Do you think women should be in the infantry?

California Entrepreneur

I'm not against what your saying but when I was in basic training my Drill Sgt's made a great point that made me understand why there are no females in "Combat Arms"

Imagine a scenario where we did have female infantry, imagine being with your battle buddies and you get hurt, you scream in pain, the other males instead of pushing on with the mission, put themselves in harms way to save you, this isnt because you are a fellow soldier, its because you are a women, theres a given instinct in males to help a women in need, I know personally if i saw a beautiful women even if shes in a ACU lol.... id go and try to help her..... it might slip the other soldiers minds that there is a heavily armed enemy gunning for you all and they would thus place the mission aside to save that one person. Women present a very stressful problem in the heat of battle, I've heard stories however that some females in the sand pit have shown exceptional ability after being attacked and ambushed and have saved many lives, but how is there a way of determining which women would stand up for the test? Only a small percentage can stay level headed in battle.... I would guess..... I'm sure you can attest to that from who you know... not every women in the military are hardcore like the small percentage that are.... Another thing is that in our culture we see women in a diffrent light... It is Taboo to see a women being hurt.... shot, killed, blown to pieces..... This would present an even greater pain for soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines returning home with Post Dramatic Stress Disorder.... not only seeing a fellow male whom is their friend die tragically and painfully but to add the female element to it would very well make situations worse... the female who dies not only would be a friend and fellow soldier, sailor, airmen, or marine... but possible a love interest, someone they shared extra feelings with, or someone they grew to like and possible want to persue.... its hard to say that things would completely stay professional on the battle field or during training.... This is why the army has intergrated mostly every other MOS in its arsenal to be CO-ED because the means of danger are diffrent... in COMBAT ARMS... professionalism is always a means of life or death... in other MOS's it isnt always the case..... rarely it is so.... and Im not saying females cant stay professional but the men working with the females might not be able to handle it. If so the Government would not want to risk the chance of them not being able to and losing a war or a battle for so. yeah and the guy above me was right.... the MAXIMUM FOR WEMON TO SCORE ON THEIR PT TEST IS THE BARE MINIMUM FOR MEN... I MISSED THAT PART IN MY EXPLANATION LOL... YOU TRIED TO TRICK ME SAYING THAT LOL... I WAS THINKING LIKE WAIT.... THEY DONT DO AS MUCH AS US... HAHAHA

Mark K

only if they can haul 180 pounds of gear on their backs for a 25 mile march

Alex S

Even if the woman went through the same tests (same weights and
distances) I wouldn't pick her. Simply for the fact that she is a woman.

That's unfair to the max. of course. But as a good commanding
officer you learn sooner or later that it's not about one best piece
but how those pieces work together.

Chris

The real answer about infantry bowls down to living conditions. In the Infantry out on patrol and living in the field there is no separate space. You often have to change your uniform and go to the bathroom right in front of your fellow soldiers. When I was in Iraq you literally had to go relieve yourself within a few feet of your fellow soldiers.

Most congressmen and women will not be able to stand the fact that one of their voters daughters is having to change here uniform, wash, and go to the bathroom in front of several male soldiers.

Stevie

I think it should be on a case by case basis.
Contrary to popular belief...there are female soldiers that do well in combat and dont expect others to do their work for them.... once again, its just a few bad apples ruining it for the rest.
I was a MP .50 cal gunner when I served in OIF 2/3. I am female and am far from tall. I did my job (and did it well) and never complained about it. I made due with what I had and tried to make the best out of every situation... including living out of my truck for weeks at a time in the middle of nowhere. Sure, I couldnt run as fast as some of the guys in my squad (but was sure faster than the others) but I fired back (maybe a little too much...lol) and provided first aid to more than a few bullet wounds (one guy was a mechanic...why he was there I will never know...lol) and I am a better shot than most guys I know.

I was told by several infantry higher ups that if females were allowed in infantry that they would want me in their unit.

Do I think all females should be allowed to go infantry? Nope. But I think if she proves herself then she should be given the opportunity.
Especially since I have come across MANY male infantry personnel who have no business in that MOS.

mommy

Women shouldn't want to.
Infantry is a physically demanding position. Lets face it most women do not have the physical strength men do, therefore she would be putting the other men's lives in jeopardy.

I really don't thing it has to do with the "extra appendage". More with the lack of her strength to do the job.

Kris D

If she is up to the requirements of being in Infantry then i say let her do it. But they have to carry 150+ pound packs for miles and most women aren't built for that. Im not saying some cant do it just that most cant, many men cant do it either but not so much as women.

ET1 (SS) USN retired

I do think that females should be everywhere in the Military

Danika

It should be optional for women and if they want to and they qualify (admit it - some women are definately more physically fit than the avg man) then sure y not, cus just like there are some delicate panzy guys there are also butch hardcore chicks out there.

badboyfbi

I am joining infantry and i want someone by my side who can shoot and watch my back i dont care if your male female white black i dont care just have my back and yes if a female qualifies yes she should be able to go

Ross

Upper body strength and hygiene issues. Jaespino (sp) hit it on the head. Men act differently around women, may not be their fault but that is the way it is.

ADD: I wonder how many that have answered have actually been in an Infantry Unit. Spending time there would probably open some peoples eyes.

Wiki-Wizard

Its a simple question about physical ability and how well one can control fast, intense crisis situation. The male figure is usually better at all of these. Its just safer to have someone with a sound mind and less fear and fatigue defending our country than someone who, although shoots well in a controlled situation, might not be able to handle the stress needed to risk their life for others.
Nothing against women, I love em :)

plcweaver1

I want women in the infintry becaus there noting meaner than a pissed of female.

Perro De Lava

Your hypothetical situation would never happen inn the USMC infantry..

Ive never seen a Marine in the infantry barely pass his PT test and fail qualifying with his weapon..

In the USMC infantry there is no room for females...Maybe in another branch but not the Marine Corps..

Jason L

No, I don't think women should be in the infantry because it would create all kinds of problems and I like that the infantry has no women because they get on my damn nerves when they have a little bit of rank on their shoulder. She'll act like a tough, hard core, hell raising *****...you'd think she's the toughest of all of us by first impression...then you'll see that she's really the weakest one....limping after an Army Physical Fitness Test and cried during it....and their standards aren't even that high. If they're 17-21, they only gotta do 19 pushups in two minutes to pass with a 60%. Men at the same age have to do 42 pushups, 53 situps, and run 2 miles in 15:54 to pass with 60%. If they wanna do my job, they should meet up to the male standards. Oh, that same female I mentioned about was an MP...thought she was a tough *****...wanted to be an Airborne MP with the 82nd Airborne Division...but, when she did infantry-like training as a MP, she's sitting on the ground, arms around her knees, crying like a baby....she wouldn't get up and you can't leave her....she's IN CHARGE...what the **** are you gonna do in real combat if this happens?

Leather and Lace

Yes. For decades women have wanted the same rights as men.

If a person can do the job, I don't care if they sit or stand to pee.

stark z

Infantry is not just about being able to shoot a rifle.

Ben that isn't realistic at all, it is the opposite of realism, it is ideological babble that ignores practical realities, such as Mark K's

Meta

Personally, I think it's a very sad career choice for anyone to join an institution which has the primary objective of killing before being killed. But, given that, I don't see any reason to discriminate between male and female combatants. Afterall, one of the greatest warriors of Celtic Britain was Boudica, the Warrior Queen and Maeve, in Ireland, was unparalleled in her ferocity.
So, go girls, if you want to save mankind through warfare or be cannon fodder for the ruling class, however you view it, you have as much right to do so as any macho guy. If that's what you want.

Ghost of Ronald Reagan

If by "infantry" you mean "kitchen" then yes. yes i do.

Wade H

If, being in a foreign country where behe@ding is a possibility for "breaking religious laws" such as no driving for women...then of course by all means be in the infantry...cause as a tax payer I would rather you be beheaded than a man get made prisoner ~ and beat up...cause hey, that would cost the government more than the coffin.

I mean yeah, you could be behe@ded for just about anything over there; but so could the guy get captured ~ and in the infantry, he's more likely to be captured than you as a cook's assistant (or chief for that matter...cause with your attitude I'm not going to say you can't cook...not me.)

In other words: He go and get beaten up, I pay more.

You get your head taken off your cute and might I say very soldierly body, then I pay less.

So of course, I want you in the front lines.

Cause pensions I can't get (after being shot then smothered in the barracks for opposing d ope de@ling in the ranks ~ then dishonorably discharged for brain damage), I don't want anyone to get.

But of course, that said, you better not be any of my daughters...

jayboy

i think females should be alowed to join any branch, but, only if they do the same training. i am in the Royal Navy, and the entrance fitness test for 16-24 doing a 2.4km run for males is 11 mins 13 secs, but for a female its about 2 mins more at 13 mins 15 secs. I strongly believe that they should be the same, i understand that some women might have a problem running because of their breasts, however sports bras are available. im not saying that all females are the same, i know many that have run a faster time than most males going through the test, but i dont think they should have the option of being 2 mins more. it seems like blatent discrimination againsed males.

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