[Vulture6]

Time for the Women in Combat vs. Women in the Infantry debate again, eh?

First off:

Not allowing women to be in the infantry simply on the ignorant belief that "women will panic in the face of attack." That is the most rediculous, and insulting thing I have ever heard in my life.

I have to agree, anyone who bases their argument against having women in combat or women in the infantry on these excuses misses the boat entirely. It is ridiculous and insulting. But if you read the TIME article, the only one saying that is the amorphous “they” and it is not quoted from anyone, just some tired cliché offered by the author. However, I don’t know anyone who has been in the infantry for any length of time who believes that, though we almost all agree that having women in an infantry unit would be a mistake.

First, let’s clear up a common misconception. Most folks who are opposed to having women in the infantry (or combat arms units) are not necessarily against women in combat. It is a fact of life on the modern battlefield that women have been, currently are, and will be engaging in combat with the enemy. By and large, they have proven themselves capable fighters. They are being wounded, scarred, and killed in combat operations. They are as patriotic, courageous, and brave as their male counterparts. That, really, is not the issue.

Okay, women in ground combat arms role…

People have a lot of emotional issues here, and while it may be a great subject for Socratic discussion, I want to weigh in early with my 2 cents worth. Many of you have read most of this from me before.

Many people believe that there may be some valid issues concerning physical ability. However, on the surface of it, I have seen several Women Marines and Soldiers who could physically out run, overrun, and embarrass several male Marines that I have seen in a rifle company.

There is always some discussion about women getting killed / maimed / taken POW and/or raped by the enemy and the impact that it will have on frontline Soldiers or Marines. I say that this is a moot point. Having one of your comrades killed next to you, or to hold a Marine while he bleeds from his chest, or to have one gone MIA… it doesn’t matter if that individual is male or female. If they are part of your unit, they are as much a part of you as is your hand or eye. You will grieve equally long, and fight equally hard, regardless of their gender. The same thing goes for the enemy in your sights… it doesn’t matter if it is a man or woman shooting at you, their bullets are just as deadly and you won’t think twice when you squeeze the trigger.

My issue with women in infantry units has to do, not with their ability, but with the essential “good order and discipline” of the unit. It is not the skill of ANY individual that makes a unit combat effective. It is the cohesion of the unit. Anyone who is perceived as not pulling their weight has a detrimental effect on the remainder of the unit. Dissatisfaction with your chain of command is common, and frequently tends to increase the bond among those in the unit. But dissatisfaction within a unit, amongst its members, can be crippling. I am not saying that women would automatically slack off and that men never would. Each individual has a different make up – some can hack it and some can’t. Where I see the problem is that if a man is slacking off, or breaks down in a fit of tears, or simply quits, he will either receive a “friendly visit” from his peers in order to motivate him, or he will be processed out of the unit and into a support role. He might be pissed and try desperately to get back into a combat role, or he may take to that support role. What he won’t do, is file a complaint to his congressman claiming to have been discriminated against. I submit that if you put enough women in that situation, either some of them will file a complaint rather than face up to the fact that they couldn’t hack it, or some self-righteous crusader from the ACLU or NOW would do it for them. (It doesn’t take much research to find a myriad of lawsuits before the U.S. courts about some woman claiming she was denied a promotion in the business world because of her gender. Some of these lawsuits are justified, and some are not… however, no one’s life was at stake, and more importantly, national interests were not hanging in the balance.)

IT DOES NOT MATTER if there is any favoritism or not, merely the perception of favoritism, in either direction, is enough to spread the cancer of discontent within a unit. The hardships that an infantry line unit faces in combat are extreme. Trust in the person next to you, in front of you, and behind you must be complete. Training drills action and instinct into each person in a unit, and they learn to anticipate each other’s actions. I would hate to think what would happen to the cohesion of a unit if squad or platoon members were in an intimate relationship… (“Hey Gunny (SFC), the SSgt (SSG) is sleeping with LCpl (Spec) Smith and I always end up having to go on LP / take point / burn the shitters / carry the extra batteries / etc…. She used to be my girlfriend, but now the Platoon Sergeant is sleeping with her and he’s out to get me” – is it bullshit or true? It doesn’t really matter. It is a point of divisiveness that would destroy the effectiveness of the unit.) Or how about what would happen to cohesion when 10% of the unit becomes non-deployable because they are pregnant? (Look at what happens currently on some Navy ships – we used to have bets each month on how many sailors on the re-supply ship would be pregnant next time we did an un-rep) I’m not saying that all women would do this, all it would take is one.

On the modern battlefield, there will be plenty of opportunity for women to experience combat. The modern battlefield, what we call the “Three block war” will blur the lines between combatant and non-combatant. It will erase the idea of “the front lines” and bring the violence and bloodshed to all echelons. So, it is a given that women will participate in combat, and I have no problem with that, if they have volunteered for service, they have to be prepared to serve. I agree with you that if they are physically and mentally able and willing to serve, they should be given the opportunity. I also firmly believe that anyone wearing the uniform MUST be properly trained. That means combat training – enforcing unit and individual discipline. This has nothing to do with a woman’s ability, it has everything to do with the focus and concentration of a team when they come under fire and have to kick down doors and engage the enemy in the confusion and the dark.

My take on the whole controversy is this, and it applies to both sides… IT ISN’T ABOUT YOU! It isn’t about what is fair. It is about the unit, the mission, and the bond that causes Soldiers and Marines to die for one another. It is about selflessness and sacrifice, not selfishness. Study your history… men singled out for acts of bravery aren’t fighting for their country or cause, they are fighting for their comrades, their mates, their squad. It is about service to others and to something that is bigger than just themselves. The truck driver and the mechanic serve as well, as do the pay clerks and computer technicians. We all have duties and responsibilities. Either serve your country or don’t, just don’t whine about what’s fair. Male or female, it isn’t fair to die when you’re 19, it isn’t fair be crippled for the rest of your life – losing an arm or leg… or just having one that doesn’t work right, it isn’t fair to wake up years later sweating from the images that won’t go away. It isn’t fair telling parents that their son or daughter isn’t coming home. It isn’t fair for children to grow up knowing Dad or Mom only from the picture on the dresser.

It is a humbling and noble experience to serve with people from all walks of life who do great deeds under time of stress. I understand the desires that people have to want to participate. I encourage them to serve where they can, and give of themselves. The modern battlefield is such that opportunities for combat will be everywhere.

Combat is a deadly serious business, not some experiment in social equality or fairness.

Just my 2 cents.