Army colonel: Physical strength not the end-all, be-all of combat service

The Washington Times ^ | August 12, 2013 | Rowan Scarborough

[jazusamo]

An Army officer writing in a prestigious journal says the services should not overemphasize physical strength when deciding whether a woman qualifies for direct ground combat.

Col. Ellen Haring, on the staff of the U.S. Army War College, says commanders need to downplay obstacle courses and judge a service member’s ability to stay calm and think quickly.

The Pentagon has lifted its ban on women serving in the infantry, tanks and special operations, and the branches are examining all their physical standards in preparation for introducing women into these units in 2015.

Some military analysts fear the Pentagon will discard some standards to ensure that a significant number of women qualify.

“Perhaps it is time to take a hard look at what really makes a competent combat soldier and not rely on traditional notions of masculine brawn that celebrate strength over other qualities,” Col. Haring says in the current issue of Armed Forces Journal.

She cites World War II hero Audie Murphy and North Vietnamese insurgents as examples of small people who came up big on the battlefield.

[jazusamo]

Col. Haring, who had sued the Pentagon over its old exclusion policy

No surprise this female Army Col. is a PC activist, she assumes a lot about the most decorated soldier in WWII and we know what assume means in the Army.

[Responsibility2nd]

I looked to see if this article was from 10 years ago. The dumbing down of military standards has been in place for some time now.

And since Obama green-flagged the faggots to join.... Its a free-fall.

[1rudeboy]

It’s over. Fold up the tents, go home, and wait for the end.

[Utilizer]

Col. Ellen Haring

Stopped reading right there. Anyone who has been there on the ground in the dirt at the pointy end of the spear know women and children do not belong there. Not some REMF touchy-feely female (or male) man-hater with a chip-on-shoulder mindset.

[Bob]

This is an example of preemptive excuse-making at its finest (or worst, in my view).

[jazusamo]

You’re so right

[BitWielder1]

Well, let's see how many women volunteer, qualifies, experience combat and let's evaluate how they're doing.
It's bad that men and women will lose their lives over this experiment but I believe this will eventually be a self-correcting problem.
We will either find number of really good kickass ladies or ... not.

[freedumb2003]

Wait until the maimed female bodies start coming back (beyond the ones who are in support roles now).

Will there be accusations of machismo against the enemy for not playing fair?

[Paul46360]

No it's not EVERYTHING..any SEAL will tell ya that..but r we willing to risk planes full of body bags to find out???
Wonder how SUCKING chest wounds will be dealt with???

[ScottinVA]

An Army officer writing in a prestigious journal says the services should not overemphasize physical strength when deciding whether a woman qualifies for direct ground combat.

Ah yes... now come the rationalizations to explain away the strength differentials.

[Dick Bachert]

Wonder if she'd feel this way if her 230# brother died of his wounds in Trashcanistan because the 110# female couldn't haul his ass out of the line of fire?

That said, she's probably all eaten up with PC to the point where his death was a worthy sacrifice on the alter of PC.

Tragically, that INSANITY reaches all levels of the military and applies to all sorts of other madness.

Correctness:

”A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”

By spreading this definition around, perhaps we can employ one of the more effective methods of deflating and defeating the fools who practice and promote it: RIDICULE.

Unless stopped – and soon – PC will DESTROY Western Civilization -- if it hasn’t already.

PASS IT ON!!

Political THEN PASS THE KOOL AID!!

[3Fingas]

This policy is insane and it tells me much that the Republicans went along with it.

[TADSLOS]

Colonel Harey can kiss my ass. How many two way range combat ops has she been in the middle of? NONE. Eff her.

[jazusamo]

Amen to that.

[3Fingas]

Audie Murphy during his time went through a lot of obstacle courses in his training. He would have had no problem doing any today. This female soldier is deluding herself if you can discount traditional training methods.

[goodwithagun]

While this might be true for modern combat, women should still not serve in that capacity. Full disclosure: I’m a woman.

[musicman]

Army colonel:
"Physical strength not the end-all,
be-all of combat service"



Help FR Continue the Conservative Fight!
Your Monthly and Quarterly Donations
Help Keep FR In the Battle!

Sponsoring FReepers are contributing
$10 Each time a New Monthly Donor signs up!
Get more bang for your FR buck!
Click Here To Sign Up Now!

[Resolute Conservative]

Was when I was there.

I would take 100 Audie Murphy types over any bull-dyke types.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Wait until the maimed female bodies start coming back ....”

That’s what the anti-war crowd is counting on.

[rbg81]

When troops start dying after these recommendations are implemented, look for the blame to be placed anywhere but on those who advocated and/or approved this policy. They will be safely promoted or retired.