...allow women in combat is not a new issue. Prior to the 1990’s, women were not even allowed to fly combat missions or allowed onto combat ships. In the United States military the term combat is defined as an armed conflict. The definition of combat is important to know because the argument is that women should not be allowed to serve in combat. Women not being allowed to serve in combat is a much different argument then the argument that women should not be allowed in the military. Women perform many important jobs in the United States armed forces and very few people are against women serving in the military. The United States armed forces consist of five branches, the Airforce, Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Currently women are allowed to serve in all five branches and are being integrated into the combat mission of all five branches. In December of 2010...
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...war it depends on its military to be up for any challenge war has to offer. 50 years ago the thought of a woman joining the ranks were laughable; today it is a reality. Women have proved that they can doubtfully be called the weaker gender, and recently have been able to serve in combat roles. Combat roles are the most dangerous and physically demanding roles the United States military has to offer. When a soldier signs up for this role they understand that they will be put on the frontline and in the line of fire from the enemy. Nature has made women physically weaker and less durable than men. A highly trained woman cannot match a man in physical strength. I served proudly alongside women for ten years in the military, but I strongly believe that they should not be able to serve in combat roles in the United States. Having them serve in such roles can have negative effects on them and the men that they serve with; lower standards, health issues, and possible harassment situations. When women were allowed into the military many of the army standards were either lowered or vanish completely. According to head officials at West Point Academy, Cadets no longer run in boots due to the fact women were suffering from a high rate of injury (Knight, 1991). Physical training test scores were adjusted because women could not meet the basic physical requirements to stay into the military. Due to the decrease in standards today’s soldiers have become lazy and overweight. “According to...
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...For as long as our country has been founded, males were usually thought up as to be physically stronger and have more stamina and endurance then women; and this was proven true in most cases. For many years, America’s military was comprised of 100% men. However with the changing times of our country this was amended to allow females to enlist in the ranks of the military. They were given much easier physical entrance tests, tests more adapted to women. As of this very day, women are currently “barred” (banned) from combat. Congress has attempted to lift this bar multiple times, however it has never passed vote. In some cases, females are just as strong as males if not stronger and I believe it is unjust to bar all females from combat based solely off an outdated stereotype. If a female can pass the same physical requirements as a male infantry solider, then there is no just means as to why she can not pick up a rifle and serve next to a male on the front lines of defense. The female body is far different then the male body. The Department of Defense (DOD) knows that women aren’t suited for combat — even if it won’t outright admit it. The easiest way to demonstrate this is by considering the differences in Army standards for physical fitness for men and women . . . and how the Army skews those differences to the advantage of women. For instance, if a 33-year-old male were to do 43 push-ups, 55 sit-ups, and run two miles in 15:18 for his Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), he...
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...roles of women in the U.S. military. Although there has been an increase of opportunities for women to serve in combat roles, they are still discriminated against in every branch of the military. However, in the last few years with ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the success women have been having in combat, policies are being debated. Utilitarian The U.S. military insists that women not participate in combat roles for a number of reasons. The most common reasons brought up are reasons that affect the majority of soldiers, which happen to be men. However, all of these reasons have been proven to be inaccurate or just plain not true. In light of these findings it remains that women are restricted from certain combat duties. One of the more common reasons stated is that women are not strong enough to participate in battle and that they would hinder overall operations due to their physical weakness. However, it has been proven that with proper training, women can become just as strong as men their same size. (USARIEM) Another reason commonly brought up is that women can’t handle the stress of battle and that they have too much mental anguish. Col. Carl Castro, director of Military Operational Research Program at the Dept. of Defense, has proved this incorrect. He states, ‘‘when I look at the data, I see nothing to counter that point.'' (NY Times) The last Utilitarian argument that I will discuss is the argument of having women serving in...
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...women in the miliWomen In the Military Historical Contributions Revolutionary war: During the American Revolutionary War thousands of women took an active role in both American and British armies. Most were wives or daughters of officers or soldiers. These women were known as “camp followers” because they maintained a constant presence in military camps. Their duties consisted primarily of cooking, sewing, laundry, childcare, and nursing the sick. Many women also disguised themselves as men in order to serve in the military. Civil War: During the Civil War thousands of women volunteered and signed up to work as nurses. Others helped supply food, sewed clothes and blankets, and did laundry. More than 400 women disguised themselves as men and fought in the Union and Confederate armies. Some worked as spies and messengers. W.W.I/W.W.II: Some of the more known roles of women in W.W.I/W.W.II include nurses, munitions factory workers, sewing bandages, selling war bonds, shipyards and spies. Some also worked on planes as mechanics and pilots. Korean Conflict: During the Korean Conflict most women were restricted to clerical and nursing duties. Vietnam: During Vietnam women served as nurses and were close behind fighting troops and were exposed to combat conditions and fighting forces. They were trained on how to fire the M-16 but were not allowed to fire them. Desert Storm/OIF: During Desert Storm over 40,000 US military women served in key combat‐support positions...
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...Bibliography Mackenzie, M. H. (2012). Let Women Fight. Foreign Affairs, 91(6), 32-42. An essay is presented on women serving in direct combat roles in the U.S. military. The author presents a case for changing U.S. law to permit women in all military roles. She notes that many women have served in the U.S. military, including in war zones, and says that the distinction between combat and non-combat roles has eroded in the context of contemporary warfare. She discusses the main arguments against women in combat, including their performance and effect on unit cohesion. Author Megan Mckenzie, in the article, “Let Women Fight,” from the journal Foreign Affairs, discusses the ability of women to serve in full combat units. She is avid about changing the laws to allow women full integration into combat infantry units, due to the history of women serving in combat roles in the U.S. Military (McKenzie 2012). McKenzie, argues that the lines that once existed, dividing combat roles from non-combat roles, in the U.S. Military has become blurred with today’s combat (McKenzie 2012). Due to this phenomenon, women have found themselves in the heat of combat, making them natural candidates for the allowance of women to fulfill these roles on a more permanent basis (McKenzie 2012). Simons, A. (2000). Women Can Never `Belong' in Combat. Orbis, 44(3), 451. Presents views on the debate over the exclusion laws in the United States which preclude women in the military from serving in front-line...
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...Marine speak. In a high pitched, but solid voice I heard the words “I am here to help and where do you need us?” The distinctly female voice was a shock to my ears and I immediately turned to make eye contact. With an apparent surprised expression on my face, the female Marine looked at me and said “today I am just a Marine.” I then watched this Marine competently employ her Marines and precisely engage the enemy forces. This is what Marines are trained to do. The actions from the additional Marines allowed for me to evacuate my injured Marines and push back the attack. In the end, I never looked at that Marine and thought you can’t help me, you are a woman and this is combat. I believe it is a ridiculous question if a woman should be allowed to possess combat arms Military Occupational Specialty or serve police officers in the civilian sector. They already do, have done so for years, and have done it well. I have personally...
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...English 043 Persuasive December 11, 2010 Women in Combat Should women be allowed in combat? Can women perform and function as effectively as men in combat? Some would agree and some conservative people would usually argue that they shouldn't. Many would debate the physical capabilities and mental differences of the two sexes, or even the effect of the presence of the opposite sex on the battlefield. But we should also be reminded, women have been serving in the armies and for centuries have fought many successful battles. Policies that prohibit women to join the combat must be abolished. Capable women should be allowed in combat, and not be denied the ability to function in the army on an equal basis. Buried in the history of books, women have played many roles in combat for many centuries. In 600 BC, there is a legend about fearsome female warriors from ancient Greece. These stories speak of women who were trained in the art of war, how to use weapons, and how to cope with physical hardships. The stories tell us that they conquered men on the field of battle. These women are called the Amazons. Who would forget the story of Joan of Arc, who in 1429 successfully led French Troops into battle against the English. During the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, hundreds of women disguised themselves as men to fight. These are just a few examples of what a woman can be, they have proved themselves able to handle difficult situation well when they are thrown into one...
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...SHOULD WOMEN BE IN COMBAT? Doris Gantt ENG 102 Research Writing Date: August 27, 2013 For decades, there have been countless debates over the issue of women and their involvement in the United States Armed Forces. One of the hot-button issues involves their participation in combat, an issue which has resulted in extremely divided opinions. To this day, it continues to be a Left-versus-Right, Feminists-versus-Traditionalists debate. As a woman with experience serving in the United States Armed Forces, I am positive women can participate in all facets of military duty. From clerical, technical, medical, supply, and general support to more combative field and rescue scenarios, women can be as reliable as their male counterparts. The current sentiments regarding gender indicate that women are no longer viewed as incapable of taking on responsibilities that have been traditionally dominated by men. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, women started to deviate from the customary homemaker lifestyles and began finding success in furthering their education as well as their professional careers. Women have viewed themselves simply as more successful because of their abilities to manage both their professional and personal lives. However, this does not mean the mindset of women and their inabilities to carry out male-dominated roles has been completely eradicated. As with all things, there is always going to be an opposition. Every opinion has its detractor. In this case women...
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...BLAW Women in the Infantry Today, one of the biggest debates over women’s rights is the one over females being in the infantry. The world is changing and with that comes a lot more responsibility for policy makers, and there is a great debate over women being on the front lines. Women have been in the Military for quite some time, but not in a front line type of role. I can see both sides of the argument; the one that wants people to broaden their views and accept women in the infantry, and the other side that sees at as more of a male type of position. There are many pros and cons to the Military allowing women in combat positions, and I believe that while women should be allowed to have a chance in the infantry, the standards need to be the same whether it is a male or female. When the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta removed the barriers of women being in the infantry it opened up 237,000 jobs to women. Around 53,000 positions are closed to women by units, such as Brigade Combat Teams in the Army. Panetta said that “if members of the military meet the qualifications for the job- not reduced qualifications- then they should have the right to serve.” The same argument can be made for having gays in the military. I don’t believe that they should be excluded, but I do believe they should have to keep their personal life to themselves. I agree with Panetta’s statement saying that if they are qualified then women should be able to serve. And the Secretary of Defense also stated...
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...there already women going to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan?” Well, the answer to that question was one of the driving forces behind wanting to write a paper on the subject. The short answer is “Yes”. The long answer is no, there have been no women who have gone to combat in a direct Combat Military Occupational Specialty in the history of the American Soldier. “Well how can the answer be both yes and no at the same time”? The answer comes in the forms of rules and regulations that once prohibited women from even training to take on the jobs that are considered the Combat Arms of the military. Sometimes non-military members don’t have the luxury of seeing how the military operates from the inside. The military is like a small microcosm of the world and the citizens that they protect. There is a specific job for every task, no matter how menial or prominent, that must be trained for before being allowed to officially have it as a job title. This is especially true when it comes to Combat Arms; these are jobs that will intentionally put the Soldier in the direct line of fire. The training is intense and grueling and requires a lot of very physical strength and stamina to complete the courses to become members of their ranks. Women are currently allowed to serve in Combat support roles, but the fight has been for women to be able to serve in combat positions such as Infantry, Field Artillery and Engineers. Women and men have served along side one another in combat in every war...
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...realizing that women could be an asset, not a detriment. Still, any combat related job within each branch had a rule of no females. On December 3, 2015, the United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter stated that all roles in the military are now open to women. This allows women to try out and be a part of the elite positions within the Armed Forces, a huge step for equal rights within the military. Women should be allowed the option of a career in a combat role, even if the physical build discrepancies between men and women are different. Testing should not be adjusted to accommodate a woman’s body...
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... The article “Women In Combat: Leon Panetta Removes Military Ban, Opening Front-Line Positions” by Lolita Baldor discusses a major change in how the military will be utilizing their male and female Soldiers. After many years of women not being aloud to fight in the front-line, the Pentagon is lifting its ban on women serving in combat which will open an immense amount of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after generations of limits on their service. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s move to lift the ban originates from President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech in which he emphasized about equal rights for all. Although changes are set to be announced Thursday by Panetta, the changes will not happen over night. While some positions may open as soon as this year, the more vigorous jobs, such as special operations forces may take longer. There is still no guarantee that a woman might be stepping into a mans job anytime soon. The military will have until January 2016 to make a case that some positions should remain closed to women. In spite of overturning a 1994 Pentagon policy that prohibited women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units, there is still is an ample amount of opposition towards women in combat. One of the biggest concerns about placing women in a combat zone is strength and stamina for certain jobs. In addition to the doubts of a woman’s performance, suggestions that the American public would not tolerate women soldiers being...
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...gender norms that are reinforced throughout the Armed Forces. Even with recent interjections of women into closed ground combat union. Things seem to be still angled at men run the military. You may have onesies and twos but there it will be awhile before you have a full forced all woman combat team. Not because they cannot because of the stereotype that none are out there. In Chapter 8 you read about how social institutions can reinforce traditional conceptions of gender even if the people involved in those institutions want to change them. In what ways does the institution of the military reinforce traditional notions of masculinity and femininity outside of the individual soldiers?...
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...Williams 1 Williams 1 Freddie Williams English Composition 1 Mrs. Nicholson May 2, 2013 No Women in Combat Society says that women are equal to men, and can do anything a man can. For the most part that is right, there have been women that have excelled and achieved things society thought only men could do. There is an exception to this, WAR. Women are not built for war, they do not have the strength it requires or the mental stability, but they still want to try to succeed. This is not because they want to serve their country as much but to show society that women are just as capable men are. War requires a lot of training, physical strength and stamina. These characteristics most men have. Doctors and physical trainers show facts that even the most robust women do not have all of these qualities. Most soldiers carry around a 400 pound backpack plus a gun, they have been trained to run and dodge bullets while firing back and not to leave any soldier behind, so they lift a 400 pound body onto their shoulders and run him to safety as well. The facts show that a woman does not have the body built for these kinds of tasks. This is why in present day women have different training standards to men. We all know that there are some strong women that will be able to do the men training, but the emotional side of war will get them. The question is asked again, why can women not serve in combat? Is it because of their strengths and mentality or is it because people in this country are...
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