The Best Person For the Job

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Recommended: Women in the military

There are many aspects of America’s military that are under intense scrutiny: interrogation techniques, tour of duty lengths, and international strategies. However one that has recently begun to drop off the radar is the question of women serving in the military. Since women were allowed entrance into the military in the early 70’s their involvement has been hindered and questioned at every turn. Only recently have women begun to expand their roles in the United States military. In the Air Force and Coast Guard, women are able to serve in 100% of the available positions; however in the Marine Corps those numbers are still at 20% (Becraft). However is it wrong for women, who traditionally have played less (if any) of a role in active military conflicts, to be restricted in what roles they are able to fill? In order to realistically determine what is best for the military (and women) we must look at the potential pros and cons of women serving in active combat roles. How will the inclusion of women affect the different branches and what will be the affect in the field? What will the consequences be?

The primary argument against women serving in the military is that women are weaker than men. Not mentally, but physically the stature of a woman is much slighter than that of a man. When reading articles about the acceptance of women in the military, the issue of physical stamina and strength is usually left out entirely. This clearly is done because of the gross discrepancies between the male and female physique. According to a study done by the Special Operations Forces Commission, women are “shorter, have less muscle mass and weigh less than men, placing them at a distinct disadvantage when performing tasks requiring hi...

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...Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, RECON, SEAL, Ranger, Police, FBI." StewSmith.com - Heroes of Tomorrow Fitness Training - Former Navy SEAL Stew Smith CSCS. Web. 07 Apr. 2011. .

Sowin, Joshua. "Why Women Should Not Be Allowed In Combat." Fire and Knowledge. 21 Mar. 2005. Web. 07 Apr. 2011. .

Webb, Kevin. "Women to Serve in Combat? | Can Women Serve in Combat?" Kevinwebb22.com. 15 Jan. 2011. Web. 7 Apr. 2011. .

Willens, Jake. "Women in the Military: Combat Roles Considered." CDI - Center for Defense Information - Security Policy Research Organization. 7 Aug. 1996. Web. 07 Apr. 2011. .

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