Problem Identification : Issues With Integration

For years women have been trying to gain gender equality throughout the working world, along with in the military. Since the beginning of a uniformed military, women could not serve in military occupational specialty (MOS) positions that put them in direct combat roles. Although many women have contributed in significant ways, they have not been authorized to serve in MOS such as infantry, artillery, or armor. As the war on terrorism has developed since 9/11, women have slowly worked their way farther into the military and its many roles. This resulted in women being placed into direct combat roles. Though women have been allowed into many different roles, there is still one battle that they have yet to win and this time the majority is not backing them. Women are trying to gain access to United States Special Operations units in every branch of the military and the majority of these operators are not happy about it. While some people believe women deserve equality and the chance to do what men can do in the military, that is why women should not be

Under the ground combat exclusion policy, it is stated that “Service members are eligible for all positions for which they are qualified, except that women shall be excluded from assignment” (McSally 1011). Along with the policy, there are certain other regulations and restrictions, such as how the physical component of the policy is restricted to males (McSally 1011). In an attempt to terminate the ground combat exclusion policy, a civil lawsuit was filed by Haring against the ground combat exclusion policy by arguing that it is “unconstitutional because the policy bats women from specific jobs based on their sex” (Dreazen 1). While this primarily affects women, it could impact the troop’s performance as a whole. Although the law remains to be in place today, it is not nearly as strict as it once was (Spencer A.15). Beginning in the 1970s, women who wanted to serve in the United States armed forces were separated from the military once they became pregnant (Murnane 1061). It wasn’t until the case of Crawford v. Cushman when the law was repealed because it violated the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause (Murnane 1061). As time has progressed, tension within majority of policies in place have loosened, but that doesn’t quite mean that they have become nonexistent.

The change from conventional battle lines to an all out street conflict impacts all elements of the armed forces. Traditional and distinct separations in the boundaries that define non-hostile occupations commonly known as “support units” from their “combat arms” counterparts causes problems when those supportive elements encounter hostilities and naturally take measures to defend themselves. Conflict arises when those elements, engaging in combat, have female soldiers, which, is thought to be a violation of the United States Military Policy. This policy (taken from Army Regulation (AR) 10-6, 600-3) currently states that females may not engage in direct combat based on several factors (whs.mil). The current engagements in the Middle East

This restriction was meant to keep women from serving in units below the brigade level whose primary mission was to engage in direct combat on the ground. This restriction meant that women could not serve in combat Military Occupational Specialties such as special operations, infantry, armor, artillery, and in this case combat engineers. The current goal of Army leadership is to open most jobs by the end of fiscal year (October) 2015. Soon the Army will officially have female combat engineers, fighting and training alongside their male counterparts. We will all have to change any preconceived notions and biases of women in order to have a smooth transition and to ensure that female soldiers are not mistreated or given any special treatment, and ensure that they are treated fairly and be seen as just soldiers not female soldiers but just that, soldiers.

There are situations that are stressful for anyone, especially for women who are or have served in the Armed Forces. While women have only recently been trained for combat on the level men have, previously they often took part while dealing in stressful and dangerous combat support missions. More women during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are receiving hostile fire; returning fire, as

In this paper I will present my position about women working in Special Forces (green berets). I will mention other countries that have women in combat positions or units. I will explain the job involvement of Special Forces, the training and qualifications required, and the job demands, both physical and mental when in a combat unit. Base on what I had seen and been true in my 22 years in the military I’ll have to disagree with women been in Special Forces or any combat unit for that matter. In today’s 21st century, women have

The United States Army has even conducted its own tests to examine the performance of individual units with women in the field, under simulated combat conditions (Hoar). The first test, labeled MAX-WAC (Women Content in Units Force Development Test) studied women in three-day field exercise, and assessed their effect on unit performance. The second test, REF-WAC, studied women in thirty-day sustained combat related exercises during the NATO annual REFORGER

Since 1901, women have served in some form of the military, however, dating back to the American Revolution women have had an unofficial role. Women have had and will continue to have an important role in the military, the question is whether women should be allowed to occupy specific combat positions. Traditionally women have not been allowed in combat occupations, but recently these restrictions have been somewhat lifted, making certain occupations available to women. Despite the lift complications arise from women being in combat vocations and it’s not just because of the physical differences, there is also the increased risk of sexual assault. Due to the detrimental impact on the military, soldiers, and society, women should not

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 have been participating in the United States military since the Revolutionary War, where they were nurses, maids, cooks and even spies. They played vital roles in order to keep those fighting on the front lines healthier, and even a more important role in keeping commanding officers informed with private information stolen from the other side. Although the Revolutionary War took play in 1776, the first law to be passed that permanently stated that women have an official place in the military was in 1948, almost one hundred and seventy-two years later. Since that time there has been a lack of true growth when it comes to integration of females in the military. In 1994, a law was passed that tried to prohibit women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level. Women are excluded from more then 25% of active combat roles within the military and only in 2013 was the ban lifted which was the final barrier to allowing women into all active roles. This has been a huge step in the direction for women being considered as being equal but there are still challenges that women face within the military. Ranging from sexual assault, discrimination, bullying, and other tactics, it is clear that for many, the military is still a “boys club.”

After years of discussion and debate it appears that soon women will be sent into combat operations in the United States military. This is the way it should be because women are ready and competent to be put into combat roles in the U.S. military. Indeed, slowly but surely, the Defense Department and Congress have been inching towards a decision that will formalize the policy; in fact the National Defense Authorization Act, put before Congress in May, 2012 by U.S. Senators John McCain and Carl Levin will in effect order the military "…to come up with a plan to send women into battle" (McAuliff, 2012). Hopes are high that this will be approved by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Throughout our nation’s history, women have played an important role in the military. It has not been until recently however, that women have been able to fully

Women have fought alongside men in the United States Military in every major battle since the American Revolution. The roles of women in the military have evolved over time to allow the incorporation of women in expanding military career fields. Women have proven themselves to be an asset to the military despite some of society believing women would weaken America’s military effectiveness. Today more than 200,000 women are active-duty military, this is about 14.5% of all military. Currently, women are involved in all branches of the Armed Forces; there are around 74,000 women in the Army, 62,000 in the Air Force, 53,000 in the Navy, and 14,000 in the Marine Corps (By the numbers: Women in the U.S. Military). Military women continue to

In striving to be as physically fit as male colleagues, many women hurt themselves and thus limiting their military roles all together. “But it’s flatly rooted in the fact women biologically are not able to perform physically to the same level as men.” (Davis) “The standards of physical fitness have been best suit to men, and women attempting to reach them [men’s physical fitness] will over-stretch themselves.” (IDEA) These two sources both convey that women do not have the physical standards as men and in trying to reach the biologically impossible standards, women often out do themselves. Although women might not be as strong physically, they do offer strong mental capabilities and are more effective in some circumstances. One source claims: “If women can meet the standards as men. They should be allowed to serve in the infantry.” (Michaels, Brook and Welch) Meaning that if women can withstand the biological factors, then they should be capable of serving in the front-lines. Another source states: “There is no issue with a women’s intellectual quality or value as a human being.” (Davis) This author is claiming that there is no reason why women should not be able to serve in the military and that women, as a whole unit, should be valued as human beings that have the opportunity to serve in combat roles if they

Many agree, that in certain military occupations, women can function at the same level as men. The controversy about having women fighting with men in wars is the fact that they have a different physical structure, they deal with stress, deal with emotion differently and human temptation is inevitable. Nature has made women physically weaker and less durable than men. Normal physical exercises for men are often excruciating for women. Constant physical loads can damage women’s health; this especially refers to the reproductive system. According to recent research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, excessive exercise can seriously reduce a women’s fertility. In addition, it can result in problems with menstruation cycles, hormonal balance, and other aspects of health. Compared to the perspective of becoming infertile and having many specific health