...The argument of whether or not to 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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...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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...WOMEN IN COMBAT Abstract As the band is lifted on women serving in combat, some would say it will affect our military readiness as a whole. Through research this paper will show that all these misconceptions of women not being cut out to serve in combat zones are just that a misconceptions. This paper will also discuss physical standards, the fact that women have already seen combat, and whether women are able to make the same decisions as men in stressful combat situations. WOMEN IN COMBAT Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will lift a longstanding ban on women serving in combat, according to senior defense officials. The services have until this May to come up with a plan to implement the change, according to a Defense Department official. "To implement these initiatives successfully and without sacrificing our war- fighting capability or the trust of the American people, we will need time to get it right," he said in the memo, referring to the 2016 horizon (Martinez, 2013). The new order, signed Thursday by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, will open as many as 237,000 new jobs to women. Women comprise about 14% of the 1.4 million active military personnel (Michaels, Vanden Brook, 2013). (See Appendix A, photo 1.) During the Iraq War, 4,475 U.S. service members were killed and 32,220 were wounded; in Afghanistan, 2,165 have been killed and 18,230 wounded through Feb. 5, 2013. Among service members deployed in these conflicts, 103,792 were diagnosed with post-traumatic...
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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 and war have always been considered to have little in common. As the gentle sex, women are traditionally associated with caring and with creating life rather than with its destroying. Women today have the opportunity to enter the army, and are allowed to enter combat and fight alongside their male counterparts. But the controversy now is whether that was a good or bad decision. Women were structured different than males, therefore were not meant to be in the combat arms The first, and probably the most obvious, argument is that, for the most part, they lack the body strength that is necessary to perform in combat. Because of this, they would have difficulties in handling the extremely heavy military equipment used on the field; the manipulation with a gun would take them longer, which would create an opportunity for the enemy to shoot first. Also, they would have problems when a need arises to carry the body of a wounded comrade off the battlefield....
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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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...Women and Combat Women should not be allowed in combat situations. As a woman I know all the arguments of equality in the work force. Also being in a family with former and current military persons I see the arguments and effects of military life. The pentagon has changed some of its rules but not many. Physical limitations, psychological effects, maternal instinct with the possibility of becoming a target are still all reasons women should not be in combat situations. The pentagon has recently changed rules about women in combat. “The new rules will continue the long-held prohibition that prevents women from serving as infantry, armor and special operations forces. But they will formally allow women to serve in other jobs at the battalion level, which until now had been considered too close to combat (2012, The Associated Press.)” These changes will allow women to help combat units without the risks that are associated with combat. Women have always had physical limitations. A lot of combat positions offered to military personal require a level of physical fitness that is uncommon in women. It is known that women are smaller and weaker than men. For example all Special Forces training are hard, grueling, exercises to bring a person to their lowest levels and rebuild them. Even if a woman did go through the training it is most likely that the said person would quit. Many train for months even years and still withdraw them self from the training. The psychological effects...
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...head: WOMEN IN THE MILITARY Women in the Military: Controversy of Direct Combat Strayer University Women in the Military: Controversy of Direct Combat Section I: Introduction Women have been in the military, or associated with combat for decades. “The most famous example of the ability of a woman to not only be involved in combat but to lead forces is that of Joan of Arc's legendary battles leading the French army when she was just a teenager.”(Gerber 1) Women have been involved in espionage and even posed as male soldiers during the Civil War. Conflicts such as, WWI, WWII, Panama, and as recent as our current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan women have served with distinction in many ways. In our most recent conflict, over 100 military women have given the ultimate sacrifice. Today with changes in our society and the global environment in which we live two controversial arguments arise concerning women in combat. Basically the debate whether or not women should be allowed to participate in direct combat or not. As our society and cultural beliefs change so does what we except as social norms. Both sides of this argument bring many reasons for and against allowing women to participate in direct combat. Taking into account both views of this controversy it will show, that not only a social change has occurred, but the dynamics of the battlefield has in fact already placed female service members into direct combat. Section II: Opposition to Direct Combat Roles...
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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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...Women in Combat “Your Momma wears combat boots,” this phrase will soon become true. In May 2012, the United States Marine Corps decided to start opening combat related Military Occupational Skills (MOS) for women. A MOS a specific job a Marine is trained to specialize in, and only preforms this specific job while in the Marine Corps. Is America ready to send their willing service women into combat? There is still a wide controversy on this topic, but I believe the majority of America is ready. This new development with the merge of women into combat could have been supported a lot sooner than May2012, in my opinion. Women were serving in combat related situation, well before America was aware of it. There are many benefits to allow women to go into combat, such as; the boost in moral, the lowering of disciplinary actions among male Marines, the improvement of physical hygiene, and the lowered stress levels among Marines. As a female marine my MOS was combat engineer. I chose this for the simple facts that that was one of the only MOS allowing women close to combat. I did this, because I wanted my time serving to actually make a difference, although paper pushing is important, I wanted to accomplish something much bigger. I served in Iraq during 2008-2009. Even though it was just a few years ago, women still weren’t aloud to be on the front lines. I was aloud to go on patrols in the MRAPS, and HUMVEES. The MRAP is a larger up armored combat vehicle, which seats six people...
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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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...WOMEN IN COMBAT AN INDISPENSIBLE ARMY 21 COMPONENT OR A SIMPLE CASE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY? Your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable – it is to win our wars. Everything else in your professional career is but corollary to this vital dedication. All other public purposes … will find others for their accomplishment; but you are the ones who are trained to fight; yours is the profession to arms. General Douglas A. MacArthur to the West Point Graduating Class of 1962 INTRODUCTION Like the United States military, the infusion of women into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was announced with great fanfare and the proclamation of the politically-correct notion that “women have as much a role to play in the Nation’s defence as the men”. Thankfully, unlike the US military, the inclusion of women into SAF did not result in controversies and scandals that the US military faced in recent years as exemplified in the Tailhook[1] and Aberdeen[2] scandals. Amidst continued declining birth rates and greater economic opportunities, the participation of women in the SAF has been generally accepted as an inexorable development within the organisation without much ado, trusting that the authorities have performed the necessary analysis. Is this naturally the case? Are there larger issues that we need to grapple with, given our unique circumstances, noting that up till today, the US military is still debating on the wisdom of opening up military career opportunities...
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...101 Professor Murray Women in the Military: Warriors or a Liability? Since the dawn of time women have proved themselves in one way or another to be just as capable as men, so if a woman so chooses to risk her life fighting and engaging in hand to hand combat in a war to defend her country why shouldn’t she be allowed to? Women have dutifully served alongside and even in front of men in a line of combat throughout history which extends thousands of years into the past in many cultures and countries around the world. The warrior woman dates back to prehistoric times when individuals mostly fended for themselves to survive. During the Roman incursion into what is today England, there was Boadicea, the British warrior queen who led her people to battle against the Roman invaders. There was also Jinga, the majestic and murderous black queen who fought the Portuguese in seventeenth-century Angola. Modern western culture includes a famous and more popular example, Joan of Arc, who in 1429, at age 17, successfully led French troops into battle against the English. Even without the specific examples of these heroines, consider how, in our more recent history, hundreds of women have disguised themselves as men to fight in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. These acts are not just those of bravery, but true patriotism and those are the type of individuals who are needed in the line of duty to defend this great nation. A women’s restriction in combat is often viewed as a form of...
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...Women in combat Much speculation follows the controversy of women in combat and serving in the frontlines. A recent news release by the Pentagon suggests that soon women may be allowed to enter military career fields that had been open to males only. Not all are so sure about putting our women so close to dangerous situations. Retired British Army Major Judith Webb was the first woman to command an all-male field force in the British Army. She also believes there are several reasons women should not be in the frontlines. In an article Judith Webb argues that women are just different; “It may not be fashionable but it's time that society accepted the simple fact that women are different (Webb, 07 A).” Women as military equals Women in our Armed Forces have served in every war, conflict, and humanitarian mission. Without the brave nurses during the Pearl Harbor attack our total loss of life would have been dramatically larger. Major Judith Webb claims that women are more compassionate, alluding to a long argued question that women are not aggressive enough for combat. In recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, women have proved that they are not only up to taking the dangers head on, but also that they do it with gallantry. I recall a fellow Army Military Police Corps Soldier who as a part of a small group of Soldiers fought thirty-plus insurgents with aggression and courage for more than ninety minutes. Ultimately earning a Silver Star for bravery, the Soldiers involved tell...
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...Women in Combat For the past two hundred and forty-one years of the United States military’s existence, women have not been allowed to serve in combat roles. Recently however the argument to abolish this practice, and to fully integrate women into our fighting forces has gained some traction, with the Secretary of Defense actually setting a timeline for lifting this ban. This is yet another welcome step forward for our country. If done correctly this move will strengthen our nation, but if performed poorly or for the wrong reasons, could further damage an already tenuous relationship between male and female soldiers. Fully integrating women into frontline combat positions would create a more diverse talent pool for the armed forces to pull form. Diversity has always been a strength for the U.S. military, allowing them to quickly adapt to situations by pulling ideas from cultures and experience not available to its adversaries. The potential problem with this integration stems from the fact that Americans tend to be impatient, demanding instant change. Instead of lifting the ban and allowing the number of women in combat positions to grow naturally overtime the military will most likely bow to political pressure and adjust the standards to allow for the quick entrance of women into these positions until the desired quota is met. The military already has different standards for men and women, take the Army Physical Fitness test; for a male and female soldier to get the same...
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