Women In The Military

You've clearly done your time Kig. My only concern is your lack of Infantry experience (correct me if I'm wrong). I personally feel that Women are a valuable asset to the vast majority of military jobs. That said, I feel that Infantry and certain other ground combat arms units should remain all male. This is my concern with the argument surrounding women in combat. Most civilains don't understand the distinction between the two positions.

 

I was Infantry (11B) and did my combat tours, two CIB's. While I agree that the combat arms are a mans world, the rules of combat have changed dramatically and front lines are often not well defined. I say that if a woman can make it through the training with no special rules for women and they can pull their weight in all ways then I say they should be allowed. I do not know of many women that would actually want to be in a combat arms MOS, it is not a job suited for many men and even fewer women. I think a better solution is that the Army train all soldiers to be combat soldiers first and other specialties second, like the Marines do. It would make all our men and women exposed to possible combat situations far better soldiers and make our Army even better than anyone we will ever face. I once thought as you but situations change and we should adapt where possible.

 

I misspoke and as an addendum...
113 service women, not 400, have died in operations relating to GWOT, or whatever politically correct term they refer to fighting terrorism abroad now-a-days.

In memoriam:

They gave the last full measure.

RIP

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Specialist Lori A. Piestewa, USA
Sergeant Melissa Valles, USA
Specialist Alyssa R. Peterson, USA
Private First Class Analaura Esparza-Gutierrez, USA
Specialist Tamarra J. Ramos, USA
Seaman Jakia S. Cannon, USN
Private First Class Rachel Kristen Heather Bosveld, USA
Private First Class Karina S. Lau, USA
Specialist Frances M. Vega, USA
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Sharon T. Swartworth, USA
Sergeant Linda C. Jimenez, USA
Staff Sergeant Kimberly Voelz, USA
Captain Kimberly N. Hampton, USA
Sergeant Keicia M. Hines, USA
Private First Class Holly J. McGeogh, USA
Private First Class Nichole M. Frye, USA
Captain Gussie M. Jones, USA
Specialist Tyanna S. Avery-Felder, USA
Specialist Michelle M. Witmer, USA
Specialist Isela Rubalcava, USA
Private First Class Leslie D. Jackson, USA
Private First Class Melissa J. Hobart, USA
Sergeant First Class Linda Ann Tarango-Griess, USA
Sergeant Tatjana Reed, USA
Sergeant Shawna M. Morrison, IL ARNG
Staff Sergeant Gina R. Sparks, USA
Specialist Jessica L. Cawvey, IL ARNG
Sergeant Pamela G. Osbourne, USA
Sergeant Cari A. Gasiewicz, USA
Sergeant Tina S. Time, USAR
Sergeant Jessica M. Housby, IL ARNG
Specialist Katrina L. Bell-Johnson, USA
Specialist Lizbeth Robles, USA
Specialist Adriana N. Salem, USA
Specialist Aleina Ramirezgonzalez, USA
Private First Class Sam W. Huff, USA
Specialist Carrie L. French, ID ARNG
Lance Corporal Holly A. Charette, USMC
Corporal Ramona M. Valdez, USMC
Petty Officer 1st Class Regina R. Clark, USN
Sergeant First Class Tricia L. Jameson, NE ARNG
Private First Class Lavena Lynn Johnson, USA
Specialist Toccara R. Green, USA
Airman First Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson, USAF
First Lieutenant Debra A. Banaszak, MO ARNG
Sergeant Julia V. Atkins, USA
Sergeant Myla L. Maravillosa, USA
Sergeant Regina C. Reali, USAR
First Lieutenant Jaime L. Campbell, AK ARNG
Private First Class Tina M. Priest, USA
Private First Class Amy A. Duerksen, USA
Sergeant Amanda N. Pinson, USA
Lance Corporal Juana NavarroArellano, USMC
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime S. Jaenke, USN
Private First Class Hannah L. McKinney, USA
Second Lieutenant Emily J.T. Perez, USA
Sergeant Jennifer M. Hartman, USA
First Lieutenant Ashley L. (Henderson) Huff, USA
Lieutenant Commander Jane E. (Lanham) Tafoya, USN
Sergeant Denise A. Lannaman, NY ARNG
Sergeant Jeannette T. Dunn, USA
Major Megan M. McClung, USMC
Major Gloria D. Davis, USA
Seaman Sandra S. Grant, USN
Senior Airman Elizabeth A. Loncki, USAF
Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer A. Valdivia, USN
Command Sergeant Major Marilyn L. Gabbard, IA ARNG
Specialist Carla J. Stewart, CA ARNG
Corporal Jennifer M. Parcell, USMC
Captain Jennifer J. Harris, USMC
Sergeant Ashly L. Moyer, USA
Private First Class Katie M. Soenksen, USA
Specialist Karen N. Clifton, USA
Sergeant Trista L. Moretti, USA
Specialist Michelle R. Ring, USA
Captain Maria I. Ortiz, USA
Staff Sergeant Alicia A. Birchett, USA
Sergeant Princess C. Samuels, USA
Specialist Zandra T. Walker, USA
Specialist Kamisha J. Block, USA
Specialist Marisol Heredia, USA
Captain (Dr.) Roselle M. Hoffmaster, USA
Seaman Apprentice Shayna Ann Schnell, USN
Specialist Rachael L. Hugo, USAR
Staff Sergeant Lillian Clamens, USAR
Seaman Anamarie Sannicolas Camacho, USN
Seaman Genesia Mattril Gresham, USN
Second Lieutenant Tracy Lynn Alger, USA
Specialist Christine M. Ndururi, USA
Staff Sergeant Carletta S. Davis, USA
Specialist Ashley Sietsema, IL ARNG
Sergeant Tracy R. Birkman, USA
Specialist Keisha M. Morgan, USA
Petty Officer 1st Class Cherie L. Morton, USN
Lance Corporal Casey L. Casanova, USMC
Specialist Mary J. Jaenichen, USA
Corporal Jessica A. Ellis, USA
Technical Sergeant jackie L. Larsen, USAF
Private First Class Jennifer L. Cole, USA
Private Janelle F. King, USA

Operation Enduring Freedom
Sergeant Jeannette L. Winters, USMC
Staff Sergeant Anissa A. Shero, USAF
First Lieutenant Tamara Lee Archuleta, USAF
Specialist Julie R. Hickey, USAR
Specialist Chrystal G. Stout, SC ARNG
Sergeant Major Barbaralien Banks, USA
First Lieutenant Laura M. Walker, USA
Senior Airman Alecia S. Good, USAF
Sergeant Wakkuna A. Jackson, USA
Sergeant First Class Merideth L. Howard, USAR
Petty Officer 2nd Class Laquita Pate James, USN
Specialist Ciara M. Durkin, MA ARNG
Seaman Katrina R. Grady, USN

 

I remember the day when Carrie died. I wasn't in her unit, but I went driving by the vehicle she was in when it was hit. I had also read the incident report and went to high-school with another girl who was in Carrie's unit.

 

Military sexual assaults double the national average...

AP sources: Meeting on sexual assaults in military
May 8,`13 WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House is inviting lawmakers over to discuss the growing number of sexual assaults in the military.

See also:

Pentagon’s annual report shows sexual assault numbers up sharply
May 7, 2013 - One day after the Air Force’s chief of sexual assault prevention and response branch was himself arrested on a charge of sexual battery, the Pentagon released a new report that sexual assaults in the military are occurring at an alarming rate of more than 70 per day.

 

SPV protects military sexual assault victims...

New corps of military lawyers help rape victims
March 30, 2014 — As an Army general faced court-martial for sexual assault this month, a young military lawyer sat each day in the front row of the gallery, a few feet behind the prosecutors.