Posted on 01/24/2013 8:57:30 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
EL PASO, Texas -- Reaction to the historic decision to allow women in combat roles was swift at Fort Bliss.
“It’s absolutely the right thing to do," said commanding General Dana Pittard following Wednesday’s announcement made by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Most of the 230,000 combat jobs that will open up to women are in the Army, giving them the opportunity for higher pay and a path to leadership.
“It’s about time they let women have those options -- if they want them,” said Marlana Quendau, 27, who has served eight years in the Army.
“If they want to do combat, they should be able to do it,” said Michael Bennet, another Fort Bliss soldier.
But, some are concerned about the physical capabilities of women in war zones.
“If I’m going to get evacuated and someone’s going to pull me out of a combat situation where I’m injured and something’s going down, I don’t want to be left there by someone who can’t pick me up and move me,” said Fort Bliss soldier Staff Sergeant Kevin Denis.
Women can score lower on physical training tests, but General Pittard said they will have to meet the same combat standards to serve on the front lines.
“We’re going to make sure readiness is not sacrificed in anyway and we’re able to do the mission,” said General Pittard. “That’s just not debatable”
Right now, women face combat situations in their support roles and 15 percent of soldiers serving in Afghanistan are women.
“We have female soldiers in harm’s way every single day. Right here at Fort Bliss some of the soldiers we’ve lost are females,” said Pittard.
All branches of the military have until May 15 to submit a plan for complying by 2016. The leadership at Fort Bliss expects to do that well ahead of schedule since most units now include women.
General Pittard compared this latest development to other historic moments including rescinding the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for gays members of the military, as well as the integration of the military in 1948.
“In many ways, the Army has led the way for societal elements to be integrated. I’m a product of that foundation from 65 years ago,” Pittard said.
Former soldier Isis Costa heard the news about the lifting of the ban on women in combat on a playground with her three-year-old daughter. She served in Iraq.
“When I was in the military, I wish I would have been able to do combat, but unfortunately that was not an option," Costa said.
This is the real war on women. It will get more women and men killed.
Pray for America
Does the military give men the OPTION of going into combat, or do men just have to follow whatever orders they are given?
Seems like if women have the choice and men just have to do as they’re told, it’s still not “equality”...
When women can be drafted and sent into combat just like the guys, then it will be “equality”. Are these people prepared to take America there?
Huh?
EVERY talking head I’ve heard talk about this since Leon’s big, “historic” announcement has brought up that “standards will not be lowered”. That indicates to me that standards will be lowered and the commie libs are just launching a preemptive strike against any criticism because they KNOW standards are going to have to be lowered. JMO.
Pittard is one of Holders people! Thank heaven he’s on the way out of Bliss. Unfortunately he will likely be have another affirmative action promotion!
Of course they are “prepared to take American there”. It’s not about equality, it’s about making the military as ineffective as possible.
In the last couple of days my local Fox TV station news gave this issue tremendous coverage, probably only about 30 seconds was given to opposition views while the lady anchor smirked on screen.
Eventually this will all end up in disaster. All of human history as proof vs. OBama’s social engineering. And the local female anchor here also smirked from across her desk to the male co-anchor.
if this insanity is allowed, then it should be "have to"...not want to...
homosexuals want to be in the military, then their in combat no questions asked....same with women...
women do great work for our military...my own mother was in during the big war.....but I think the combat zones should be left to our natural warriors....men....
Only a fool wishes that. If you ordered, you go and give your all.
Women want it both ways and they want to live by their feelings. This is a fracking joke.
WTH is everything in the Obama era, “historic”?
I think it is rather interesting that the people making the decisions to put women on the frontline of combat won’t be on the frontline during combat.
Think of all the hostage crises we will have now!
US troops getting raped and mutilated until they spill their guts on evewrything.
What a wonderful decision.
The MSM is going all one sided on this one
I was hoping the reaction would be to immediately assign all female soldiers to combat units.
Who will pay for their birth control? Sandra Fluke wants to know.
I think that may be the point.
On a biblical scale.
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