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Information about Women's Integration in
Combat Units
In late 2014 the U.S. Army began an experiment to
allow women to attend Ranger School. In one of the Army's latest social
experiments a small group of women were trained up and then
participated in the previously all-male advanced infantry course. This
one-time integrated assessment was designed as part of a larger
experiment by the U.S. military to determine what role women should play in combat units.
By the fall of 2014 three women had successfully completed the
requirements of the 60 day long course (although they were recycled
numerous times so it tooks a lot longer than two months). In part, this
'success' paved the way for additional pushes by the Department of
Defense to fully integrate women into combat positions and units.
Should Women be in Special Operations?
In January 2016 the Department of Defense issued a directive that
required all military occupational specialties of all the services be
open to women. This policy included the special operations community.
History of Women in SOF. There is a history of women participating in
SOF. Programs like
Project Diane and
Cultural Support Teams (CSTs) were repeatedly cited as proof that
women are an important addition to SOF units.
Lowering of Standards? There is
concern among SOF operators that the high physical
standards of the various special operations courses will be lowered.
Should Women Register for Selective
Service? Currently all males must register with Selective
Service within 30 days after their 18th birthday. Women do not. Many are
suggesting, in light of the decision to open all positions within the
military to women, to require women to register for Selective Service.
1.
Papers and Reports about Women in Combat
AMUS, Military Medicine: Women in Combat,
International Journal of the Society of Federal Health Professionals
(AMSUS), January 2016. This 124-page journal has a series of articles
spanning the entire range of health issues for women in combat.
http://publications.amsus.org/pb-assets/Supplements/181_1_Supplement.pdf
SOFREP,
"Integration of Women in SOF Units", Special Operations Report.
Kamarck, Kristy N., Women in Combat: Issues
for Congress, Congressional Research Service (CRS), December 3,
2015. Posted on website of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42075.pdf
Videos about Women in Combat
USSOCOM, Statement from USSOCOM on SECDEF's
Women in Service Review Decision, United States Special Operations
Command, December 3, 2015.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgfmBANgBk8
News Articles about Women in Combat
September 21, 2016.
"West Point women have a new, bloddy requirement as the Army completes
gender integration", The Washington Post. Women required to
box other women during plebe year; wrestling other women during second
year of academy.
February 10, 2016.
"Questions, frustration as women prepare to join combat units",
Military Times. Will women be subject draft? What about physical
standards?
February 8, 2016.
"The Top 10 Realities the First Female Navy SEAL Trainee Will Face",
SOFREP.
February 7, 2016.
"Draft Registration for Women Would Stir a Sleepy Government Agency",
The New York Times.
February 6, 2016.
"RAND Studies Help Inform Pentagon Decision to Open Combat Roles to
Women", The RAND Blog.
February 3, 2016.
"Female Marines may be allowed to bulk up as service opens infantry to
women", The Washington Post. So, we are changing the
standards.
February 3, 2016.
"What mountaineers can teach the Marines about how to integrate women",
The Washington Post. A mountaineer says the USMC could learn a
lot by looking at women in the mountaineer sport.
February 2, 2016.
"Army reveals plan to fully integrate women into all MOS, combat units",
Army News Service.
January 20, 2016.
"First Female Marines Apply to MARSOC". Military.com.
January 17, 2016.
"Navy secretary builds legacy, one controversial brick at a time".
Marine Corps Times.
January 14, 2016.
"The Truth About Women in Ground Combat Roles", National
Interest. Daniel L. Davis, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghan Wars
believes it is a mistake to fully integrate women into combat units.
January 11, 2016.
"Soldiers Blow UP 5 Myths about Women in Combat", by Samantha
Michaels, Mother Jones. This article focuses on some of the
'cultural aspects' of women in combat - PMS, periods, pregnancies,
physical strength, strain of combat, cohesion, and morale.
January 10, 2016.
"Secretary of the Navy orders gender-neutral Marine Corps boot camp, job
titles", United Press International (UPI). A detailed plan
to integrate recruit training and Officer Candidate School is due
January 15 and will be implemented by April.
January 9, 2016.
"Marine Corps debate over women in combat continues to roil",
Marine Corps Times. General Kelly, cdr of U.S. Southern Command,
comes out with some less than supporting statements.
January 9, 2016.
"Now women need to seek those combat jobs", USA Today. A
U.S. Army major provides advise to women wanting to go infantry.
January 8, 2016.
"Rep. Duncan Hunter: Navy secretary a 'greater threat' to Marines than
ISIL". Politico.
January 8, 2016.
"Rep. Hunter: Why we must give careful consideration to a 'gender
neutral' military", Fox News Opinion. He suggests that the
U.S. has been a staging ground for social change.
January 8, 2016.
"Navy secretary dismisses SEALs' concerns about integrating women",
Navy Times. He stated that as ". . . long as a sailor meets the
established operationally relevant, occupation-specific, gender-neutral
individual standards, that sailored is qualified to serve." Hmmm . . .
who determines what is 'operationally relevant, occupation-specific,
gender-neutral . . "?
January 8, 2016.
"Department of Defense Press Briefing by General Kelly in the Pentagon
Briefing Room", U.S. DoD News Transcript. This presser, in
part, reveals the feelings of General kelly and women in combat units.
January 5, 2016.
"Including Women Is Not the Right Next Step for Selective Service",
Task & Purpose. Carl Forsling argues that it is time to
eliminate the requirement to register for selective service for all
Americans.
December 30, 2015.
"How Not to Integrate Females Into Combat Arms", by Anonymous,
Small Wars Journal. An active duty officer, who remains anonymous
to protect his/her career, explains why we need to proceed with caution
on this issue.
December 22, 2015.
"The Vast Majority of Military Women Don't Want to be Fully Integrated
into Combat Arms", The Stream.
December 11, 2015.
"Women in combat units will prove the naysayers wrong", by Lisa
Jaster, The Washington Post. A recent female graduate of the
Ranger School says that lowering the standards or fixing quotas is the
wrong way to approach integrating women into combat units.
December 4, 2015.
"Special Ops Survey Showed 85% Opposed Serving With Women".
Defense One. A RAND
Corporation study results goes against USSOCOM's leadership stance on
the issue.
December 3, 2015.
"No Exceptions: Carter Opens all Military Jobs to Women",
Defense One.
December 3, 2015.
"Carter Opens All Military Occupations, Positions to Women", DoD
News Release. All positions open, no exceptions.
December 1, 2015.
"Sports Science, Physiology, and the Debate Over Women in Ground Combat
Units", by Dr. Paul O. Davis, War on the Rocks, December 1,
2015.
October 29, 2015.
"Changing the 'Macho' Male Culture of the US Military", Small
Wars Journal. One dissenting voice resists being silenced by the
DoD's efforts to ensure 'experiments' are successful in introducing
women into the combat arms.
October 2, 2015.
"Women Will Likely Have to Register for the Draft, Army Secretary Says",
Military.com.
August 24, 2015.
"Rangerettes: Just One Man's Opinion", by George E. Hand IV,
SOFREP. The female Rangers met the standards but had plenty of help
prior to the course.
May 1, 2015. "Why physical standards still dog
the fight about women in combat units". The Washington Post.
A women might pass the Ranger School but can she hang with special
operations units in combat?
February 25, 2014.
"Few Army women want combat jobs, survey finds", Army Times.
Only a small fraction of Army women say they'd like tomove into one of
the newly opening combat jobs according to a survey of the service's
nearly 170,000 women.
Side Notes
FUDD. This YouTube video provides more info than you
need on the Female Urinary Diversion Device or FUDD. The video is
published by the U.S. Army Public Health Command (USAPHC).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXRxjmifjO8
Stand-To-Pee. Learn more about the stand-to-pee device at
the Wikipedia link below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_urination_device
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Endnotes
1. For answers to FAQs read
"Women in combat and the draft: answers to your biggest questions",
Military Times, February 16, 2016.
