This article features a lot of female GIs - I know I'll offend a lot of women when I say this, but I'm still waffling about women in combat situations. I'm a woman, by the way, who believes anyone can do anything he/she sets out to do, but I still don't know if this is a good idea. Not trying to start an argument; this article just raised all those questions again.
I think it's a perfect time to bring up the issues you did.
First of all, I don't know how anyone can read the article and look at the picture of Sgt Cole with her baby and her neighbor, and not be effected. It's heart wrenching.
That said, I think we have to ask ourselves how we got to this point? Thirty to 40 years ago a single parent with even one child would have been discharged from the service. I maintain we are where we are because the purveyors of political correctness have put us there. Liberal and feminist groups like NOW, along with a willing congress, have seen to it that we can't go back.
There is only one way to deal with the current situation and that is to go all the way. By that I mean we should remove all restrictions on who can and who can't be in combat. A good start would be to include 18-year-old women in the requirement to register with the Selective Service System. After that, when the balloon really goes up, let the chips fall where they may.
BTW, I believe there are plenty of women who are capable of performing any job in the military. For many years now our high schools and universities have been producing women jocks. Without reducing any standards in any military specialty, we should turn 'em loose.
Those women have chosen to serve their country in the armed forces. They know the demands and the risks, and they accept them. Why can't you?