A former neighbor gal was a medic and served at a base in Iraq. When she was sent to Afghanistan she requested to be out on patrols so she could help our guys, rather than the locals that would show up at the base.
She did two tours in Afghanistan on patrols - and was in high demand. (She is beautiful too which may have helped!). She said that having a female along also allowed her to treat the women in villages who were likelier to “like” the Americans, warn them about the enemy, etc.
I don’t think she was in a primary combat team - seemed like more getting out into the various villages to have their presence known. Although her mom would ask “Are you getting shot at?”
“I’m not going to talk about it, but Mom - we’re walking through the middle of fricken’ AFGHANISTAN!”
The war in Iraq, for the most part, basically was a combat experience for all. There were any number of females who were killed by hostile fire, and a lot of females who shot it out with the enemy. I realize this isn't the same as being a platoon leader going house to house searching out the enemy, or driving a tank. I just think assigning women to primary combat roles is "fodder for slaughter."
One other thing, and it might not mean much today. But during the Viet Nam war, women were a highly visible presence in the anti-war demonstrations. Young men their own age were being killed by the tens of thousands, and I don’t recall a huge demand by women to be drafted so they could be sent into combat.
Not every war will be Afghanistan. Cruising around in a hummer handing out snacks to the kids is a world away from
“THEY’RE THROUGH THE WIRE!”
“I’M OUT OF AMMO!”
“ONLINE! ONLINE! FIX BAYONETS! CHARGE!”
Good luck, Brittney.