who have actually worn the uniform that putting women into combat MOS's might not be a real good idea. Perhaps we are just a bunch of old fashioned conservatives who need the pied piper to lead us to reason, or perhaps we might know a bit about that which we speak. Admittedly, I don't think many of us view the rampant sexual abuse in the services as the number 1 military threat to our country.

But your final comments in the above post indicate you just want women to be able to serve in the MOS's that they are currently already serving within combat units. While I think there are many good reasons to be wary of that idea, I am not as concerned about that as I am allowing women to actually serve in combat MOS's. There is a huge difference saying to a female Blackhawk pilot you can now serve in a Blackhawk company assigned to an Infantry Brigade versus saying we will now allow women to serve in the Infantry. Combat InfantryWOMEN Badges? If those become real, what can I then award the wankers on Cougarboard?