[katana]

I would not agree with putting women into certain (meaning it's a certainty they'll be in close combat) combat situations. The male instinct you describe could or would alter how the men react. And that's not to mention the sexual dynamics of young (unrelated) men and women locked up together for weeks and months.

But training up young American women to their maximum fitness levels and giving them the skills and confidence to handle themselves in such situations? No problem. Viking shield maidens supposedly were extremely disconcerting and demoralizing to opposing forces, and one can only imagine how your typical goat molesting misogynist Muslim would react to getting his head handed to him by a "girl".

[Elsie]

...one can only imagine how your typical goat molesting misogynist Muslim would react to getting his head handed to him by a "girl".

I would guess it would nearly equal the sensation of getting it handed to him by a 'boy'.