Women in Combat Pros and Cons
Abstract
Considering basic American values, investigate the military, social and political impact on military power of assigning military women to combatant roles. In peacetime how does our policy on this question affect military cohesion, the recruiting market, acceptance of draft registration, political support and willingness to spill blood. Investigate what the effect would be during wartime. The role of women in society and the military is changing and this change could affect military power. Military power is a function of the perception of our military capability and our will to use that capability. Military capability may suffer if conflicting values adversely affect unit cohesion. This same conflict would affect the recruiting market and social acceptance of draft registration requirements. Policy concerning the role of women in combat could affect political support of the military and willingness to spill blood. This affects the perception of our will to use our military capability. The paper assumes an All Volunteer Force will continue in peacetime to be supplanted with conscription during wartime. Assigning drafted women in combat could affect military power even more.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA193744
Entities
People
- Thomas H. Cecil
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College