Many argue that Special Forces can improve with women in the ranks. Activists protest that women and men are equal. Some officers declare that for women to reach top levels of command, the opportunity to serve in Special Forces is a necessity. Scientifically, there are statistics and studies that reveal that there are some women capable of enduring the stresses and endurance required of Special Forces soldiers. I agree that women should hold positions in Special Operations Forces (SOF) and can augment certain missions, but I do not believe women should be included as CMF-18 on a Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha (SFODA). Many of the arguments and statistics focus on best case scenarios that lack consideration regarding deployments to austere environments with associated health risk, seem to ignore active-duty female experienced-based opinions and disregards studies on physical and mental stress that contradicts the suggestion. Many austere environments Special Forces deploy to initially lack infrastructure supportive of females needs. “Optimally, soldiers should have access to a shower or bath every day, or at least once every week for good personal hygiene.” The recommendation to shower weekly is for males and females, but goes further to explain female soldiers should, at a minimum, sponge bathe daily to prevent yeast or urinary track infections. A friend’s first trip to Jolo, Philippines in 2005 did not afford his SFODA the capability to flush our toilet, much less take weekly showers. Only after they hung rain gutters on every piece of corrugated steel, built a 50’x250’ water catch and transitioned into the rain season were they able to ensure enough water for first drinking and cooking needs, second f... ... middle of paper ... ...ffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at a substantially higher rate and of a more serious nature than men, despite the fact that they are exposed to substantially less combat danger. Thus, women may be less likely than men to kill and more likely to pay a heavy psychological cost for it when they do." In closing, female soldiers will have a difficult career as a Special Forces soldier. Although many women have a strong opinion and stand on their rights, if given the opportunity not many women would volunteer to be Special Forces. Special Forces often deploy to austere environments unsupportive of female requirements. Additionally, studies, statistics and first-hand opinions offer accurate assessments of females in combat roles. SOF should continue to employ female soldiers, but should not include them permanently on SFODAs as CMF-18 Special Forces soldiers.
The military is trying to find new ways to recognize the fact that women now fight in the country’s wars. In 2011 the Military Leadership Diversity Commission recommended that the Department of Defense remove all combat restrictions on women. Although many jobs have been opened for women in the military, there is still 7.3 percent of jobs that are closed to them. On February 9, 2012, George Little announced that the Department of Defense would continue to reduce the restrictions that were put on women’s roles. The argument that “women are not physically fit for combat” is the most common and well-researched justification for their exclusion from fighting units. It has been proven if women go through proper training and necessary adaptations, they can complete the same physical tasks as any man. Though there seem to be many reasons from the exclusion of women in the military, the main ones have appeared to be that they do not have the strength to go through combat, would be a distraction to the men, and that they would interrupt male bonding and group
“We will not again look upon a women flying as an experiment”, said by General Henry H. Arnold during the last graduation in 1944. He believed in the Women AirForce Service Pilots. After the WASP program General Arnold knew that a woman flying an aircraft is and will be a normal thing for everyone. He agreed to form two groups designed to help meet the needs of American WWII pilots to ferry aircrafts over to other military bases.
In the military physical strength and endurance is a major element to nearly every task. Having endurance and sustainable strength is very vital in many instances but most importantly in the combat zone. Men are physically stronger and can tolerate more than women naturally. Hypothetically if there was a situation where a troop was injured and needed to be carried out of a fighting zone it would make more sense for a man to carry the troop out because they can tolerate the weight more easily then a woman. Women are built to have children, and while they are capable of heavy lifting and have remarkable endurance, it is a different level than men. Looking back men have always been hunters, gatherers, ultimately being the ones who do all the physical work. After decades of these physical life styles that men have endured and the homemaker life style women have come to obtain it is clear that the order of nature has spoken. The normality of women being the only ones that can produce children and men gain strength more easil...
The more extreme victimization of women occurs through gender violence while in service as a soldier. In the United States, the film The Invisible War recognizes that over one fifth of serving women experienced sexual assault and there is nearly no justice system to combat this. One man had raped several women in the service, but still was able to receive congressional medal of honors for his actions and bravery (The Invisible War). This promotes further gender division by having such limited consequences which sends the message that women are not nearly as important as their male counterparts. Women in the service are not the only ones who are being raped and abused; women were used as “comfort” women in World War II to ease the sexual desires of men which is ultimately a legalized form of sex slavery within the military. This further degrades women by objectifying them as objects that can be traded for security. Women
Before World War I, women assisted the military during wartime mainly as nurses and helpers. Some women, however, did become involved in battles. Molly Pitcher, a Revolutionary War water carrier, singlehandedly kept a cannon in action after a artillery crew had been disabled. During the
"Update: Women in the Military." Issues and Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 29 May 2007. Web.
No one ever imagines, that the women who risk their lives daily are actually facing their own battles here within our own home front? For those that have been unfortunate and are survivors of such a heinous crime. They will go throughout their lives having their own battles to fight against. Studies have shown that those who go through MST, will deal with some form of psychological problems later on in life. One of the biggest, being Post-traumatic stress, also known as PTSD (pg. 7). A research states that those who have been exposed to MST, have a higher PTSD rate than those who
When it comes to combat assignments and the needs of the military, men take precedence over all other considerations, including career prospects of female service members. Female military members have been encouraged to pursue opportunities and career enhancement within the armed forces, which limit them only to the needs and good of the service due to women being not as “similarly situated” as their male counterparts when it comes to strength or aggressiveness, and are not able to handle combat situations.
women in the military and found that 51.8 % of men and 74.6% of women
The problem of women fighting in combat along with their male counterparts is not a one-sided problem. Elizabeth Hoisington has earned the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, leads the Women’s Army Corps and believes that women should not serve in combat because they are not as physically, mentally, or emotionally qualified as a male is and that ...
"Women in the Military Statistics." Statistic Brain. N.p., 04 Apr 2012. Web. 8 Dec 2013. .
...nto a situation of high testosterone, women are not considered to be a threat. Military research now however, has shown that women have the physical stamina to endure battle and do not disrupt the cohesion in the male units and can also be mentally tough without breaking when under fire. Women are not only discriminated against in the military, they are also discriminated against in Philosophy, religion, and Popular Culture.
Both men and women fought on the battlefield. Hundreds of women served as nurses, laundresses, cooks and companions to the male soldiers in the Continental Army.6 In addition, there were some that actually engaged in battle. Seeing "no reason to believe that any consideration foreign to the purest patriotism,"7 Deborah Sampson put on men's clothing and called herself Robert Shirtliffe in order to enlist in the Army. "Robert Shirtliffe" fought courageously; "his" company defeated marauding Indians north of Ticonderoga.8 There is also the valiancy of the water carrier Mary Hays, otherwise known as Molly Pitcher, who took up arms after her husband fell.9 As a six-foot tall woman, Nancy Hart was considered an Amazon Warrior. Living in the Georgia frontier, this "War Woman" aimed and, with deadly accuracy, shot British soldiers who invaded the area.10 Mentioned in the beginning of this essay was Margaret Corbin, another woman on the battlefield.
...into play that could affect how women perform in dangerous situations. Women are doing an outstanding job performing and magnifying their current positions in the military. We need to be satisfied and recognize our limitations as humans and soldiers. The role of women has always played an important role in military history. By leaving them out of combat their reputation can remain untainted.
Should women be allowed in the military? My answer was at first a resounding “no.” However, once I started my research, my opinion changed. In 1948, Congress passed the combat exclusion law that prohibited women in the Air Force, Marines, and Navy to hold combat positions; however, the Army can assign these duties as they see fit (Schroeder). Some people assume that Americans are not ready to see a woman wounded or killed in war; however, there are female police officers that are wounded or killed daily (Schroeder). How can we rationalize that a woman has the right to die protecting our local communities but not our country? If a person chooses to be in a combat field, and can pass the physical demands required, gender should not be an issue. The arguments of physical differences and cohesion among the troops are valid arguments but not substantial enough to prevent women from serving in frontline combat roles within the military.