Posted on 01/05/2017 6:21:38 PM PST by Chode
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — For the first time, the Marine Corps has put three enlisted female Marines in a ground combat unit once open only to men, officials said Thursday.
They will serve as a rifleman, machine gunner and mortar Marine, said 1st Lt. John McCombs, spokesman for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejuene.
They report Thursday to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, which has had three female officers in its ranks for several months to help integrate the enlisted females into the unit, McCombs said. The women's names and ranks were not released.
"This process ensures the Marine Corps will adhere to its standards and will continue its emphasis on combat readiness," McCombs said in an email.
Their entry in the unit marks ongoing efforts to comply with Defense Secretary Ash Carter's directive in December 2015 to open all military jobs to women, including the most dangerous commando posts.
That decision was formal recognition of the thousands of female servicewomen who fought in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars in recent years, including those who were killed or wounded.
Carter's decision also stood as a rebuff to the Marine Corps, which was the only service branch to ask for an exception to women serving in certain infantry and combat slots.
The Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations Command all said they would not seek any exceptions and would recommend removing the ban on women in dangerous combat jobs.
In June, six months after Carter's move, The Associated Press reported the Marine Corps had seven female officers either serving in combat posts or waiting in line to serve, and 167 women with noncombat jobs in front-line units.
There are about 40,000 Marines in the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
How many lives will this cost?
Israelis found out because of body type women are more prone to # and seriousness of injuries.
Still wonder about those all female Kurdish units.
His wife was in some hand-to-hand drill/competition. It was her and some big guy at the end - she had defeated her other male adversaries. She would not tap out, even after the guy had her in some hold she couldn't get out of. The ref finally called her out.
I forget exactly what happened - but she still has the spinal injuries (along with the few broken ribs and collapsed lung that healed). Just because someone is tough (and stubborn) doesn't mean they are right for that kind of duty. She is of course out now because of those injuries, but still getting payments for school, housing, etc.
Holy frap! Jonathan Winters was a WWII Marine as well. He became ill and was hospitalized while in the service and avoided the fate of nearly all his buddies ... KIA on Saipan.
My dad was in on Saipan, New Caledonia and Okinawa.
Marine 81mm Mortar Sections are foot mobile units. In fact, as part of any infantry unit tactical movement test, every piece of the weapon, tube, tripod and baseplate, is spread loaded throughout the section and carried.
This foolishness with sending women into combat units is disgraceful. No, they absolulty do not adhere to the same standards as men in the unit. Females have a completely different physical fitness test, height and weight standard and body fat standard.
This absurdity will get these girls hurt and dramatically reduce the combat effectiveness of the unit. Our security is enhanced when our Emmy both fear us and respect our capability. This action deminishes both. Only Political Correctness can be the reason this happened. It surely does not enhance our combat capability.
Terry L Walker
CWO5
Marine Gunner
USMC Retired
1974-2008
1/8 was the unit involved with the Beruit bombing.
So you approve?
They do not belong in the USMC infantry.
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Of course you are correct.
And by tests I meant physical....
I also believe they shouldn’t be serving aboard ship.
But the corrupt SOBs running things counter our arguments about women aboard ship by openly allowing and encouraging trannies and gays.
We knew they (T&G) were ‘always’ there but it was basically a leave me alone etc attitude.
Still bad for unit chohesion and Morale and yes, efficiency.
BUT if they are going to have them at least make them go through the 50s and 60s mental & physical quals
Sir, you do know that “Molly Pitcher” was just a old legend and was not real!
I served, all my adult life, in the Inafntry! I’m telling you that I’ve NEVER met a female that I thought could hang with the boys in a Battalion!
This is just a political stunt or the intent is to dramatically reduce the combat capability of American Combat Forces.
Terry L Walker
CWO5
Marine Gunner
USMC Retired
1974-2008
My daughter was in the Marines. She is also strongly opposed to women in the infantry. She says that is 100% different from “Can you pass a fitness test today?” and “Can you fight to defend a FOB?”
Her husband, with two tours in Marine Infantry in Iraq, strongly agrees. But what do they know? Obama says it is fine...
Except if they are white. Not many of them are reproducing in the modern era.
I'm a bit of a Revolutionary War buff; the Wikipedia page for Molly Pitcher is very informative...
Are there any historical books that I could read that would come close to truthfully explaining and documenting the misery you experienced while training in the Infantry? Thank you in advance.
Broad a$$ Marines.
Being the mother of a former 1/8 Marine I am angry that the idiots put a girl in the unit with guys weighing 180-190 lbs and over 6’ tall.
Besides that, THE 1/8 MARINES ARE THE BEIRUT MARINES. This is a direct hit on those Marines who died in Beirut and to me a spit on their graves. I am positive that it has not been missed by General Mattis.
He might be speaking from his own experience.
“I laughed when they tried to make me a Russian diddly-bop.”
Hey, I resemble that!
I think that would be a better way to go about it. Develop an all-female company on an infantry TO&E and see what it can do rather than dispersing them out to separate units.
Probably "politically incorrect" to do it that way, though.
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