[Melas]

It is ridiculous to think that a 145lb woman can carry my husband out of a burning building or fight in hand to hand combat with the enemy. For political correctness we are ending up with women in dangerous places putting the lives of others on the line.

Perhaps it is. However, let's be clear, A male, United States Marine, may be 4'10" tall and weigh a scant 96 pounds. How much easier do you think it will be for that marine than a 145 pound woman?

A female Marine by comparison must also stand at least 4'10" tall, but she may weigh as little as 90 pounds.

[TheLurkerX]

It's a matter of averages. How many Marines have you known that were that small? More women than men on average are under 5'4" and 145lbs. I can count on one hand the number of men I've known under 140lb. and 5'. The women would take a lot longer to count.

Although, for the sake of fairness, any woman or man who can carry the weight and walk the walk, let em go. I knew a guy in high school who could bench nearly twice his weight.

Of course, that still doesn't solve the problem of men trying to protect the women in their unit. It's still a distraction. I believe same sex units, men only and women only are the way to go. If we had that, the women could afford a few looser standards. They'd be fighting next to their own.