There are 1.4 million men and women who are on active duty in the U.S. armed forces. According to The Pentagon, women have been barred from more than 200,000 positions. But...the Defense Department says many of those job opportunities will become available to females - including a large number of infantry positions - which are predominately in the Army, but with some in the Marines. The Air Force and the Navy have fewer combat posts that have been off-limits to women.
Despite the fact that females in America's military have been previously unable to participate in combat operations, women do make up about 15 percent of our armed forces. Furthermore, 17 percent of all officers in the U.S. military are of the female gender.
Women, for years, have wanted - in fact, rightfully demanded - for equality in the workplace and with all that life offers. Women are equal to men - so America - and Americans - should recognize that females deserve the same opportunities as males - in everything they do - even when it concerns fighting for our country. Discrimination of any kind should be forbidden - on the front-lines of a war - or anywhere else.
Oh I can hear what some of you are saying - and yes it's true - some women will have a difficult time with the physical qualifications necessary for combat involvement. I understand that. But you must admit - many men are unable to compete in the rigorous regimen required for a soldier, marine, sailor or airmen. Therefore, I'm bothered by people who clamor that by allowing women in to combat will "lower the standards" and "would be harmful to the military." Those are clearly bogus remarks and are as bigoted as saying blacks, gays or any other individuals should not fight from the fox holes.
Many women are just as tough - if not tougher - than many men. As such, many women can do the same job as their male counterpart. Just as there are female firefighters who are successful and vital parts of their lifesaving team - women can be, should be and will be instrumental members of the combat troops of our military.
I've known many women in my life who'd I'd want to be with when walking down a dark alley and many men who'd make me feel apprehensive.
In comparison to most other adult men, I'm somewhat of a tiny guy at 5 feet 7 inches tall and 140 pounds. Granted, at nearly 58 years of age - (my birthday, thank you very much, is this Friday, February 1st) - I wouldn't - at this point in my life - be on the front-lines of a war. But if a female soldier, marine, airman or sailor can prove she can equal her masculine comrades..."you go girl." I tip my hat to the first woman - and first women - who complete the training needed to do the same tasks and take on the same assignments that the boys do. And for those of you naysayers - I think you're going to be very surprised - if not shocked - how productive and how triumphant the women of our armed forces will be.
The decision to permit women in combat is somewhat similar to another controversial policy change in the U.S military; and that's the repeal of the ban on openly gay service members. Giving the green light to homosexuals to serve openly in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy has been accepted - and for the most part - in a relatively smooth fashion.
Allowing women to battle in combat is a bold, but appropriate order and I applaud President Obama and Defense Secretary Panetta for such a ruling. Fighting for our country is not about male or female - and it should never have been about gender. It's about the individual person.
If a woman wants to volunteer to serve her nation on the front-lines of war - she should have that right. Thank God - that for the United States of America - she does.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
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I have a couple problems with your statements and "facts": the military is not like any other work place, women and men are not physically the same. A man and woman of the same height and body weight, the woman will not have the same potential upper body strength as the man.You talk about fire fighters many cities had to change the requirements for women, for years men at the FDNY needed to do a 165 pound dummy drag when women were added to the department they only had to do 135 pound. A person who can do a 165 pound drag can fight his way dragging a 190 pound (extra 25 pounds)man out of a fire can the woman that did only 135 do the extra 55 pound or does the person die in the fire. My other concern is young men are raised and I believe in most cases instinctively protective of women, does that put them in harms way. I think they need to do a lot of planning to make this work. The JOB of the military is not to be an equal opportunity employer but to defend and protect of nation. Everyone should be given opportunities but maybe not always the same opportunities. This along with the cost (estimated at 100s of millions of dollars), can we afford it right now.
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