I am a female and have been in Iraq for one year. I fought alongside men and women there. While it's true that a man will jump to save a woman's life before a man's, this is in no way the woman's fault. It is not that woman's fault that the man cannot keep his head in the battle. If he cannot stay concentrated on the battle, that's his own fault, and he shouldn't be in war anyways. When I took the oath to join the Air Force, it was alongside eleven men. No women. I stood there as an equal, understanding that I would get "equal rights". To me, equal rights should include that we're equal in EVERYTHING. I CHOSE to join the Air Force and I CHOSE to go to Iraq and place my life in danger. If I man cannot keep his head in the battle when he sees me shot, then he shouldn't be there anyways. We are there for one purpose, and one purpose only. To accomplish our mission.

Originally Posted by Kina

I am a female and have been in Iraq for one year. I fought alongside men and women there. While it's true that a man will jump to save a woman's life before a man's, this is in no way the woman's fault. It is not that woman's fault that the man cannot keep his head in the battle. If he cannot stay concentrated on the battle, that's his own fault, and he shouldn't be in war anyways. When I took the oath to join the Air Force, it was alongside eleven men. No women. I stood there as an equal, understanding that I would get "equal rights". To me, equal rights should include that we're equal in EVERYTHING. I CHOSE to join the Air Force and I CHOSE to go to Iraq and place my life in danger. If I man cannot keep his head in the battle when he sees me shot, then he shouldn't be there anyways. We are there for one purpose, and one purpose only. To accomplish our mission.

I think women should be allowed to serve equally as men but be heald to the EXACT same standards as a male. We are learning more and more that the women are on the front lines of this war no matter what MOS they have due to the nature of the conflict.

Here is the thing though, exact same standards as a man. I don't want it to be like in Los Angeles where in their Fire Departments they purposefully lower standards for females just to meet a quota. If I'm trapped in a burning building I want a big strong man to come in and carry my ass out of the flames, not a 115lb chick to run in and say "well hell there's a dude trapped in the flames, someone should do something about that." Same thing in the millitary. Chick can haul around that SAW then hell yeah welcome to the squad. But don't expect me to carry your ammo and help you dig your trench just because we want to be politically correct about our army.

Kina........Good for you, and may you come home safely

sorry iam confused are women at the moment allowed to serve in front line action?

Originally Posted by ill be damed if i know

sorry iam confused are women at the moment allowed to serve in front line action?

Given the nature of the war in Iraq, there are no front lines, so CS and CSS positions will find themselves engaged from time to time, this includes the women within their ranks.

Women are not allowed to serve in combat arms positions, however.

i am home now. have been for two months.

My thought on this is that in the military is fine, not in combat. I know women in the military and they do a great job, but combat is totally different. No matter what a guy says or whatever, it is instinct to want to protect our women and that in itself could and would be a major problem in a combat situation, his mind would not be on his mission. I hope this came through the right way. Also, a woman is more easily to be raped in a hostage situation than a man, there are more things that can be done to a woman, and no matter how tough she is, that is a difficult thing for a woman to try and bounce back from.

I AGREE 100% with Whispering Death.... I'm a civ so i don't know (yet 8)) what I would do in the circumstances that you are talking about, but i believe that if a woman were to be shot next to me in combat that i WOULD treat her differently. I guess it may just be our male instinct/ego to "rescue the damsel in distress" so that is why i voted yes but not on the front. Fell free to ignore me

it is NOT the female's fault that the male cannot keep his mind focused on the mission at hand. therefore the women should NOT be punished (being kept from battle) because the men get distracted!