Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Possibility of Closing Combat Roles for Women in the Military
NBC San Diego ^ | 11/15 | Bridget Naso

Posted on 11/16/2016 11:26:27 AM PST by nickcarraway

“If you train the same, if you can keep up, you can mentally do it, why not?” one veteran said.

Women can hold any job in the U.S. Military under the Obama Administration, a policy that may change under the Trump Administration.

Last year, after a series of intensive studies that took years to complete, Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the military to open all combat jobs to woman, allowing them to serve in some of the military's most demanding and difficult jobs, including special operations forces, such as the Army Delta units and Navy SEALs.

Some female veterans, including Marine Veteran Kelsey Hampton, say they hope all jobs in the military will remain open to women.

“I think that if a woman and serve in combat and keep up with all the men that they should be able to - I don't think that they should withhold the opportunity," she said.

However, others, like Congressman Duncan Hunter, whose name has been reportedly short-listed for Secretary of Defense in the Trump Administration, says combat roles should not be open to woman.

"It doesn't do anything to make us more effective or efficient at getting the job done and killing our enemies and protecting our allies. It's just a distraction," he told the Washington Times.

Hunter says agrees with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, on reversing the decision to open direct land combat jobs in the infantry and special operations to women. Steve Diamond, Navy veteran and F-14 mission commander, said the rules are different in combat.

“The rules of a civilized society do not and should not apply to the savage world of combat," Diamond said. "What matters there only is who survives and who wins, so any notion of equality doesn't matter.”

Diamond says the U.S. should mirror the Israel Defense Forces, where women are placed in combat roles based not just on testing, but actual field experience.

“Hence there are certain roles that they are prohibited from and there are certain roles they are encouraged to be in because they do them well,” Diamond said.

Some other women veterans we spoke with, some of whom had been in combat situations, say the issue is complicated, and there are times when it doesn’t make sense to have women fighting side by side with men.

Some estimates say that if all combat jobs were closed to women, it would mean there were approximately 300,000 fewer jobs for women in the military.

Others, like some officials on Congressman Hunter’s staff, say that number is overstated and it is likely that not all combat jobs would be limited.

Diamond said women could still reach the highest ranks in the military, even if combat roles were limited.

“There is no reason at all why women who are in the rules they perform cannot reach the highest level that's a completely different animal than whether not they should be and every single combat role," he said.

Hampton says she thinks keeping all jobs open for women is a motivating factor, and she has enjoyed the competitive nature of being a Marine. “It did push me to want to do it more to keep up with the guys and do everything that they were doing but I didn't have the opportunity back then, so I think it's a great thing for women to get the opportunity,” Hampton said.

She says the preparation in the Marine Corps ensures women can achieve new heights. “If you train the same, if you can keep up, you can mentally do it, why not?” Hampton said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: militaryreadiness; militarywomen; trumpcabinet; trumpdod; trumptransition; womenincombat
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 next last
To: SandRat
"... and the rabbit dies ..."

I haven't heard that phrase in a while. I wonder if the under 35 Freepers know what that means, since that test has not been use in a long time.

21 posted on 11/16/2016 12:50:03 PM PST by kosciusko51
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: kosciusko51
I wonder if the under 35 Freepers know what that means, since that test has not been use in a long time.

This under-35 Freeper had to Google it.

22 posted on 11/16/2016 1:16:30 PM PST by GCC Catholic (Stay out of the weeds! Let's hold fast to the path and Make America Great Again!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
It was insanity to open combat to women. May God guide Trump to reverse this absurd policy.

I remember he said he would consult with military brass, behind closed doors, to see what they recommend. I also recall that Pence was very against opening combat roles to women. I think there is a good chance that we will see a return to sanity on this issue.

23 posted on 11/16/2016 1:18:04 PM PST by Wyrd bið ful aræd (Flag burners can go screw -- I'm mighty PROUD of that ragged old flag)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Here’s a combat role for ya- Combating mold and mildew in the bathtub and shower.


24 posted on 11/16/2016 1:26:29 PM PST by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

Wait until a real TI gets these Pot Heads and Obese recruits! I doubt most of them last a week.

It was all over the front cover of Navy, USAF and Army Times at the Navy base Exchange.

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/recruiting-standards-may-change-secdef-says


25 posted on 11/16/2016 1:27:21 PM PST by GailA (Ret. SCPO wife: A politician that won't keep his word to Veterans/Military won't keep them to You!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: PJBankard
I’m also waiting to see a woman dead lift a 200lb man with an additional 40-60 lbs of gear and fireman carry them 100 yards with no assistance.

40-60lbs is a training requirement. In urban combat I carried 130 lbs of gear and equipment, equivalent to 70% of my body weight......also equivalent to 100% the body weight of an average female.

And, that was before having to pick up and carry extra munitions after we took casualties.

Awwwww, they want to be GI Jane - how precious.

26 posted on 11/16/2016 1:27:33 PM PST by Repeat Offender (While the wicked stand confounded, call me with Thy saints surrounded.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


             

27 posted on 11/16/2016 1:32:03 PM PST by tomkat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Good news, and much needed. All leftist social experimentation in the US military needs to end on 1/20/2017.

1. Reinstitute DADT: no open homosexuality in the military

2. Absolutely no transgenders: immediate removal of such with dishonorable discharge

3. Disband DACOWITS

3. No women in ground combat roles

4. No women in submarine service

5. Eliminate all programs related to 'climate change'

28 posted on 11/16/2016 2:17:25 PM PST by bassmaner (Hey commies: I am a' white male, and I am guilty of NOTHING! Sell your 'white guilt' elsewhere.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

As far as this goes, President Trump’s rules for the military should be succinct: “Recruitment, retention and application are based exclusively on mission accomplishment. No other factors matter. Accomplish the mission and you continue to do it your way. Fail to accomplish the mission and you will be replaced.”


29 posted on 11/16/2016 2:24:39 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Friday, January 20, 2017. Reparations end.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“I think that if a woman and serve in combat and keep up with all the men that they should be able to”

No, they should be making a home for their husbands and children. That’s what women do. That’s what women are supposed to do.


30 posted on 11/16/2016 2:44:17 PM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar

Ping.


31 posted on 11/16/2016 2:47:55 PM PST by TADSLOS (God Bless President-Elect Trump! God Bless the United States of America!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PJBankard
"I’m also waiting to see a woman dead lift a 200lb man with an additional 40-60 lbs of gear and fireman carry them 100 yards with no assistance"

most men can't even do that....

32 posted on 11/16/2016 2:58:22 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Last Dakotan

“Are we running a military or a Federal jobs program?”

I think you know the answer to that. If not, a visit to any post will yield visions of pregnant soldiers waddling about in maternity “combat” uniforms, and all the single parents dropping multiple child dependents off at the day care facilities...


33 posted on 11/16/2016 2:59:45 PM PST by Thunder 6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: xzins

yours is the only valid point on this thread....logistics...


34 posted on 11/16/2016 3:00:46 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Repeat Offender
again, most men could not do what you did, and if they can do it, they could not do it for very long, and for very few years...so in actuality, its a tiny, tiny window of opportunity for men to carry such weights....for the typical career soldier, it encompasses a very brief time of their enlistment....

if you don't want women in combat fine, but stop making up these absurd allegations...

35 posted on 11/16/2016 3:06:35 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: bassmaner

an no male nurses!


36 posted on 11/16/2016 3:07:31 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: cherry

That comes with 24 years of service behind it. :?)


37 posted on 11/16/2016 3:07:51 PM PST by xzins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: cherry

And they get weeded out at Military Enlistment Processing Station or in bootcamp.

Not everyone can serve, it’s not a right.


38 posted on 11/16/2016 3:13:44 PM PST by MrEdd (MrEdd)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: cherry

I did it for twelve years.
When the Soviet Union collapsed got out.

A stringently maintained physical conditioning regimen will keep a man’s strength and stamina going for a long time.


39 posted on 11/16/2016 3:18:50 PM PST by MrEdd (MrEdd)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: cherry
again, most men could not do what you did, and if they can do it, they could not do it for very long, and for very few years...so in actuality, its a tiny, tiny window of opportunity for men to carry such weights....for the typical career soldier, it encompasses a very brief time of their enlistment.... if you don't want women in combat fine, but stop making up these absurd allegations...

If by "very few men," you mean the five battalions worth that cleared the city.......

and for the "very brief time of the their enlistment"....you mean when it matters and lives are on the line.

Which BTW, that was one battle that I referred to..... out of FOUR DEPLOYMENTS. I carried ~100 lbs (albeit less than the 130 referenced earlier) for most of them.

Why don't you stick to things you know and let me stick to combat

BTW, - I'll take my coffee with cream and sugar, darlin.

40 posted on 11/16/2016 5:29:18 PM PST by Repeat Offender (While the wicked stand confounded, call me with Thy saints surrounded.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson