Women To Be Allowed In Combat

Outgoing Defense Secretary Panetta changes longtime policy

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is lifting the ban on women serving in combat, The Associated Press reports. The move, among the last of Panetta's tenure before stepping down as Pentagon chief, opens hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after more than a decade at war.

The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule banning women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units. It's the latest overhaul of longtime military rules. The "don't ask don't tell" prohibition against gays serving openly in the military was lifted in President Barack Obama's first term.

Panetta's decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women. Back in November, four servicewomen along with the American Civil Liberties Union sued the Pentagon and Panetta over the combat exclusion policy.

Women, the lawsuit claimed, were already serving in combat roles, but were not receiving recognition for it. Last year, the military opened 14,500 positions to women and lifted a rule that prohibited women from living with combat units.

It's long been a sensitive issue in the military and American politics. In 1995, then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich told students in a Georgia college course that "females have biological problems staying in a ditch for 30 days because they get infections, and they don't have upper body strength," and added that men "are basically little piglets; you drop them in a ditch, they roll around in it."

Posted 12:45 PST.

Do you agree with this decision?

[RobertJHarsh]

Goodie. Equality. Equal rights. Yeah...if they want to fight in America's wars then I say ok.

[PNWest]

Israel has been doing this for years.

[BelinKS]

Yes they have, and they are right! Including women in combat will only strengthen our troops. The remark made by Newt is easily avoidable with a simple, inexpensive cream. Women can contribute just as much as a man! I haven't found anything of significance that a man can do that a woman can too. Women have had to work harder than the men just to prove that they are able. The only problem I see is making sure the male troops do not rape the women! You pointed out in another post about our military men raping Japanese women. There have been many instances of our male military members raping the women military member. There needs to be put very harsh punishments in place that would make a man think before he commits this horrible crime!

[NTBFW]

@BelinKS sorry to burst your bubble but I have served in the Army. And there isn't one in a hundred women that can pass the minimum physical requirements that men must pass. That's MINIMUM mind you. Women have lower standards to pass. In combat you have to be able to carry your share of the load with no excuses.
No matter how hard I tried or how much pain I worked through, my body simply would not do everything that was required for combat operations. There are many jobs that are combat jobs women can do. But never a frontline infantry unit. There is a huge difference between want to and can do.

[BelinKS]

@NTBFW
I'm sorry you weren't strong enough. I only know what I did. My husband told me that my step aerobic classes and weight training couldn't get me through one of their PT drills, so we made a wager of sorts. I do the PT drill with his unit and he had to make it through a step class. Well, I beat 2/3 of the men but I don't know if the load carrying part was as heavy as yours. My husband couldn't make it through the step class. His legs got so tired that he kept tripping on the step and was told by the instructor that he had done all he could do and go sit down.

[NTBFW]

@BelinKS sorry but you are the exception. Most of the women I saw were pregnant. You know as well as I do that most women can't keep up.

[BelinKS]

@NTBFW
If they are pregnant, they should not even be attempting drills. You may be right that not all women are capable.

[DARSB]

It's not like the prohibition protected any female servicemembers. Look at Tammy Duckworth.

[twinertia]

All for it!

[joshinAZ]

They've already washed out of IOC, Rangers, and a slew of other things. This endangers lives. I'm positive that there are SOME women that can hack it, but the overwhelming majority can't.

[Keyjo]

Some men can't hack it either. I'd recommend that the females be held to the exact same standards as the males. I am confident that there will remain more males than females in combat roles. No one says it has to be 50/50. But if they can meet the requirements, then I am all for it.

[joshinAZ]

@Keyjo Agreed, I saw plenty of dudes wash out at SOI, but as it stands right now, females are already held to an easier standard than men. Shorter run times, less pushups/situps, flexed arm-hang instead of an actual pullup...do you see where I'm going with this? They held them to the exact same standards in Quantico and they washed out.

[joshinAZ]

@joshinAZ *longer run times, my bad.

[Keyjo]

@joshinAZ
Yeah, I got ya! I was in the Marines and I know that women were held to lesser standards. But that was before they were allowed combat roles. Now, they should be held to the same exact standards. Likewise, I think there should be no exceptions for age either. I know that the older a Marine gets, the less the physical standards required. There should be no exceptions for battlefield requirements. There can be no "weak links."

[woodtick57]

@Keyjo

Equal standards for physical fitness and ability would be fair and reasoned for combat positions.

[RobertJHarsh]

Strangely, I find women who kill in legal combat...interesting...yes interesting. :)

[riker]

Yes!!!! Let's send all the liberal women! I love the idea!

[woodtick57]

Will they have to register at the age of 18 like men do?

[texas_cutie75]

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I can not for the life of me figure out why women would want to be in combat? Before y'all try to string me up, I did my time in the reserves as a nurse. I worked with the severe burn victims coming home. Very sad work.

[Rlopez5490]

As a marine I do not advise this.. There would be alot of issue and sexual Harassment would rise good marines will lose career.. Women have hygiene problem then man.. I was in afghan and I didn't shower for 3 months.. It a brotherhood and it can be broken if women are put in it like saying put women in the NFL or MLB.. Keep the way it is now

[woodtick57]

I thought one of the main things they taught marines were honor and discipline...

[monim4]

@woodtick57 lol your born a male with male needs and your only TAUGHT honor and discipline dont ever forget that

[woodtick57]

@monim4

I have never felt the male need to sexually harrass a woman. one would think the military wpould be the safest place for women in this regard, yet the facts show it is one of the most dangerous place for them, vis-a-vis sexual harrasment and rape. why is that?(this holds true in peace time as well as war and in combat or noncombat areas...)

[Your_Name_Here]

I was in the Corps back in '69 - '75. I wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone but if women want combat let's hope someone who has been there will be there to provide the real facts to anyone interested. Don't think for one second there is any glory in combat or having your legs full of hot metal from a rocket attack or wearing someone's insides all over you or wondering if your buddy overdosed and decides you look like the bad guy or your next bullet should go through your own head.

[DARSB]

"There would be alot of issue and sexual Harassment would rise good marines will lose career.."

If a "good" Marine is sexually harassing anyone, I have to ask how "good" he might actually be.

[seedtick]

This is a tough one...I can see women having limited combat duty as aircraft pilots, tankers, vehicle drivers, etc., but I cannot see women humping heavy weapons or heavy recon duty,etc. It is just a fact of life that, in general, women cannot do the physical work demanded by many combat roles.

[Dan_Tien]

Women have already been exposed to combat, so I don't have a problem with women receiving comabt pay or volunteering for combat. That being said, I do not think that ALL combat units should be required to accept female members, especially special forces units. There is a brotherhood that develops among tightly knit units that would be impossible with women present. If that is a problem, counter it with all-female units.

[Keyjo]

Women should also be required to register for the Selective Service at the age of 18, just like their male counterparts.
I would also advise that the women should be held to the same exact standards as the men in terms of physical requirements, conditioning. There may be some women who can't hack it, just as there are some men who can't.

[AnnieO]

Whoa, don't put all of us women into that category. I have no desire to go to war or be put into a combat zone. I am an Army wife and my husband hates the idea of women in the military. Apparently an entire convoy has to stop because these women can't piss in a bottle. It's dangerous and it endangers our men. I am totally against it. And I highly doubt a little woman like me can carry a 250lb man off the field if he is injured. Let them try it. I'll serve my country over here and support my husband while he is over there. But women like me shouldn't have to sign up with the selective service because of those who wish to be "equal" to men. Women simply do not belong in combat zones. They will be targets of capture and rape by the enemy and who will have to rescue them? Our men!!!

[Keyjo]

@AnnieO
Okay, so do you NOT feel that women are equal to men?
I'll tell you that not ALL males want to sign up for Selective Service or be put into a combat zone, either.
As far as women taking a leak, I have seen women (intoxicated) squat down and pee right in the street. One, even in her own front yard.
As far as carrying a 250 lb. man, well, I don't think that all males can do that on their own either.
But females have successfully been cops, firefighters, have served in other nations' military.
But if women want the equal rights and freedoms, then they should also be willing to fight for them as well.

[AnnieO]

@Keyjo Physically, no, we are not equal to men. A vagina and a penis are very different things. Women have a place in the military but not in a combat zone. I stated that serve my country here, not at war. Equally important but not equal, by any means. I speak from the stories my husband has shared with me. During his first deployment, a woman took off on her own out into the field and the men were responsible for hunting her down and bringing her back safely. I can only imagine the repercussions if she had been captured. My husband also stated that indeed, they had to stop entire convoys in dangerous areas and go out into the woods and clear a spot for these women to take a piss. It's not right and it's not safe. Firefighters and cops are not in combat zones. They are dangerous jobs, yes, but hardly the same caliber as fighting in a combat zone. We need military members but we need civilians too. So no, I don't think I should be forced to go to combat because I know better than to think I would be of any use. I'd merely be a target. Something for a man to babysit.

[Keyjo]

@AnnieO
Well bear in mind, I said that the women should be held to the same exact standards as the men. Admittedly, as a psychological rule, the average male is stronger than the average female. Not every male is qualified, IMO, to go into combat either. Many males have been drafted and found unfit for combat duty and placed into non-combat roles. And men have wandered off and had to be "rescued" by their comrades, as well.
I still believe that females should also have to register for S.S. If they are physically unfit for combat duty, they can be in other roles. But certainly, there are plenty of female M.P.'s, and if they are fit for M.P. duty, they are fit for combat duty.
I am a naturally misogynistic person, and I have to keep myself in check, to not let my animal instincts rule my logic and sense of what is just. But fair is fair, and equal is equal.
We can't put restrictions on equality, and sometimes there is a price to pay.

[AnnieO]

@Keyjo If we were equal, I could agree with you. I simply don't think a female is physically equal to a man in combat. I'm more traditional, I suppose. I am an RN and I don't think men belong in Nursing. I think there are jobs for men and jobs for women, and I suppose I will always feel that way. My husband is strongly against women in the military and always has been because of his personal experiences with them. Of course, they aren't all the same but he is from a combat MOS and joined it in part so he wouldn't have to deal with women at every drill. I just don't think it will be possible to treat these women equally because women have certain needs that men don't have. Not all men are qualified to go to combat but those who are shouldn't have to deal with babysitting a woman while they are in combat. Noncombat roles are fine, I think. Just my opinion. You have some good points but I must respectfully disagree. I think if the military intended to hold women to the same physical standards as men, they would already have done so. If they were equal to men, wouldn't they ALREADY be doing the same physical tests as men?

[MSU_Lacrosse]

Ha. Keeps reiterating why I'm so glad I got out when my contract ended. If you think letting women be involved in combat, you probably also voted for Obama both times

[cburden]

Theres no reason for them not.to be allpwed to do so if thays their indavidual wishes.... this is a free.country still right? I know some women that are tougher than some men. Women are not by anymeans below a man.. this is 2013 ...

[Rocker]

I've met some awfully dedicated, motivated, and mentally tuff females in my time, certainly capable of endurance. I don't think the mentality of this subject is interpretation that women are inferior. It seems to be along traditional lines.

[CommonSense]

And now men and women are similarly situated in the military, so we should make women register for the draft. Women not being allowed in combat was the reason the Supreme Court allowed the difference in the first place.

[jessejaymes]

Personally if women can achieve the physical standards required for combat I have no problem with it. Seems to me that's part of equality. I would make a guess however, that this will cut down on the number of women enlisting.

[Speedieg]

Lets face facts some women are absolutely bad ass and fully capable of the duties of combat. If they wish to be part of that then so be it, let them.

[harold_lloyd]

http://www.army.mil/article/89134/Marine_make...

[Fishbone345]

Nice article, thanks for the link. :)

[andbe]

I'm sure somebody already said this but whether or not the government "allows" women in combat or not is kind of useless. Our current enemy does not care if women are allowed or not in combat. They shoot all "infidels" whether they have a penis or a vagina. Secondly, I don't care what the Good Lord gave you for sexual organs, if you know how to shoot your weapon, USE IT!