[norcalvet]

Something else to think about: marriages. Men and women working together are bound to hook up and get married. What happens when something happens to one or both of them? There was a female in my unit, great person BTW, who just had a baby girl with her husband, a Huey crew chief. Their little girl wasn't even a month old when he died in a crash. They gave her a hardship discharge after that. What if something like this happens in the field? What if this concern for your significant other affects your combat decision-making? Note, this is also a good argument against gays in the military, regardless of what you think of homosexuality.

BTW, SASE training? We called it SERE (Survival, Escape, Resistance, Evasion) training in the Marines. Based on combined experience from several wars including the first Gulf War and Somalia, current air crews are very well trained in these types of situations (although even with the best training, it can still be an extremely harsh experience).

[norcalvet]

forgive my earlier dyslexic typing:
SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape)

[dandelion]

That is a legitimate concern. Before my daughter signed up, I asked her to make duty to her country her first concern. But I also asked her, starting with her very first paycheck, save up her money NOW. In the event that she should fall in love and get married (a real possiblity with all those handsome men in uniform around) that the money will be there to help with the children that invariably follow.

I also made a decision myself; that, if my daughter has chosen to serve her country in a time of war, I could choose to serve my country with her by keeping her future children should she be called to serve. I'm not ready to be a gramma (I'm only 40 for cryin' out loud) but those babies are MINE.

Ahem... I mean, Mimi would love to keep you while Mommy saves the world. Kewl. Where the HEY did that come from?????

[Maximum Leader]

You're right, I meant to type SERE and it came out SASE (hey it was late).

When Congress passed the Sullivan Act, they had no idea we'd send women, must less married couples with children, into harm's way.

Thanks for your reply.