Women in the Armed Forces

I think women soldiers who are captured will be treated worse than male soldiers. Perhaps this isn't true but considering how badly women are treated by our own side, can't imagine it would be better for them as prisoners.

As for doing the actual work, women probably do as well a job as men. I mean how tough is it to press a button? And women can be very vicious.

On average I don't think women could keep up with men in the army. However there are many exceptions and these exceptions should be allowed to serve. Standards shouldn't be lowered to let more women in the armed forces, but if a woman can meet those unadulterated standards fair and square I say let her serve. If that means no women even get through the door so be it, but if they can pull their weight don't begrudge them the chance.

the main argument is that men are stronger than women; but how much strength does it take to pull a trigger??

Just ask the Israelis! Girl gangs are more violent than male gangs.

it depends on the woman and what she can do. no not all women can do what men do.

I am a Veteran, and my opinion is while most jobs in the Military can be done as well by the women, it is not the right answer. Believe me, when you get the men and women together you are placing he nature of the men, to protect women, and they can't pin point the job they should be doing.

some of them

I think women are as deadly as men because they feel they must prove themselves. Being in the military is a good opportunity for women to show what they have and what they can do.

If she can do the job -- as I did when I was in the Coast Guard -- then what's the problem?

There are many women who can't handle being in the military. But there are also a lot of men can't handle it either.

I'd rather join the Peace Corps, though.

Has a great role and effectively in the armed forces

i am a nurse in the army right now

That is one of the jobs women do just as well as men in the forces, probably better. My question wasn't aimed at lasses like you. The world needs more Florence Nightingales! Keep up the good work!

you know her? excellent
thank you.

I just pray for peace, and that ALL this could stop. Men or Women, it doesn't matter. The lost of life is what really counts. It's War, and there are bound to be casualities. My heart goes out to them all.

It's a difficult one. No one wants loads of killing, but many men are naturally warriors. I'd feel lost without being in the armed forces.

As a proud father of a U.S. Marine I can say women are just as effective. My daughter has survived fire fights, IEDs. She has seen her commander get his face smashed with a rock and the his body guard blowing the culprits brains all over her. She has witnessed
her fellow Marines commit suicide. She says there are two kinds of female Marines. The
fighters and those that flee. She thinks that more should be done to weed the "softies"
out. Buzzy

I'm sure she's a tough lass, and you're right to be proud of her. But in Britain, women don't serve in the Royal Marines, because our marines only take the very best warriors, and there's no way a woman could pass the course.

When my daughter was stationed in Quantico, she trained Royal Marines in Communications, Urban Warfare, and Sharpshooting. One time one of them came up to her and declared in shock "Your a girl", "Why are you here"? Her Gunney (Sgt. Major)
replied "Becauce ahe's the best one for the job". The Royal Marine then replied "Oh well", I guess thats OK then"! She thinks Royal Marines are "Real Bad Asses". My father
was a Red Cap (RMPC) in WWII. His last job was Guard Commander of the Tower of
London. Buzzy

I've spent plenty of time working with the Royal Marines, and to a man, they hate the idea of working with women, because they know that a woman couldn't do their job. If she trained them, they would have hated every second of it.
If the Royal walked away without saying anything to the Gunney, it's because, like any well-disciplined RM, he wasn't going to argue with someone who out-ranked him.
The truth is, in Britain, we KNOW that women can't do that kind of job effectively, which is one of the many reasons why our marines are still much better than everyone else's.

Anatomy. Simple, basic anatomy. That's the problem.

Even if I were to allow that, I'd prefer to field all-male and all-female platoons.

If the women want to join the armed forces then it's pretty obvious that they want to serve their country. If their tour of duty includes combat then it is part of what they signed up to do. I'm all for them being fully exposed to to the military way of life.

There is no such thing as "gender-adjusted standards" on the battlefield.

I had a 19 year old grand daughter killed in Iraq just 6 years ago this past April first.
At first I thought it was some sick joke until I talked with her recruiter...all I can say is LIFE IS THE CRUELIEST BASTARD IN THE UNIVERSE.

So sorry for you lost peanut. Wish there was something to make you feel better, but in this case, nothing will. My grandson is there now, he is changing, and I do worry for his saftey. All I can say to him is "GOD BE WITH YOU ALL".

Thank you but I am feeling much better in the knowledge that she fought bravely for her country just as I did and her ancestors before her.....
My prayers are with your grandson, I still have 3 over there...one just came home 9 months ago.

If they can meet the same standards as the men without lowering those standards to make it so they can pass, then there are exceptions that will qualify but they will also be fit for the job. There are plenty of support jobs and not just secretary. Mechanics on equipment for one. You'll never see a military in this country that's all female!

All the PC hyperbole aside, deliberately putting women into units designed for ground combat is a bad idea. I have seen the effects of the liberal PC agenda, it doesn't work.

You didn't read what I said, did you?

Nope, I wasn't joking; I said that women don't need to be in the Infantry, Armor, Cavalry; those units whose sole purpose is to close with and destroy the enemy, using hand to hand combat if necessary.

Reading is fundemental.

ETA - congratulations on a long standing military tradition and my condolences on your grand daughter's sacrifice.

Hold on grandpa; I've not said women can't serve in the military, I said they shouldn't serve in units whose primary purpose is direct combat with the enemy (approximately 2/5 of the Army and USMC and a small part of the Navy and Air Force)

As for 'living' in Afghanistan, not hardly; I'm on my third deployment here and have 25 years of service to the Republic. I believe I am a little more than qualified to talk about real life requirements and capabilities of the military and its personnel.

Boy I was shooting gooks when your mother was changing your effing diapers...and the rank was First Lieutenant. Frankly my grand daughter was on HER thrid deployment and had received 2 Purples. Carrying a weapon was HER choice SHE and 17 others in her unit choose to fight. I believe her exact words were WOMEN ARE NO DAMNED DIFFERENT THEN MEN ARE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THEY STAND TO TAKE A PISS AND WE DON'T.
She was at the age of 19 just promoted to SSG.
And I will over look the GRANDPA this time, because I disrespected you but you happen to oppose something that I feel very close to....try and put yourself in the shoes of a grandfather like my self.
She gave her life so that everyone can have the right to speak their minds..
This is a different Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy then when I was in my 20's and many women with parents or even grand parents that taught them that ANYONE CAN FULL FILL THEIR DREAMS...and being a soldier is all my Tonya though of. Her great grandmother my mother served and damn near got her ass blown away in Pearl.
My grand daughter is MY HERO and I would not be a grandfather if I did not defend the right of someone not able to defend themselves.

Again, I am not against women serving in the military, many do so with honor; I believe that women do not need to be in combat arms jobs (Infantry, Armor, Cavalry, Special Forces); especially so if the standards would have to be adjusted.

I understand the title says 'Armed Forces' and I have no problem with women serving; there are just some jobs the can't and/or shouldn't hold.

If we are able to talk about the same thing, with reason and not emotion, they we might just have to agree to disagree.

But you see the difference is when your intelligent like you and I we can talk back and forth without insulting each other REGARDLESS OF THE DIFFERENCE IN PARTIES.........

I believe Women are very effective in the service as a man is... we all respond different in each situation we are put in. I was in the Army and was in an engineer unit, there were only three woman and I was the only one that drove trk.

Please!!! Don't let them go into a combat mission, with ground troops.

The EPA (Equal Protection Act ) a Jimmy Carter piece of "Worl" has nearly become reality due to the good development of E and Bill. I am angry and disheartened due to The "sneaky" way this was done to wo,em/ The next step is tpo "Draf Women" so the government could OWN WOMEN too

Hmm. I think women would do a fine job.
If you don't think we can be just as strong, you should meet my aunt.