General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPentagon Announces Women Can Now Serve in All Military Combat Roles
(I guess they are running short of cannon fodder)
Pentagon Announces Women Can Now Serve in All Military Combat Roles
Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced today that all military combat jobs will be opened up to women beginning next year, adding that there will be no exceptions.
Our force of the future must continue to benefit from the best people America has to offer, Carter said at a press conference. In the 21st century, that requires drawing strength from the broadest possible pool of talent
We cant succeed to defend the nation by eliminating half of the U.S. population from combat roles. The groundbreaking announcement overturns a 1994 Department of Defense directive that banned women from units that primarily engage in direct combat.
Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta removed the ban on women in combat in January 2013, mandating that women be fully integrated into all combat jobs by 2016unless an exemption was requested by a military branch. In order to receive an exemption, the branch would have to use hard data to explain why a woman would not meet the requirements of a specific post.
The Marine Corps was the only military branch to express an objection to the new directive, requesting exemptions to the rule for certain jobs, such as machine gunner. But Carter denied the request, saying there would be no exemptions. When asked about a study by the Marines that appeared to show that all-male units are more capable than mixed units, Carter said the data presented was not definitive and not determinative.
Womens groups have celebrated the decision, which opens up new career opportunities and helps to break down deeply entrenched beliefs that men are more physically powerful than women. This is extremely important not only for women in the military, but for all women, says Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation. Women have been in combat for years, but the false premise that they were not in combat was used to discriminate against women in the military for promotions to leadership positions. Meanwhile, it was also being used against all women as an excuse to restrict full rights and vote against the Equal Rights Amendment.
http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2015/12/03/pentagon-announces-women-can-now-serve-in-all-military-combat-roles/
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I guess I just think that NO living being should be "allowed" to serve in a combat role.
niyad
(113,315 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)Any of these things where all of a sudden women are "allowed" to do something. I mean wtf?
This really makes me
niyad
(113,315 posts)can even THINK of doing something.
PADemD
(4,482 posts)Sometimes, I have to ask my son to open a jar for me.
Why do manufacturers seal the caps so tight?
Lift more than 25 pounds at my age? Forget about it.
mwrguy
(3,245 posts)SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)My daughters are no more precious to me than someone else's son is to them.
951-Riverside
(7,234 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)But I honestly am having a hard time cheering about anyone going into combat.
I hope that makes sense.
niyad
(113,315 posts)PADemD
(4,482 posts)to kill people and come home with PTSD or become cannon fodder.
I'm not cheering.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)They're only doing this because its easier than reinstating the draft.
niyad
(113,315 posts)TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)the career military ladder without combat experience.
The vast majority of enlisted women do not want this. Heck, I know a female Marine who doesn't want this. (She does truck maintenance.) And she is one tough cookie.