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.
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
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.
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.