Why are we sending Teenage Girls into the Battle Zone?

AP (Yahoo News) ^

[optik_b]

Jessica Lynch is known for her smile, her laugh and for loving children so much that she wants to be a teacher. "That smile is all you ever see," Glenda Nelson, a close family friend, said Monday. "No matter what, she always had a smile on her face."

Lynch, who aspires to become a teacher, joined the Army to get an education and because it was one of the few opportunities available in a farming community with an unemployment rate of 15 percent — one of the highest in West Virginia.

Once she entered the service, Jesse, as she is known to family and friends, would often write letters, send e-mail and call home.
The young woman is "every mother's dream of a teenager daughter," said Lorene Cumbridge, a cousin.

[Melas]

So yeah keep teen girls out of combat areas. Teach her to type, and put her in the Central Command. Put her in Mess. Put her in Intel, or a Radar Station. Put her on a Fuel Plane. Put her in an aide station. There are plenty of jobs in the military for women that don't make them POW targets.

Unrealistic. Despite uniformed opinions to the contrary women have filled support positions since they cooked meals and nursed the wounded in the revolution. Also, contrary to popular opinion, not all support positions have the luxury of being far form the front. The most notable of these, the most traditional, and the field in which more women have been captured is of course is nursing.

In order to be effective, mobile medical units (can't bring myself to type MASH after the TV show) have to be close to combat in order to be effective. Forty-Five minutes from the front might as well be all the way back to the nearest permanent base. Even today, in the 21st century when male nurses are more common than any point in history, I'd be willing to bet the farm that you couldn't field 1/10 the number of male nurses needed to adequately staff medical units.

That of course explains why we've had female POW's in every war. Until someone comes up with better plan for this and other situations that are risky, we'll never be able to eliminate risk.

[MN_Rightside]

Enlistment Oath

In the Armed Forces EXCEPT the National Guard (Army or Air)

I, ___________________________________, do solemly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed overme, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

[johnb838]

She looks like an eager little beaver. I'm sure she is giving it her all. I simply disagree with the idea of a gender neutral military.

[Michael81Dus]

Under Schröder, the German armed forces opened their gates for women in all parts of the military. We now have women in submarines and they want to serve in the special forces.

[MineralMan]

The "So help me God" part is optional.

[homeschool mama]

At 19 she's hardly a child. Would you consider a 19 year old male soldier a child?

[ricpic]

Does the German army have women in combat positions? I mean military not sexual combat.

[HairOfTheDog]

You really have no idea what you're talking about.

I am not a fighter pilot, but I am a pilot, and a fancier of military aircraft. What do you know?

[Mr. Bird]

It's a legitimate question, and very worthy of discussion on FR. For several years, the U.S. has had to debate the merits of women in combat in the abstract. Now we are facing the realities that accompany such policy changes. Many here say that the all-volunteer force renders the question moot. I disagree. If women can prove themselves in combat roles, it effectively opens the door for an equal-protection lawsuit to include women in draft registration, and hence any future draft.

I'm pretty much against putting women in combat roles, volunteer or not. I'm definitely against drafting women into combat roles.

[activationproducts]

The reason is so called "equal rights." If women want equal rights with those of men they will have to take on the responsibilty that comes along with those rights.

I here no clamor about sending teenage boys into combat. This has been done from time immemorial.

[Mark17]

I´m German, please excuse my bad English

Actually, your English is very good. I was in Wiesbaden from 1980 to 1984.

[CharacterCounts]

My daughter would never permit herself to be put in a position where she would be a detriment to her fellow military personnel. There are also men in the military who are not built like tanks.

[homeschool mama]

Prayers heavenward for your daughter, S. Freepmail me her first name and I'll put her on my military prayer list...if you'd like. :o)

[AnalogReigns]

To our German friend:

"I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America, And to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Notice that the pledge is to a country, not a person (like your historically typical pledge) and the ideals of liberty and justice for all. The indivisable part refer's to our Civil War...

The "under God" part acknowleges the nation is responsible to that Someone greater than any nation....who will judge us all.

When I was in 2ndary school we recited it every morning--therefore most any American will know it by heart...at least of a certain age (unfortunatly many schoolkids don't any more...thanks to the liberals).

As to the military pledge, I don't know that by heart, however, significantly it pledges loyalty to the U. S. Constitution (implicitly with its Bill of Rights), again, NOT to a person or office (like the President).

Fascist and Communist loyalty pledges were almost always to particular persons or offices, this is what sets the American pledges apart. We pledge to a country and the ideals, principles and laws which make it great--and to which we continually aspire.

[Michael81Dus]

Thanks a lot.
I like to compare these texts. The part "according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice" is necessary for a state who stands for justice and right. Everything else (unconditional obedience) would be inacceptable. This way, it´s guaranteed that the soldier doesn´t have to break his oath when he/she refuses to follow illegal orders.

[ricpic]

Haven't the Israelis proscribed combat for their female soldiers? This was after using them in combat and then having second thoughts.

[Mark17]

You are mistaken.

Actually, I think I am right, but I am going to try to research it and see what I can find out. I know the Israelis did use women in combat, and I think they stopped, but I will try to find out for sure.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh stuff it putz. Run your cursor over my handle newbee.

My post was unclear. When I said disruptor, I was speaking of the poster of this thread. The thread that now has us fighting amongst ourselves about whether this missing American deserves our support or our disrespect. Here is is again. Your post, and then mine.

I'm sure this whisp of a girl was a real asset to unit cohesion when things got ugly.

I am glad she has your support. It would be horrible if disruptors with unclear motives were to undermine our support for our troops and get us trashing our own soldiers who are missing.

[Michael81Dus]

LOL, yeah, since 2001. The European Court said that women should have the same rights like men, so we opened the military to all parts. They may even serve in submarines and special forces (if they were good enough). But, no women accomplished the required tasks yet to serve in the "swimming fighters unit" or "Special Forces Command".

[Mark17]

And please get to feeling better.

LOL, nothing would make me happier. The Doc put me on antibiotics.