As a veteran of active combat areas i feel the answer of women i combat situations is no immediately, however, knowing the roles that women have been put in during those events there are those unsung heroes ( and i use that very reserved) that have performed admirably without recognition. Can a women be capable in a combat situation? yes. Should a women be in these conditions? yes. Look at the Israely military and you can see that women have been serving in all forms of service and including combat situations for decades. the problem lies in the way it is done and the mental state required by both men and women to acheive this. It is a hard decision that must be made with trepidation and good methods rather just integration for the sake of a political stand. There are many who just are not cut out for such a thing, that is men and women. There is always the emotional element that can play a role and this is one of the vetting points i mentioned. Probably the biggest question in will she hesitate in a situation that makes a required choice to take a life which will come up. Men react mostly then think about it later, most women think first.....that would be bad in combat.

Would it be fair to say that ALL military personnel who are assigned combat duty should undergo specific training and evaluation? And should a woman in service seek this kind of duty and pass that training and evaluation, she should be allowed to that duty along with her male counterparts.

I struggle with this when it comes up, too. On one hand, I think women are equal to men in pretty much every regard, superior in many. If they want to go to the front lines, I say let them. On the other hand, the problem I see is in our culture this presents the problem of causing more deaths. Men are protective, and this would be a tough trait to change. Would the men try to keep the women safe? Would they put themselves at unneccessary risk to drag a female cohort out of the battle if they were injured? I'm not saying it's women's fault that this is the case, but it is the case, and if it costs additional lives, then I'm kind of hard pressed to support it.

Again, at best, this is a sticky situation. I'm just happy that I don't have to make the decision on this one....

Here are my thoughts on this. I don't think anything should be modified for women when it comes to training for combat. The enemy that you come against does not modify their attack. If a woman would put the lives of others in jepopardy, then, NO. When it comes to police work or military, each person is loyal to the life of their team. It is the rare woman who could pass marine training in this area, but I do think that, under extreme circumstance if they are able, maybe yes. But, as Bob Duncan said, men and women do differ in the way they think. In combat, you have to react first, then think. Some women are capable of that (I've known women like that- lol) - most aren't. IF they are capable, then yes. But if they become a liability, then no. I'm a woman who has always liked extreme sports and rough stuff, but would never put someone else's life in jeopary for PC reasons. We've gotten so PC anymore that it's ridiculous.
In boot camp, I do REAL push-ups and required them of my female cadets. The only time you do female push-ups is "before" training in order to strengthen a non trained muscle area. But, whenyo uget on that field, you better do them right- lol.

OK. That was my opinion. I did read about this this past week, and turns out that 2 of four women flunked out of the training. This should be a no brainer. Don't modify the test in any area. IF you pass, then go ahead try to change the rule. But don't cry "no fair" if you don't pass. I've heard of women wanting the tests etc...to be modified. I think that's what I have the biggest beef with. Like I said, the enemy does not modify their attack.

If women can pass all the test and successfully complete THE SAME training that male soldiers are required to pass, more power to them. You don't make a new set of rules for women, especially if they are going to be along side male soldiers in combat situations. In combat, you have to depend on the those next to you to perform as a professional warrior, not a half warrior. More power to any woman who can pass the challenges of a warrior. There are women snipers and the perform well. I am told that women make fantastic snipers and many shoot better than their male counterparts. You get em girl! Semper Fi

Why not? I was in Vietnam and the VC had women fighting for their side and they did the job pretty well.

Awesome! Ooorah!

Tammy, are you a Marine? You sound like one! No matter which branch if Service; Thank You for your Service!!!
Semper Fi

If anyone out there is interested in helping veterans and their families, please go to warrio2vitizen.org. If interested contact Joe LaBranche at joe.w2c@gmail.com.
W2C is a 28-Day, In-resident transition and reintegration program for veterans and their family members. The Program deals with PTSD, how to ID the veterans Triggers and trach both the veteran and the family members coping skills.

Sorry folks, The website address should be warrior2citizen.org

Joe, I am currently thinking of going back to school to finsh getting my license in counseling. I decided to get my license as opposed to getting a social work or school counseling degree because those would lock me into one thing. With my license, I can work in law enforcement, school (preferrably at risk kids), prison, private etc... There's a government loan that I can get and it will be paid for if I consent to work for the government for x amount of years. One of the things I could do is to work in a military hospital or Vet center. With my background, I might make a pretty decent counselor (not afraid of or surprised by much-lol). I'm very interested in a program like that. Is it located in Georgia?

Actually, my battle cry is Hooah (my family is Army all the way, although we do have one Marine). My son slept in Sadaams palace (4th ID) and was a part of the operation in 2003/04 in Baghdad Iraq. My brother is a Master Sgt. in the Air Force but didn't earn his true wings until he manned the base where Osama Bin Laden's dead body was carried through temporarily.
The story was about the Marines (why I answered Ooorah) and when I worked in the juvenile bootcamp, we hired a Marine Drill Sgt. and a lance Corporal so I had to grit my teeth and say Ooorah (but I turned to my cadets and said, It's Hooah to you). lol

...and my brother told me that those who say Air Force doesn't see any action don't know what the #%$& they're talking about. Seems the muslim world was not happy about the cargo riding through the area and mortar fire and rocket sounds were standard for the time he was there. lol

We are looking at Warm Springs,GA. Please email me at joe.w2c@gmail.com and I will give you my cell number and also have you talk to my wife, Carol. She is also an officer of W2C

yes women should be able to serve in front lines ,if gays can then why not ? ive served with women who at times were stronger than men ,and excelled faster both mentally and physically also have even seen a couple beat gays up over smart mouths . women shouldnt be treated any different and shouldnt receive any special treatment .

Of course women should be allowed to fight! Bring on the Xena's of the world!

Menopausal women and the Taliban
Heard this joke years ago just ater 911- enjoy it! It has two parts so pay attention- lol
Take all American women who are within five years of menopause. Train us for a few weeks, outfit us with automatic weapons, grenades, gas masks, moisturizer with SPF15, Prozac, hormones, chocolate, and canned tuna - drop us (parachuted, preferably) across the landscape of Afghanistan, and let us do what comes naturally.Think about it. Our anger quotient alone, even when doing standard stuff like grocery shopping and paying bills, is formidable enough to make even armed men in turbans tremble.
We've had our children, we would gladly suffer or die to protect them and their future. We'd like to get away from our husbands, if they haven't left already. And for those of us who are single, the prospect of finding a good man with whom to share life is about as likely as being struck by lightning. We have nothing to lose.
Continued next post...

We've survived the water diet, the protein diet, the carbohydrate diet, and the grapefruit diet in gyms and saunas across America and never lost a pound We can easily survive months in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan with no food at all!
We've spent years tracking down our husbands or lovers in bars, hardware stores, or sporting events...finding bin Laden in some cave will be no problem.
Uniting all the warring tribes of Afghanistan in a new government? Oh, please ... we've planned the seating arrangements for in-laws and extended families at Thanksgiving dinners for years ... we understand tribal warfare.
Between us, we've divorced enough husbands to know every trick there is for how they hide, launder, or cover up bank accounts and money sources. We know how to find that money and we know how to seize it ... with or without the government's help!
Let us go and fight. The Taliban hates women. Imagine their terror as we crawl like ants with hot-flashes all over their godforsaken terrain.

Towanda!

Women who serve in the Military should be 'required' to perform all combat roles. We can't all work in the office.

Women in the military have a history that extends over 4,000 years into the past, throughout a large number of cultures and nations. Women have played many roles in the military, from ancient warrior women, to the women currently serving in conflicts, even though...........http://ogibogi.com/node/1430 for details.