Posted on 05/09/2015 7:08:14 AM PDT by iowamark
The military is presently under a national spotlight regarding women in combat, with branches testing how women can physically handle grueling physical standards associated with combat arms training. A video going viral adds some interesting context to that. The video shows a U.S. Army captain, who is a woman, completing a 12-mile ruck march on a course that is open to women and outside of the discussion on women in combat arms — the Expert Field Medical Badge course. The competitive decoration is open to soldiers in the medical field and is one of the toughest decorations to earn.
In the video, Capt. Sarah Cudd grinds out the final steps of a 12-mile ruck march that had to be completed in three hours as part of the qualifications for the course. It’s one of the most grueling courses in the Army; a 2013 Army report describes the success rate as just 17%. Cudd, an Army veterinarian, joins those ranks in an extremely motivating fashion.
The video was posted to Facebook April 28, by Capt. Lloyd Mason, whose Facebook page describes him as the program manager for the Expert Field Medical Badge course at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The video has been shared more than 22,000 times since.
It’s fiercely motivating — Cudd can be seen gritting it out just a few dozen feet from the finish line. She crumples to the ground from exhaustion twice, and is slow to rise each time. The determination, however, is palpable, as is the energy and support from the onlooking soldiers who surround her. The crowd’s cheers grow as Cudd gets nearer to the finish line. When she finally crosses it, she’s surrounded by supportive soldiers; the cheers are deafening, and she immediately collapses. The time on the clock reads 2 hours, 46 minutes, and 53 seconds. She had three hours.
The U.S. Army’s Public Health Command shared the video to Facebook days later, saying Cudd “shows us all what ‘never quitting’ looks like.”
The Expert Field Medical Badge course also involves tasks surrounding tactical combat care, medical and casualty evacuation, warrior skills, and communication; as well as a physical fitness test; a land navigation course; weapons qualifications; and a comprehensive written test.
Task & Purpose reached out to a former Army combat medic, Samuel Innocent, who served with the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York. He described the course as, “The second-hardest badge in the Army to get outside of the Infantry Expert Badge.”
You didn't go through basic training?
Could women have done our jobs in Vietnam? Of course.
Not really, there is a myth being created that support doesn't involve physical strength, although it does, from loading trucks to changing truck tires, to lifting commercial size soup pots, and what happens in emergencies when suddenly you are infantry and you need to start digging entrenchments and moving ruble and digging trenches and carrying wounded buddies, and clearing jammed M2s?
We should measure filling support positions, not on the best day, and during peacetime, but instead base it on what the worst day in war looks like, that means men.
The internet anecdote of the super woman, that the rest of us go our entire lives without ever seeing.
This was no “internet anecdote” everyone on the fire department that I worked for could verify what I told you about Joyce. Currently, two of her children are working for the department along with her daughter-in-law. She and her first husband who was killed in the line of duty at a big fire both came from the small town of Forks, WA.
Joyce has always has always been a very soft spoken person, and I doubt whether she would ever claim to be a “super woman” though almost anyone who has ever known her might characterize her that way. As for the night in question there were others present and there were two firefighters who prevented me from falling off of that roof... Joyce was one of them.
Ansell there have been many women all through out history who have been very capable, daring and brave who have accomplished great things or made a difference. Maybe the reason that you have gone your “entire life” without ever meeting one has more to do with you.
As soon as more men step up to enlist, you can boot the women back to the desk jobs.
I applaud her guts but you have got to be able to fight after a 12 mile forced march. There are no cattle cars in the bush.
Who said anything about never having met “capable, daring and brave [women] who have accomplished great things or made a difference.”?
That was such an obvious lie, that it especially destroys your credibility on the exceptional 110 pound female that you wanted to use as your argument, that is stronger and more capable than you physically.
When you were in the military, did the females half your weight also demonstrate greater strength and physical capabilities than you?
Yes, both side will put a war on temporary hold to give our side time to make that happen.
That’s sarcastic dismissal of your point, in case you missed it.
Well yeah. Marching 12 miles without ammo, water and rations makes it kind of easy for the enemy when you get there. No?
Ansell, I never said that she was “stronger” than me... I said she was able to go up and down a steep icy metal roof better than I was able to. You calling me a liar is extremely offensive. AS GOD AS MY WITNESS everything that I have written in this thread is COMPLETELY TRUE!!! I have read these types of offensive statements from you on numerous occasions previously so I am not surprised.
Did you read the article? The lady is a veterinarian not a combat soldier.
Was that the way it was for you in the military as well, the females stronger in carrying weight, and more capable physically, than you?
And your last sentence in post 43 is a lie.
Ansell, I have no idea how you are in real life... but some of those I actually have met who have made tough talking, ill mannered, buffoonish posts have turned out to be pathetic cowards who have never accomplished or done anything worthwhile in their entire lives. Some have had no redeeming qualities and are bitter and alone because no one can stand to be around them.
Which is what I pointed out about you.
Since you keep refusing to mention the females in the military, I’m starting to think that you haven’t been in the military, is that correct?
To: fireman15
The internet anecdote of the super woman, that the rest of us go our entire lives without ever seeing.
42 posted on 5/9/2015, 4:19:30 PM by ansel12
Is she in the Army? Then she is a soldier and she is a soldier that can not march 12 miles and then fight. Not sure if times have changed that much since I was in that veterinarians are now immune from soldiering. And if they have and she is just a vet what was the point of the 12 mile forced march?
The article stated that only 17% of those who participate are able to complete the course successfully... So what do you have to say about the 83% of men and women who do not complete the course within the passing time? Something worse I imagine.
Look pal, you should said she is just a veterinarian. SO what the hell is a veterinarian doing force marching 12 miles in full pack if she is just a “veterinarian”. Second I don’t need an article to tell me what happens when you put a hundred pound pack on either men or women,Been there done that, was able to fight at the end of the march. Third, I said she had guts but like almost all women she is not equipped to force march 12 miles in full pack and then fight. Your argument is with God and/or Darwin, not me.
What do you think that I disagree with you about? I don’t think that we even have an argument. There were something like 50,000 women who served in military uniform during WWI. There were I believe 500,000 women who served in military uniform during WWII. After seeing the first WACs working in Europe General Eisenhower said, “Send me more!” Obviously women have different abilities than men. However there are a lot of jobs in the military that women can do well. Approximately 200,000 women are currently serving in the military. I don’t know the reason why this woman chose to do this course. She is a veterinarian. I am assuming that it was a choice she made as a personal challenge.
You mention WWI and WWII as you try to promote females in the military.
That isn’t the situation today, since the left ended the 2% limit on females in the early 1970s the goal is to make them 50% of the military, and they are inferior as military people, that is why they have separate standards and don’t have to pass the actual standards.
This is our disagreement. The pack is what it is. A soldier has to be able to carry his ammo, food, water, weapon, grenades, poncho, entrenching tool, spare socks and first aid stuff in a forced march and then be ready to fight.
Not all soldiers are 6'2" 190 lb Sgt Rock types. Lots of guys I marched with were 140 pounders or less. They had to carry the same load as me even though I was 5'10" 170 pounds. And most did. The ones that couldn't in basic were picked up by the cattle cars and sent to the retraining battalion. If they failed there they were shown the gate never to be heard from again. Hard? Yes. Necessary? Yes.
I have nothing against women in the military. My wife is an Army vet from 40 plus years ago. My problem is with people who do not recognize that men and women are different. The female body lacks upper body strength, has a lower muscle/fat proportion and tends to break down on endurance factors far more often than men do. My wife agrees with me btw. She never has and never will be able to do the things I can do physically. Even in our mid 60's the differences are evident. I can still do my 50 pushups with a back that has no more discs and she can not do any.
So while there may be a world class female athlete who can make it through, what is the point? I mean Bruce Jenner has other fish to fry.
I don't actually disagree with anything that you just said. I am not sure why you think that I do. The average male soldier during WWII was 5'8” and 144 lbs.
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