Kingsley Browne, guest-blogging at the Volokh Conspiracy, writes on women in combat:
Advocates of integration of women into combat forces often downplay the sex difference in physical capacity, correctly pointing out that some women are stronger than some men. In fact, however, there is little overlap between the sexes in terms of strength.
Much of the momentum for sexual integration of the combat arms rests on the assumption that the substantial sex differences in physical capacity, while real, are no longer significant, because battlefield prowess is now “a matter of brains, not of brawn.” Thus, the lessons of primitive warfare – or even that of any warfare prior to the late 20th century – are thought to have little to teach us. This assumption is both misguided and dangerous.
Modern ground combat still requires substantial physical strength. Today’s infantry soldier often carries between 75 and 100 pounds, and sometimes more. Just his rifle, ammunition, helmet, and body armor can weigh 60 pounds. Add to that food, water, night-vision goggles, various other electronic gear (and the batteries for it), and pretty soon the soldier is carrying a very heavy load – indeed, heavier than that of the soldier of World War II.
After carrying this heavy load, soldiers often must dig in to hard ground for shelter, perhaps in 120-degree heat. If there is concern about chemical or biological agents, as at the outset of the Iraq war, soldiers may have to wear stifling protective gear, which imposes greater physiological stress on women than on men.
Then, of course, comes the infantryman’s reason for existence – engaging the enemy – for which the soldier must have remaining energy reserves. Hand-to-hand combat (yes, it still happens) is the last resort of all war-fighters, as well as of those occupying support positions, whether signalmen, clerks, cooks, or truck drivers.
After our military’s collective combat experience, I find it hard that the “war is just button pushing” argument still flies. However, women in the Army, and therefore women in combat zones, is a fact on the ground. I think that the whole “should women be in combat” question has been overcome by events –women are in combat.
Not only are they “in” combat, but there are useful roles for units on the battlefield for women. Conducting searches of local national females at checkpoints is a very useful role for females, it quells fear of “abuse” by locals of their women by soldiers.
Now, a separate question is whether women should be completely integrated into previously all-male units, primarily maneuver units (infantry, artillery, cavalry, and armor) at the battalion level. I haven’t seen a huge push to do this, so there is really no need for a full-throated argument for or against it.
I have often felt the physical strength argument while true is not the primary reason to resist female entry into combat arms. There are many women who have the physical strength to accomplish most tasks, and as long as they can pass the tests, they can serve, right? No. Women and men were created and put on earth by God to procreate and that drive has not diminished despite western societies best attempts to hide it with womens equality. Men will be sexually attracted to women and vice versa. Men are not sexually attracted to other men, hence the ‘brotherly love’ shown by comrades in arms. It’s the morale factor – men will view women as sexual objects because of their nature. I had a male Marine in Iraq last year who was a hard-charger but he got a female Marine in another unit pregnant. That unit lost manpower because she was sent home; i lost the supervision and leadership of an NCO while he was diddling his deployment girlfriend. It happened, it happens all the time and it’s a natural thing. Keep women out of combat arms!
I showed this article to my daughter’s boyfriend who is a Corporal in the 2nd LAV, his comment to whoever wrote the “battlefield prowess is now “a matter of brains, not of brawn.”, obviously has never patrolled in Iraq with the Marines. I had to agree as a former Marine Reserve Armor troop and retired USAF SNCO off the flightline all I can say is there are many times everyday that you need just brute strength to get the job done, either changing a track or replacing a radar power supply. The PC crowd will get upset but there was just too many times we ended up farming the women off to debrief or the tool room because they just could not get it done on the line. I had my share of below average men skill wise but I can only remember one I took off the line because he was simply not physically capable of doing the job on a day-to-day basis.
The argument as long as they pass the test has also lost relevancy in today’s PC force. While I was still on active duty they kept reducing the overhead lift requirements for technicians. The argument then is we have all of this support equipment to help get the parts into the aircraft. Well deployed you just never seem to have all the helpful non-powered AGE that you need, so you end up back to a ladder and two strong folks to get the 200 pound plus transmitter up in the bay.
Are there important missions for women in a combat zone? Yes.
Should women be completely integrated into previously all-male units, primarily maneuver units (infantry, artillery, cavalry, and armor) at the battalion level? No.
These answers whould be obvious.
The issue of women integrated into combat units is less about combat and more about women being treated the same as men. Which if we really think about it is rather foolish to think we must treat women like men and men like women.
Treat each other fairly and equitabley, sure, but treated each other exactly the same? No.
I wouldn’t trust a woman with my life,limb or safety in any fashion Military or civilian.
I see people dying while waiting for the local female in charge waffling, indescision swamped in emotion and always changing her mind about what to do and when, if she remembers at all.
“hold the attack……I’ve broken a nail”
Its never been about whether women could do the job-its about the societal cost the nation pays for having them there.
Which is why every 3rd commercial on AFN these days is about Sexual Assault. If every one gets along why is that?
Age Of Armor
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