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" So much for the having to defend the little ladies that everyone opposing women in the military is so afraid of, and that they won't be able to hold their own in a fire fight. The facts speak for themselves."

As far as I can tell, there are no "facts" regarding this combat that would lead to such a conclusion.

I'd like to believe the favorable description of gender relations in the USMC, but there are other sides to that story. Some complains here regarding women marine performance in the first gulf war. Another story here regarding different size obstacles and rope for WMs. I found a more general set of women in the military articles exists here: WOMEN ARE JUST A CAPABLE AS MEN IN THE MILITARY (?)

It's good to see that WM training has made great strides toward equaling that of males. But failing to address the implications of different PT test requirements isn't going to make them go away.

And how long has it been since the first Gulf War? I'm sure that the "complaints" have been noted logged and acted on by HQMC. The Marine Corps always is introspective and proactive when it comes to any problems that arise.

Women Marines are required to do just as many sit-ups and run as far on the PFT, so the basis of any argument over a tiny bit of inequality in the PFT boils down to the Flexed arm hang(female) vs pull ups(male).

Ever see a bunch of male marines after a PFT? The way most throw themselves at the pull up bar leaves bruises across their chests, and most women we will agree aren't built to do that sort of damage to their upper bodies, so The Marine Corps in it's infinate wisdom devised an equally strenuous and devious test that would allow it to test the Women Marines without battering their breasts against the pull up bar.

As for the obstacle course, you do realise that those course have not changed since the early sixties, and that the "Female" sections are a source of motivation for male recruits.

~~puts on best drill instructor voice~~

AWWWWWWW RECRUIT SMITH CAN'T MAKE IT UP MY MARINE CORPS WALL...
GET BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE RECRUIT SMITH AND THIS TIME RUN THE OBSTACLE USING THE LADIES' WALL...

It never fails to motivate recruits to try harder....