[Toughluck_freeper]

Is it a right to serve, or a privilege to serve?

If the later, then there should be no impetus to reduce the needed qualifications, be it for man, woman or any of the other sixty-some gender varieties.

[fr_freak]

Is it a right to serve, or a privilege to serve?

I find both of those perspectives repugnant. It is neither a right (the government/society owes me!), nor a privilege (Maybe if I kiss the government's ass, it will bestow a reward on me!). It is a duty. You do it because it needs to be done, the same way you would step in front of danger for your wife and kids.

The weeding out process that exists in the US military exists solely to ensure that the fighting force is fit and effective. THERE IS NO OTHER PURPOSE. It is not meant to be a system where obedient sheep are rewarded, nor entitled people are given their share of the spoils. A citizen militia was the original dream, not owned by the government and not begging for its favor, but men doing what must be done on their own.

What we have now is the military being treated like a spoils system, and everybody wants their piece of the action. Women are being allowed in for two reasons: 1) because the entitled class thinks women aren't getting their share of the pie, 2) to destroy the military, and society in general.