Posted on 01/09/2015 3:03:30 PM PST by Chode
Agree.
On 20 November 1943, during the horrific fighting on Betio atoll during the battle of Tarawa, two Japanese tanks mounted a counterattack against the fragile Marine toehold on Red Beach 3. The Marines were huddled there at the base of a seawall in the face of withering fire from Admiral Keiji Shibasakis fanatical Japanese Naval Landing Force defenders who were slaughtering hundreds of their 2nd Marine Division comrades in Betio Lagoon during 76 hours of some of the most savage fighting in the history not only of the Marines, but the US armed forces.
Marine anti-tank gun crews were trying to figure out how to get their 912 lb 37MM M3 antitank guns over the 7 foot plus seawall. The battery commander ordered his 5 man crews to LIFT them over. Being Marines who always obeyed even seemingly impossible orders, they did EXACTLY that and promptly knocked out the tanks. They then engaged several enemy bunkers whose dual purpose guns were repeatedly knocking out the approaching landing craft and put them out of action. Finally they routed a local counter attack of 200 or so Japanese against the south shore of Red Beach 3 with canister shot, all of this at a critical and precarious point in the landing.
Whats that about upper body strength being not as important
in modern warfare anymore and that women are just as likely to be able to do the job of combat infantry?
I mean no disrespect to the female perssonnel of the US Armed Forces who have served and ARE serving their nation honorably and well. I respect them as fellow vets and comrades in arms. Policy decisions are above their level for the most part.
But as a matter of POLICY, I think that women should be excluded from the armed forces for the most part, with a few exceptions and COMPLETELY from combat and most combat support roles, particularly when the armed forces are a small percentage of the total population, as is the case now. The use of significant numbers of women should be reserved for large scale mobilization as was the case in WWII. The population base is more than twice as large now as then and there would be no problem securing a sufficient number of qualified men with appropriate incentives for such a relatively small armed forces.
The advantages for the armed forces, particularly the Army would be greater flexibility as to how personnel can be deployed in combat emergencies and other contingincies and a lesser logistical strain as involves clothing, barracks and housing, and innumerable other considerations that are exclusive to the maintenence of large numbers of women. I think morale and discipline would also be improved as well.
The courts have repeatedly ruled that the armed forces are exempted from many of the equal opportunity requirements of the civillian world, and for the very good and sufficient requirements that are unique to the armed forces. This contretemps is being propelled largely by the cultural marxist wing of gender equity feminism who wish for the placement of a leftist Chairwoman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The resultant detriment of the ability of the armed forces to fight plays no consideration in their calculus, other than as an peripheral side benefit.
I know that women have played a vital role during guerrilla, partisan warfare and sabatoge/espionage activity. But to deliberately employ them in ground combat units whose primary task is to close with, engage and destroy similar enemy units is the height of lunacy and madness given the effort required to identify the relative few who could qualify even if we ignore the potential detriments to morale and discipline.
This is sheer and utter madness akin to allowing open homosexuals to serve in the armed forces.
Yes it finally happened! A female, a very burly sort, passed all tests and graduated to the applause and wild cheers of the onlooking media.
Unfortunately, some weeks later when she got her deployment orders to a war zone, she was pregnant and had to decline ... she was reassigned to a desk job in the Pentagon, where she will continue to lead from behind.
Who had to survive in his place?
There are obviously Women who wish to serve their country and I salute them for that desire.
I have two daughters and have always encouraged them in everything they tried to accomplish.
But I would never encourage them to achieve their goals through any "affirmative action" or "wavered requirements" path.
We are all smart enough to know that any such "achievement" would be tainted, not honorable, and thus not worth having.
You know, I don’t fly anymore because of an eyesight issue. Nothing would make me happier than to get back in the left seat. I don’t petition the FAA to lower standards for a first class medical for obvious reasons.
If they can’t handle the best of the armed services, there is always something else to do.
...and risk everyone else in the process!
That may well be the best first comment I have ever seen. Especially appropriate for these morons who WILL get that round peg into the square hole; by any means necessary, including wrecking the whole thing.
I don’t believe a woman will ever pass a CET. They’re not designed to do it. They don’t have the muscle mass to do it. This must be the end of the line for feminist fantasies.
The FBI, local fire departments, sanitation departments, etc. have all lowered the standards to let women in. Lower standards just leads to lower standards.
What’s scarier is that reality means the rear echelon is completely political and there because of their gender or SSA. What does that do to combat effectiveness?
Let’s put on wombs on the frontlines = certain extinction.
Spot on. Men are the enemy, except when you’re carrying my load.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.