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You said exactly what I thought when seeing her on Today and on the ABC Primetime special, as well as at that speech she made at her return from the hospital.

What amazes me is that her recruiter, the people at the processing center where recruits get their physical exams, the instructors at basic training all thought that someone of her size and temperament was suited to be a soldier. What were they thinking? Are we that desperate for volunteers?

Please remember she was not specifically trained to be a combat soldier, but rather a supply clerk. Also, please read the book, it answers many questions and shows that Jessica is a credit to the service and her country.

Some of her wounds due to torture, will never heal. Her bravery was overwhelming in the Iraqi hospital.

I agree that women should not be in combat environments, but there has always been women in military support services and that will likely continue.

"What amazes me is that her recruiter, the people at the processing center where recruits get their physical exams, the instructors at basic training all thought that someone of her size and temperament was suited to be a soldier. What were they thinking? Are we that desperate for volunteers?"

Recruiters have goals to meet - they're evaluated on whether they meet those goals.

The Army says a 4-foot-10-inch, <100 pound female can join up. Unless said female has some disqualifying mental or physical condition, recruiters, doctors and instructors have no choice. We should be asking Mother Army why that rule exists.

I've known many female soldiers (all services) who served with great distinction in the more "civilianized" jobs the military has to offer, but most of them I don't think for a minute should be anywhere near "the sound of the guns."

If the military requires all service members to be interchangeable to the point of everyone being deployable and ready to pick up a gun and fight then maybe we need to re-examine the standards or even whether women should be allowed to serve at all.