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Female Marine Pullup Failure Doesn't Mean Women Aren't Strong
The Federalist ^ | January 3, 2014 | Mollie Hemingway

Posted on 05/22/2014 5:30:04 PM PDT by QT3.14

The Associated Press reports:

More than half of female Marines in boot camp can't do three pullups, the minimum standard that was supposed to take effect with the new year, prompting the Marine Corps to delay the requirement, part of the process of equalizing physical standards to integrate women into combat jobs.

The delay rekindled sharp debate in the military on the question of whether women have the physical strength for some military jobs, as service branches move toward opening thousands of combat roles to them in 2016.

(Excerpt) Read more at thefederalist.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: equality; military; usmc; women
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To: Always A Marine
I had a real deja vu...wasn't this article published some time back? I remember this same article with the exact same directions of discussion on the thread.

I remember reading it and thinking exactly as you did, that she gets it .

But I remember being a bit angrier that she knew the issue, but at the same time came across as being all for proceeding with this travesty.

It just seemed more egregious to me because she did understand that.

61 posted on 05/22/2014 6:42:28 PM PDT by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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To: musicman

Although, I must say that Obama one is going to leave a mark, though.


62 posted on 05/22/2014 6:44:25 PM PDT by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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To: musicman

That’s an image from the Israeli Defense Forces, which has also been “doctored up” with all the glitzy stuff in the picture. They do have a lot of women in the IDF.


63 posted on 05/22/2014 6:50:17 PM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Gunner TLW

Gunner’s got his weapon zeroed in. Started out as a Navy HM and became a special ops “technician” privileged to serve the USMC in various infantry and Recon units. Later, became I&I of the 4th MedBn, colocated with 4th TankBn at Miramar, as a commissioned officer, with both Navy and Marine Corps females aboard. WMs, to my knowledge, have never had to meet the same PFT standards as male Devil Dogs, and I and my staff oversaw numerous Marine Corps and Navy physical fitness tests. Likewise for women in the Navy.

From my personal observation and close proximity to them, I also never came across a single WM that wanted to go into combat arms, except for maybe aviation. That includes female Marine officers who’d been series commanders at Parris Island. All of them admitted they’d never be able to hack the Marine Corps’ infantry officer course, let alone enlisted WMs heading for the School of Infantry. MCT is tough, no doubt, but it’s NOT SOI. ‘Nuff said about that.

I’m also in the same fighting hole with the Gunner when it comes to women serving in ground combat units as well as special operations/special warfare units as lead slingers.

WOMEN DO NOT BELONG IN THE INFANTRY, OR ARMOR OR ARTILLERY, PERIOD. They’re just gonna end up getting more people killed, no matter how gung-ho they may be to pull their weight. They can’t. Not at full combat load or in maneuvering on the field of battle in the face of direct, indirect and grazing or harassing fires. I’ve seen them try it in controlled training environments at Twenty-Nine Palms. What a clusterfark.

Hell, I know plenty of males that also can’t. No shame in that for the WMs or female HMs agitating to serve in Marine Corps infantry units as their Corpsmen.


64 posted on 05/22/2014 6:51:35 PM PDT by BigKahuna ("When somebody's not getting the job done, you gotta let him go.")
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To: QT3.14; blueyon; KitJ; T Minus Four; xzins; CMS; The Sailor; ab01; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; ...

Active Duty ping.


65 posted on 05/22/2014 6:54:02 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (Resist in place.)
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To: BigKahuna

Seven Myths About “Women in Combat”

Written by G.S. Newbold, Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret.)
17 March 2013

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/seven-myths-about-women-in-combat.htm


66 posted on 05/22/2014 6:55:53 PM PDT by BigKahuna ("When somebody's not getting the job done, you gotta let him go.")
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To: QT3.14

It takes time, it takes training. Was this really a surprise to anyone? I know women can do pullups, I see it just about every day, but if you don’t train for it, then you’re not going to meet the standard.


67 posted on 05/22/2014 6:56:02 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: PapaNew

Women are not as strong physically as men,but are just as strong in other ways.

A man with a cold is a sight to behold.:-)

.


68 posted on 05/22/2014 6:56:58 PM PDT by Mears
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To: Jarhead9297
Success for women should not mean being viewed, contrary to reality, as interchangeable with men in all things.

I think you are seriously misreading what she is saying.

The article discusses the claims that women should be treated as interchangeable with men for combat purposes, and then comprehensively refutes it.

69 posted on 05/22/2014 6:58:08 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: QT3.14
Women are strong. But they're designed so most of their strength is in their lower body; legs, hips, etc. Women can be devastating with their legs. Let one get you in a leg lock and you'll see what I mean. It's like an anaconda has grabbed a hold of you. And, yes, I mean that any way you want to take it.

Men, however, are designed so most of their strength is in their upper body; back, chest, arms, etc.

The problem for women is that in combat upper body strength is crucial. This puts greater than 50% of them at a severe disadvantage when facing men.

70 posted on 05/22/2014 7:02:10 PM PDT by servo1969
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To: PapaNew

It doesn’t mean she’s not strong. It just means she’s not strong enough to be a Marine.


71 posted on 05/22/2014 7:04:50 PM PDT by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Implementing class warfare by having no class.)
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To: QT3.14

I remember reading this article when it was first published. I think I saw it via a link her at FR.

The headline is misleading. The author eventually makes some valid points about the differences between men and women.


72 posted on 05/22/2014 7:06:17 PM PDT by 04-Bravo
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To: BigKahuna
Brother, you are absolutely correct. I served my entire 34 year career in the Infantry. I was a Gunnery Sergeant, E-7, when I was selected for the Marine Gunner program. I'm a graduate of the. infantry Officers Course and I spent my last twenty years of service in the 2nd Marine Division, retiring as the Division Gunner, CWO5.

For those who don't know; Marine Gunners are Infantry Weapons Officers. Their job is to coach, teach and instruct on infantry weapons and advise commanders on the employment of all organic infantry weapons.

I do know something about combat and leading men. I also know that no female possesses the strength, stamina and warrior spirit to hang with the men. It's pure madness to assume that girls cam compete and thrive against men.

Only a fool believes that American girls should be employed in our Ground Combat Units.

73 posted on 05/22/2014 7:18:51 PM PDT by Gunner TLW
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To: Gunner TLW; BigKahuna

Not only all that (which I agree with), but nobody has mentioned the nightmare of female POWs, especially if captured by combatants who are not parties to the Geneva accords, and/or who culturally treat women worse than men. Since combat arms personnel are necessarily more likely to be captured, simply due to their proximity to the enemy, it’s just another good reason why women should not be in these roles, even if the obvious differences in physical attributes did not exist.


74 posted on 05/22/2014 7:44:45 PM PDT by clintonh8r (I wish no harm on Gen. Shinseki, but perhaps he should consider seppuku.....)
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To: Gunner TLW

Thank-you for your service.


75 posted on 05/22/2014 7:45:04 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (I don't want to feel "safe." I want to feel FREE!)
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To: july4thfreedomfoundation

Sir, it was my privilege and I enjoyed every minute of the opportunity to live, lead, deploy and fight alongside the finest men on earth!

Terry L Walker
CWO5
Marine Gunner
USMC Retired


76 posted on 05/22/2014 7:57:38 PM PDT by Gunner TLW
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To: Sherman Logan

Hmmm quite possibly so.


77 posted on 05/22/2014 8:05:38 PM PDT by Jarhead9297
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To: BigKahuna
WOMEN DO NOT BELONG IN THE INFANTRY, OR ARMOR OR ARTILLERY, PERIOD.

Agree. Although, today we have a female Brigader General in charge of recruit training at Parris Island. My platoon that graduated PI fifty years ago (1964) were back on PI for our fiftieth recently.
It is very unusual for a platoon that graduated back in that era to have a reunion ... most platoons sort of fade away.
Prior to the official graduation, family of the graduates, and others assembled for the flag raising at the HQ building an hour or so before graduation.
Brigadier General Lori Reynolds came forward to acknowledge those of special note in attendance, the families of the graduates, a few recently retired officers and senior NCO's without any mention of our platoon.
There were 43 of us in attendance, those of us who graduated PI 50 years ago, some of those (now retired) career Marines, wives and adult children, & grand children. Two of the grandchildren in attendance have their grand dad, a decorated Vietnam Marine buried at Arlington. Two others, one a female Marine 2nd Lieutenent and her younger brother, a recently promoted E-5 in the Corps part of our group.
This female commanding officer was winging it, not using notes, when she was running thru her acknowledgments ... not impressed. Not to fear, in today's political correct world she will be Commandant of the Marine Corps in a few years.

78 posted on 05/22/2014 8:21:24 PM PDT by BluH2o
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To: Gunner TLW

I never knew there was a higher rating than CWO4. When did this happen?


79 posted on 05/22/2014 8:21:54 PM PDT by beelzepug (You can't fix a broken washing machine by washing more expensive clothes in it.)
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To: dainbramaged
Put a company of women against a company of men with the same ordnance, guess who wins?

Depends if the company of women all have PMS.

80 posted on 05/22/2014 8:25:59 PM PDT by dfwgator
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