Women in Combat
Abstract
"Women make up about 10 percent of the 230,000 U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are medics, military police, truck drivers, and helicopter pilots. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) should not be reviewed to allow women in front-line combat positions because women are not trained to combat standards and society is not ready to face the consequences. The physical demands in battle are too much for women to handle. The weight of the gear and the possible added weight of carrying out a fellow solider are unrealistic for a woman. This weight is proportionately more difficult to carry by female soldiers who are, on average, shorter and smaller than men, with 45 to 50 percent less upper body strength and 25 to 30 percent less aerobic capacity, which is essential for endurance. Even in noncombat training (i.e., recruit training), women suffer debilitating bone stress fractures and other injuries. In the United States Armed Forces, women are not allowed to have military occupational specialties (MOS) that are combat arms specific. As a result women are not allowed in the infantry, artillery, tanks, ground intelligence, or amtraks. These are male-specific jobs because they deal directly with combat. Females can work in these units in support billets, such as logistics and administration, but they are not permitted to fill combat roles. However, since the beginning of the war in Iraq, women have been serving in units that have seen combat. The war in Iraq is being fought in a noncontiguous battle space and as a result, women are being exposed to the "frontline" in their supporting roles. Women should not be assigned to combat units in which they are exposed to hostile fire or direct physical contact with hostile forces. The military should revise the NDAA so that it clearly states that women are not to be in put into those positions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA503847
Entities
People
- A. Z. Meelarp
Organizations
- Marine Corps University