quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by olfuzzy:
“The average woman could conceivably be better suited physically for some of today’s combat positions than the average man, depending on which skills the position required. Combat roles no longer uniformly require sheer size or muscle,” Miller wrote, in the form of a declaratory judgment rather than an injunction.

Horseshit!

Regarding the ruling though, I'm all in favor of it...provided the women are not placed in combat roles.

And no requirements or standards are eliminated.

Side one of the story:

Google Roza Shanina. In a previous life I was a Russian Linguist. I remember watching an old Russian show shot in the 80's about the hero women of WWII. Every one of the old women had at least 5 medals for valor in combat against the Nazis in house to house fighting during the Siege of Leningrad (St. Petersburg). I know - propaganda you say and they're some truth in that. There is however no denying that the Russians produced some really fine (no pun intended) female soldiers.

Side Two - as an Airborne veteran - how many women can pick up a 185 lb man in a fireman's carry and run a few hundred yards to safety? There are some units where the physical strength of men is an absolute requirement.

One other thought is that many men are still chivalrous and would put themselves and their teams at unnecessary risk to take care of the women.

What is average?

The average male in the US is:
- 200 lbs and overweight
- 5' 9"
- 37 years old
- Probably couldn't pass the Army physical let alone serve in a combat role.

I don't want the military full of "average" people. It doesn't work. The military should be filled with people who are smart, in top physical shape, able to lead and follow, and can learn new skills as combat evolves beyond infantry.

Women are already serving in combat roles. That ship sailed last year with the first fully integrated Marine Corps class graduating. There were a couple of jobs they could not do for practical reasons (subs and the like) but that's in the last phases of being changed. Pretty good article on the topic here.

According to the article 12 women have finished Ranger school. Are those women "average"? Of course not. They're near-Olympic level athletes who spent their lives preparing to serve their country. They're faster, better, and stronger than you, me, and well over 99% of the population.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by olfuzzy:
“The average woman could conceivably be better suited physically for some of today’s combat positions than the average man, depending on which skills the position required. Combat roles no longer uniformly require sheer size or muscle,” Miller wrote, in the form of a declaratory judgment rather than an injunction.

Horseshit!

Regarding the ruling though, I'm all in favor of it...provided the women are not placed in combat roles.

Women are way better than men at cleaning shitters.

If women want and are to be equal, they should be subject to the same requirements men are.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Equality can be a real bitch, huh, ladies?

Good lord Para, we’re talking gender equality! It could be a bastard too. Ha. Ha....

I'm all for it. If any woman can pass PT tests with no exemptions or reductions in standards for combat roles, let her in. The draft should have been across the sexes for years.

Well, it took them long enough.
Now can I have a “do over” on my draft number?
Back when I was trying to graduate from college and find a job, my low draft number (89) pretty much gurenteed unemployment. There was a court case identical to this one that the courts threw out. Real nice. Had that gone to verdict maybe the draft law wouldn’t have been reinstated and I wouldn’t have been been dealing with the Drill Sergeants, sand, pine trees and mosquitoes of Ft Dix.
In truth I served 27 years and retired as a SGM. However, the draft was still like a horse drawn sled being pursued by wolves. Every so often somebody would get thrown out.

Well dang it. That sure messes up my plan. If the draft ever came after middle-aged men, I was going to self identify as a woman.