I have such mixed emotions about this story. First and foremost, intense pride, for being a citizen of a country that can produce people of this quality. But I have other feelings, in particular that she shouldn’t be in harms way. Yes, I know that she’s a Marine, but that doesn’t change my feelings that women should be far away from combat duty. But I can certainly understand their wanting to serve together.
I guess I’m happy for them, if they’re happy: That’s what’s most important.
Mark
Ditto to all you said.
“Yes, I know that she’s a Marine, but that doesn’t change my feelings that women should be far away from combat duty.”
I have no problem with women in the military, because I was one for 20 years.
However, my personal beef is women with CHILDREN in the full-time military. National Guard is another story, unless deployed.
I can’t begin to tell you the headaches that causes for everyone up and down the chain of command. And truly, women with kids that join (you never used to be able to) drop out at a greater rate than other females, so it’s a lot of money wasted on training, IMHO. Training for ONE soldier from the day they sign up until they’re done with Basic and then their schooling (some of which are very lengthy) can run anywhere from $75-100K PER SOLDIER.
I waited until I was two years out from retirement to start my family at age 35. And that was a ready-made one that I married into, LOL! Our agreement was that the minute I was eligible to retire, I did. And I did. And then I raised kids...which was a NIGHTMARE compared to the military, LOL! (Three boys, 3, 4 & 5.)
Women CAN have it all...just not all at once. :)
And I find it gravely unfair to the kids, because I worked with families whose ‘Moms’ were off to war during ODS. Not to be overtly sexist, but I saw with my own eyes that little kids that have to say ‘Good Bye’ to Mom for big chunks of time have a really rough time of it, even if Dad is 100% competent and he has a great support network of Grandma and Aunties in place to help out.
Some things just are what they are. But even the military can’t discriminate anymore, even if it would help the bottom line. And we spend A LOT of tax dollars on the military; it’s third in line behind our National Debt and all the STUPID, wasteful dollars that go to H&HS ‘programs.’
OK. I’m done. :)