“We do not know enough to say that this perp, who may have been large, pwoerful, and trained...we just do not know...could have also taken it away from a male sailor.”
We know enough to say that it was much less likely that he could have taken it from a male sailor, and less likely that he would even have tried this if the watch had been a man. We also know enough to say that a man would have been more likely to shoot the assailant.
We also know enough to say that men will often protect women, instinctively, even at the expense of their own lives and the mission.
The only women in the Navy should be doctors and nurses. Period.
I was with you 100% down to “doctors and nurses”. So, now I’m 90%.
I believe one should be honest and apply the “would I want my daughter confronting some big ape forcefully trying to board a billion dollar warship with a gun in her hand?”
Everyone but the president of NOW would say No!
This guy could have been a killer terrorist and cut her head off in a split second on the way to 72 virgins! The Navy should not have had her in that position period!
Finally, there are many non combatant roles in the Navy that women can, and historically have, handled.