WASHINGTON — Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta plans to announce on Thursday a lifting of the ban on women in combat roles on, a watershed change that removes the remaining barrier to a fully inclusive military, defense officials said.
Panetta made the decision ‘‘upon the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,’’ a senior defense official said Wednesday, an assertion that stunned female veteran activists who said they assumed that the brass was still uneasy about opening the most physically arduous positions to women. Officials said the decision was influenced by women’s valor in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Considering some promotions to higher grades have depended on combat experience, which has been blocked to women, this is good news. Since we have a new kind of combat to deal with its also good to see the military responding to a new sort of tactical reality. Well done.
The line at the Post Office to register for the draft is >>>> over there ladies.
Great move for equity. However, there should be no limits placed. "Advocates and experts say women are unlikely to flock to those positions, such as roles in light infantry and tank units... " Then the military must assigned women to these positions. No high level military positions should be allowed to women unless all limits are off -no special treatment.
Women as radio operators in combat units??? Ok.... but what about women as scouts and snipers if they can pass the standards tests including marksmanship. And what about women slogging through sand and mud carrying 63-pound packs, guns and ammunition belts, and what about women in a hand to hand fight with enemy males? And what about such questions as male colleagues getting a rush of chivalry when a woman trooper gets badly injured? Will men be expected to defend women just because the women are present? And what about all those female problems that are the stuff of malurban legends? There are emerging sociological samples of life in 2013, like a Jan. 23 news story that lots and lots of men are becoming 'stay-at-home-dads' - something about prolems finding jobs. This also contains an element of a growing acceptance of a weakening male gender. Is there an emerging cultural phenom that might be called the amazoning of America?
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Chivalry? With kids these days!? You need to get out more...
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Come on now - women can do all of the things you list up top - slog through sand and mud and the rest. As for "men [being] expected to defend women just because they women are present" - well, they better be willing to fight for the person next to them regardless of their gender or sexuality.
can you picture women climbing the cliffs of Normandy during World War II, or being in Hotel Hilton in Vietnam.....and
just the way the Egyptions and Patkanis treat women that are not the enemy, can you imagine what will happen to them
if captured. And there should be no lower of standards to be in the elite units...many men don't make it...because of physical
& mental endurance...if woman want to be in...same rules.....can you imagine a women amongest hundreds of men out in the field
etc. (excuse me but I have to go the bathroom...or have a menstrual problem & no tampons...stop the march etc.) Men & women
are different...but then we do have the sex changes now so who knows anymore. To me....front lines combat...no as the Israelies found out too much of a distraction when fighting in battles.
Yeah...'cause guys never have to go to the bathroom...
The politicians should leave the management of the military to the military. Young people who go into harms way for us will pay for this foolish meddling with their lives. This of you who say this is good, probably do so because you never would consider being there in a front line and dont expect your children will either. One of my kids is there, and I am distressed that his USMC leaders have lost their ability to determine what platoon members will best keep him safe. I cant wait for him to get out before the chickens come home to roost on this decision, God help those who will follow in his place.
Yeah, I recall you complained when they opened up the gay acceptance and did away with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Has that change endangered your kid? It's the way things will be, so get used to it. Start lining up a stateside job for your kid.
@LifeLibertyPOH - I love how your definition of liberty only extends to straight men.
I wonder if they will finally have the same standards as men...
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For the most part, men start wars. Since it is their fault, then they should fight the wars, not women.
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Where's Lyndie England when we need her? Hoo-rah!