The notion that women should be able to participate in ground warfare has been a long disputed argument for decades. Many argue that it is in every individual’s right to be able to defend their own country with honor and integrity. But certain issues arise when this defense is analyzed. Should women be able to engage in hand-to-hand combat? The answer is no.
Throughout history, women have played an important role in defending our country successfully. During World War II, “Women performed a variety of jobs, including telephone operators, clerks, supply clerks, machinists, mechanics, drivers, intelligence gatherers, carpenters, cooks-virtually any job that was not classified as combat.”(Lunardini 151)
The roles of women in the military have changed considerably since World War II. “In 1993 women aviators were given permission to fly fighter jets.” (Lunardini 151) These advancements in military warfare of women have helped the gender as a whole, but does it qualify them to participate in ground combat?
“Today the nearly 200,000 women in the nation’s armed forces serve as everything from Air Force fighter pilots to military police officers to captains of Navy ships. But the direct combat arms of the Army and Marines- including infantry, armor and field artillery-are closed to them.” (Aspy 140)
The Essay on Women in Military Combat
... Castenfelt, Leslie, Locke, Mcconnell, Teo, & Teoh, 2013) states that women in military combat " were tougher soldiers, better fighters, and more capable leaders ... thing. In 1948, legislation allowed women to serve in the military, but were not allowed to serve in combat. These conditions still apply ...
Sure, many women may possess that “patriotic” determination that it takes to be in close combat, but combat is not only about having strong will and courage; those are secondary. Combat is about “….. war- fighting capacity and the morale of the unit. Here physical strength can be a life-and-death issue.” (Aspy 140) In this situation, the physical differences between male and female cannot be overlooked. Studies have shown that women lack the same degree of strength as men.
“A U.S. Navy study of dynamic upper- torso strength in 38 men and women found that the women possessed about half the lifting power of the men.” (Aspy 142) In addition, the1992 Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces stated, “ Women have a smaller heart mass, heart volume and cardiac output than men.” (Aspy 143) This in turn, hindering their overall performance as a cadet.
So, this brings up the next question; should women be held up to the same standards as men when training? “Under mixed-gender basic training instituted in 1994, men and women are held to different standards.” (Aspy 144) The training was softened and became less challenging in order to hide the physical differences between men and women. “For example, to get a minimum score of 50 points, a male recruit must do 35 push-ups, a female, 13.” (Aspy 144) By doing this, the United States is not only softening our troops up, but also sending unfit female soldiers into duty. This in turn, rallying the toll of casualties of war.
By sending these obviously unfit troops into combat, they would not only be risking their own lives, but the lives of others in the unit. During a high alert situation when a soldier is wounded and unable to retreat, another comrade is needed to rescue that individual. What if this individual is a female, trying to save a wounded soldier twice her weight. The female will obviously be quite hindered in this situation, putting her life and the wounded soldier’s life in danger. This is the type of situation when a male soldier would be more effective than a female.
Sgt. Kelly Logan, who was on duty with Peacekeeping Forces in Bosnia observed that many women were “….so unprepared for heavy-duty soldiering that they would have endangered the unit in a crisis.” (Aspy 141) Patrolling in Bosnia required soldiers to be in full battle gear and to remain at full alert at all times. Logan stated, “ The equipment prevented many of the women from moving as quickly as men, let alone being combat-effective.” (Aspy 141)
The Essay on Women Fighting In Combat
The question lately has been if women should be allowed to fight alongside men in combat. I believe that they should. If not it is sexist, women can do just as fine as men, and the women should be able to defend the country they live in. Women generally make up about 14 percent of the armed services. Of the roughly 2.2 million troops who’ve served in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 255,000 ...
It remains evident that the role of women in the military will remain at its present state. “ In 1992, by an overwhelming vote, the Bush commission recommended that women continue to be barred from ground combat positions. No legislation was introduced to overrule this ban.” (Worth 72) Despite the fact that warfare is constantly changing, and we rely mostly on computers and “……crews that locate their targets electronically,” there will always be a need for ground war; and women might just have to stay out of harm’s way. (Worth 72)
