Why Women Do Not Belong in the U.S. Infantry

Marine Corps Gazette ^ | September 17, 2014 | Capt Lauren F. Serrano

[Timber Rattler]

While reading the February issue of the Marine Corps Gazette, I skimmed past the “Be Bold” advertisement calling for readers to submit articles that challenge a Marine Corps policy or way of doing business. Immediately a current “hot topic” came to mind, but as usual I quickly discarded it because I have purposely avoided publicly disagreeing with the passionate opinions of many of my female peers and friends. After weeks of contemplation and debate, I am “being bold” and coming clean: I am a female Marine officer and I do not believe women should serve in the infantry.

[Gay State Conservative]

Women surely belong in the Armed Forces...they perform vital duties of all kinds.But they shouldn’t be in combat or even a combat zone (except,perhaps medical personnel and other specialized duties).I’ve never been in combat...or a combat zone...myself but I did serve during wartime so my opinion may,or may not,be worthy of consideration.

[henkster]

If its the army that is going to nurse Ebola patients or provide meals to the starving...

I refer to this "army" as "tourists bringing gifts." It's how liberals see our military. As you say, it's not really an army, since armies do kill people and destroy their stuff. And it's why we will never win another war so long as the liberals are in control of our major institutions. They cannot bring themselves to wage war.

[Gay State Conservative]

They tried putting girls through Marine Corp basic training and they all failed.

I saw a documentary some time ago comparing the performance of males and females during Marine recruit training.In short it was embarrassing for the women.Men would be interviewed and say they were tired,sore,dispirited,etc.The women,OTOH,would be in tears during their interviews.

[jazusamo]

An excellent assessment by Capt Serrano, she truly gets it.

0bama’s minions pushing his social experiments in the military will not appreciate it.

[Fred Hayek]

Bookmark

[Dexter Morgan]

If they were in my living room and my wife walked in.

Situation not improved by her boobs.

[huldah1776]

Ironically, sadly, simultaneously, what about women on naval vessels?

Top leaders removed midway into deployment because of “a liberty incident that occurred in the Sixth Fleet area of operations”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3205043/posts

and

suicide of woman from the ship
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/29/navy-investigating-ship-death-female-sailor-23-sui/

[cherry]

well, the sexes are different afterall....women bear the children and nurse them and nuture them....that's the way God intended....not to fight in wars...

that's why I think mothers should always be given custody, unless they are profoundly mentally disturbed, or worse than the fathers...

see life would be more simple and lots better if we just stuck to our roles and respected each others roles.

[cherry]

I don't think women should have to be in combat...

that being said, women generally are in better health, live longer, have more stamina, can exist on less food, and obey orders better than men....so there....

hygenically vulnerable?....what does that mean?...they use toliet paper?...do they scratch their private parts?...pick their nose?...oh, you probably mean they have their monthlies once a month....

the world would completely stop if women decided to take it easy during their monthlies....which they don't.

[MasterGunner01]

The most familiar with the issue of women in combat with regular line units are the Israelis and Russians. The Israelis had mixed male-female units in the War for Independence (1948-1949) and the Russians during The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). In the case of both, women were drafted into combat units because of sheer manpower needs. In Israeli's case it was driven by a war for survival against Arab enemies. In the Russian's case it was caused by huge casualties to army and front line aviation units caused by the Germans. After both wars were over, both countries rethought their experiences and decided that: 1) women would receive basic combat training, 2) women would not be assigned to front line units going man-on-man against the enemy.

Reasons to not to put women in combat arms:

1) fraternization caused morale and combat effectiveness problems

2) casualties among the females caused morale problems with both males and females

3) males tried to protect the females and resulted in higher casualties for both

4) females tried to prove themselves, took more risks, and suffered disproportionally higher casualties

5) females were physically unable to match men's greater strength in field situations

The Canadian Forces have opened all branches of service to women, including infantry. In Canada, every infantry soldier candidate goes through a “selection” process similar to that the British Special Air Service (SAS) uses for its members. The last phase of the SAS selection process is a timed forced march in full kit — with a 60 lb. Bergen ruck sack and rifle (no sling) — through the Brecon Beacons in Wales. The Brecon Beacons is very, very rugged terrain. If you make it, you pass “selection”.

The Canadians have a similar “selection” process for infantry. So far only three females, AFIK. have made it through selection and re-qualification is done annually. Whether they are still active with the infantry I don't know. One female CDN Forces infantry captain won the Military Medal of Valour for actions in Afghanistan [2010]. The MMV is the third highest Canadian decoration. The Medal of Military Valour, abbreviated as MMV, is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces for “an act of valour or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy”. This sounds like the American Bronze Star that is awarded for both combat (with “V” device) and non-combat actions.

Here is a pro-female in combat “puff” piece from the BBC about Captain Ashley Colette's MMV award: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24622762

[5thGenTexan]

As an aside, all military branches should be able to create non-combat classifications for people to serve but not be in a combat MSO.

My father turned 18 during WWII. He had a leg injury as a child and was rejected by all branches when they saw the scar running the length of his left thigh. He barely had a limp, but the rules were all enlistees must be able to be infantry. He had always regretted not getting to serve.

He would say "They could have let me do something stateside. Somebody had to mail out pay checks and order supplies for the front lines."

[notdownwidems]

If you want to serve in front line infantry, then be out front and demand repeal of all domestic violence laws. Put an end to all of this crying and whining about “battered women.” If you want to fight, then fight and shut up when you lose. Just don’t ask to have it both ways.

Great point and while you're at it, repeal the Selective Service Act! How in the world can any feminazi support a law that applies to men only? That in itself has always convinced me that they don't want equality, rather they want a privileged position in society.

[cherry]

in the video it looks like he leaned in and gave her a little shove, to which the powerfully built sheman woman actually got right in his face and for that he flattened her....right out of the muzzie handbook....

[cherry]

you forgot to throw in cleaning toliets....

[fr_freak]

Mothers are well suited for the raising of children until about age 8. After that, daddy better be around or those kids will most likely end up screwed up as adults. Single mothers are the scourge of civilization.

[Lazamataz]

Why Women Do Not Belong in the U.S. Infantry

Why Women Do Not Belong in the U.S.

[McGruff]

Before you disagree, remember that war is not a fair business. Adversaries attempt to gain an advantage over their enemies by any means possible. Enemies do not necessarily abide by their adversary’s moral standards or rules of engagement. Although in today’s world many gory, violent war tactics are considered immoral, archaic, and banned by international law or the Geneva Conventions, adversaries still must give themselves the greatest advantage possible in order to ensure success. For the Marine Corps, this means ensuring that the infantry grunt (03XX) units are the strongest, most powerful, best trained, and most prepared physically and mentally to fight and win. Although perhaps advantageous to individuals and the national movement for complete gender equality, incorporating women into infantry units is not in the best interest of the Marine Corps or U.S. national security.

Think ISIS.

[ansel12]

LOL, what a crock.

Women break down under the hard physical stress of soldiering, their injury rate is higher, they suffer from bad hygiene and they can’t keep up, they are losers in the military because of their injury rate, pregnancy, and low reenlistment rates.

You are correct about them being easier to lead though, and many writers have written about that corrosive effect they have, as weak leaders come to prefer the less effective, but less challenging females to hide their leadership deficiencies.

You don’t know about hygiene in the military? Have you been in, or do you read military history, for instance living in trenches and mud holes for weeks at a time?

Women are a real problem in the military, they can’t even do support jobs well, for instance changing the heavy tire on the truck they are driving, or lifting armament, or gear, they can’t even carry the needed gear for their own packs and set up large tents, and get over walls.

[ansel12]

Notice that they already have us down to trying to protect the infantry, rather than all military service?

Females used to be limited to clerical, legal, financial and medical, and the soldiers never had to deal with them except on main post when doing indoor things and administrative duties.

[miss marmelstein]

Oh, you’re so picky!!!!