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Originally Posted by John Lydon Women are not allowed to enlist as 11B's. The reason they can't is because congress passed a law saying they couldn't. Why did congress pass that law? Not sure but I do have a theory. Consider this, you join as an 11B and go to war. Your battle buddy gets hit and needs evac'd pronto. It's up to all 110 - 150 lbs. (just guessing an average females weight) of you to carry your gear and rifle, 200 lb. fallen comrade, and his gear and rifle (because you can't leave it behind unless you want the enemy shooting at you with it) 1 1/2 miles up a hill to the evac site. I don't want to say it couldn't happen, but I'll say I don't want to be the one to test it.
Also, a platoon is a cohesive group. What would a females presence do to to 20 - 30 guys who haven't seen anything resembling a female in 9+ months? I know it doesn't sound fair but that's the way things are, like it or not.
Finally, something that most females don't consider when crying foul at not being able to join, would you really want to be a female POW?? |
I'm afraid I have to disagree. I've seen men and women working & training cohesively in combat and non-combat roles. In the CF at least, as long as both genders pull their weight there is no need for gender specific Military Occupations. Would you rather have the 150 pound woman dragging your sorry arse up the hill, or a potentially weaker and less fit male simple because he has dangly bits between his legs? I'm going to go with whoever can save my ass best. The male vs. female thing doesn't really come into it.
One theory I have heard often is that female POWs might be mistreated more by their captors because of the religious beliefs of the region. That said, everyone should know the risks and be willing to take them.
Another "idea" is that one man can father many children in a short time. But pregnancy lasts 9 months - yielding only one baby. Thus women are more essential to the survival of the nation. Not exactly a brilliant argument for the wars being fought right now - but a valid argument.
FWIW, excluding women from combat roles seems more than a little bit sexist. Every soldier signs a blank cheque payable to their nation for an amount up to and including their life. Being male or female makes no difference...except in how cute the signature is.
