TheShogunOfHarlem wrote...
While I don't disagree with you on the fact that there are men that would have an issue with women being in situations where they risk being captued, maimed, etc. but hasn't that been an issue in the current wars? Granted not in great numbers mind you, but it has happened nonetheless since the asymetric warfare tactics the enemy has been using blur the notion of having a frontline. There have been female POWs at least going back to the original Gulf War and there have been a number of casualities from enemy fire and IEDs. It may not be in comparable numbers but it has happened and it is a reality that I think that should addressed in a reasonable way.Peregrin25 wrote...
TheShogunOfHarlem wrote...
I would think that there are other more pressing controversial military traditions that the militaries of the World should try to overturn (i.e. the Role of women in combat)
To answer that question. I don't know what reasons the U.S. Army has for that, but as for the Marine Corps.
One of the reason we do not allow female combatants is the male mental cpacity. Meaning a man seeing a woman go down as a casualty flips on a specific natural human responce that would impede that persons ability to focus on the obective at hand.
There are specifics to that as to what captured women may endure seeing as being a front line soldier or marine you are more likely to become a casualty or possibly a p.o.w.
I am not saying women are not capable of being front line worthy but there are things to take into consideration that could possibly impede mission success.
I honestly can't say what I would do or how I would react to watching a female getting blown up compared to one of my friends I watched get blown up. He being a man, I do think it would have affected me moreso had it been a woman. On top of it, I am also a trained combat aidsmen and I don;t know how I would feel ripping off her clothes to patch up her wounds while waiting for a CAS EVAC.
It however would be necessary, I just think it would become an unecessary distraction regardless of any FUBAR situation.
Men have a tendancy to get over protective, and that could cause trouble when he should be focusing on the more serious issues.
There are plenty of women that are put in harms way regardless of wheather or not they are front line soldiers or marines and still have combat experience. In all honesty. I believe it should stay that way. I have mad respect for females in the military but there are just some things I think they should stay clear of regardless of if they are capable. Not to mention, it is hard to say how well a woman would handle herself in the situations I found myself in when I was in Iraq back in 2005. There are probably other reasons, but that is the only common sence reason I can come up with.
Pulling them away from an undefined frontline isn't really addressing the issue so much as it ignoring openly debating and discussing the issue in a meaningful way. I myself am on the fence with the issue however I think there need to be a meaningful discussion on the matter since there will always be a War to fight and with an all volunteer Military numbers is alway gonna be important.
I understand completely what you're saying and I agree. As there is a blur in what front lines these days means. I do think with conventional infanrty MOS in any military, your chances of becoming a casualty or pow is increased even though it doesn't happen often even now among all infantry types.
It's just a statistic. When I was in School of Infantry prior to joining the fleet marine force and beeing assainged a batallion. We covered stats like life expectancy based on what billet you held. Heavy Machine Gunners normally held a life expectancey of like 20 seconds on the battlefield. That statistic is based off of conventional warfare in war with another trained military. Things like that. I understand the difference in what could or what would happen.
Just because it is more likely doesn't make it 100%. There is just that greater chance that it could happen. I personally would not like seeing a woman get blown to pieces or shot. I had an experience out side of the Marine Corps, prior to my enlistment that I can use as example.
I won't go into details as it just dredges up too many bad memories, but I lost a loved one to a shooting and seeing that compared to a buddy of mine getting hit by an IED was less traumatizing. Even though my out of military experience was not combat related, I would probably have that same feeling had it been. I know alot of my brothers in arms whom I served with would feel the same way.
Being a combat vet I can say with confidence, having women in an infanrty batallion or platoon could moraly devestate infantrymen if sh*t hit the fan and all hell broke loose. Like I said prior. It's not that I don't think women are capable, because I met some tough ass female marines in my time. I just don't think it would be wise to bring them into infantry ready soldiers or marines. Where a lot of the female marines I met. Where ever they are what ever MOS they are part of. They bust their balls. And I mean that in a good way lol. I have a lot of respect for them.
It's been 8 years since I graduated Boot Camp. It was rough, If a woman can do it then they deserve to wear the title of U.S. Marine. It is no easy feat and that is a major self accomplishment.
Maybe the government does try to avoid the debate and issue. In all honesty, if they do. I hope it is because of some other important issues that demands more attention. I cannot say for sure. Aslong as female service members serve honorably and do their duty as soldiers, seamen, airmen and marines. That is enough for me. Just wearing the uniform in all honesty is all that should matter. And hoping that their friends and family are proud of them for the freedoms they sacrifice when they sign that dotted line.
I sure as hell know that is honestly all I cared about. Being able to be called a Marine was the greatest accomplishment of my life. I doubt I will ever have somthing so life changing and awe inspiring as serving my country despite it's faults. In the end it comes down to honor, courage and commitment and feeling honored to be called a marine, soldier, airmen or seamen.
Just being a part of the military is feat in itself. Any man or woman should be proud to wear the uniform.
As far as the inevitable goes. If women are introduced into the frontline. Those chances and percentages will be higher. Especially if we get involved in a conventional war in the future. I pray we don't but yeah. Women as well as men will still make the ultimate sacrifice regardless of where they are sent. It is a fact that cannot be ignored. But if women become part of a main fighting force, those numbers will increase greatly. Numbers I would prefer not to see increase.
P.S. please forgive my long posts.
Modifié par Peregrin25, 04 août 2012 - 09:29 .
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