Why Do Women Belonf In Combat

Women and war have always been considered to have little in common. As the gentle sex, women are traditionally associated with the care and creation of life rather than with its destruction. However, over the past twenty years, women have increasingly served, and continue to serve, with valor and integrity in the Unites States Armed Forces (Kamarack, 2015). Although women have successfully proved themselves in the military, they should be restricted from entering into direct combat because they are less physically fit than their male counterparts, create animosity on front lines, and undermine cohesion within a military unit.

Throughout history, women have played a role in the defense of their nations. In 1429, Joan of Arc successfully led the French Army into battle against the English at age 17. In 1588, Queen Elizabeth I traveled to Tilbury, Essex to fight beside her Army during the Spanish raid. And in 1788 at the Battle of Monmouth, Mary Ludwig Hayes, also known as “Molly Pitcher”, took over her husband’s cannon position and continued to engage the enemy after he had fallen in battle. While these are extraordinary accomplishments made by these most admirable women, should this level of close combat be expected, or possibly

People claim that allowing women on the front lines with men would ultimately destroy morale. “The reality is that woman that should be allowed to apply for it and attempt to qualify for any position in the military.History has shown that they can perform well and that given the right training and environment they can work together.” states Barbara Wilson, a retired Air Force captain. Supporters argue that physical strength is just one part of being a soldier. Non physical attributes are also important including Integrity, moral courage, and determination, those having nothing to do with gender. The study called “New opportunities for military women: effects upon Readiness cohesion and morale, states the increased level of opportunity for women in the military has not had the near the negative impact that critics warn would follow the changes. The study found that the increasing woman 's roles did not harm unit cohesion, in fact greater integration had some positive effects stating it it was raising the level of professional standards. Denying women the right to pursue a career in the military is a civil rights issue. Forbidding women from serving in combat situations is unethical because they can perform the same duties as well or better than most of the men. “Many women are excellent shots with pistols, carbine, and automatic weapons, many men can 't hit a cow with a Target on

The history of women in combat is somewhat controversial; and women have always seeked equality in combat and military forces (Women’s Actions). Women have been

Women fighting on the frontlines is a topic that has stirred a lot of controversy in the last few years. This comes about from the uplifting of the ban that prohibited women to fight in combat. Though the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, created a corps for women in every

     Women have played a tremendous role in many countries' armed forces from the past to the present. Women have thoroughly integrated into the armed forces; all positions in the armed forces should be fully accessible to women who can compete with men intellectually and physically.

In January 2013, the then Defense Secretary of State, Leon Panetta, preliminarily lifted the ban of women serving in combat jobs, giving until this fall for research to be conducted in order to reach a final conclusion about whether the military should integrate woman. Recently, the current Defense Secretary of State, Ashton Carter, officially terminated the ban that has kept women from being included in heavy combat and infantry jobs. People today see this change as “something that can’t work”; yet historically, women have proven to be powerful forces on numerous occasions. The majority of male soldiers, and even female researchers, are strongly opposed to the removal of the ban, tending to use biological and physiological arguments to attempt to prove just how unfit women are for war. However, all of these arguments are deeply rooted in the bigger, over-arching problem with modern society:

Women in the military have always carried some sort of scrutiny regardless of how small or large part they play in any role. As talked about in the prior paragraphs of this assignment we have learned about the start of Women in the military in 1901 with the Army and Navy Nurse Corps and the constant struggles they have had to face. Many successful, powerful, and famous Military female Soldiers have come and gone since 1901 and this has helped mold the justice delivering military force the United States has today. As time goes on people evolve and things need to change again, this time women entering combat arms and the elite community of special operations units.

Many people believe that women should not be allowed to serve in military combat. This is ridiculous, as many women have achieved great military success throughout history. At first, women mainly served as nurses and sometimes as spies, as in the cases of Harriet Tubman and Mary Ludwig Hays. “Mary went to a nearby stream and repeatedly carried containers of water to the soldiers...she also carried wounded men to safety and took over firing her husband’s gun when he became wounded” (Worth 16). Tubman went to South Carolina in 1862 to provide nursing care for black soldiers and newly freed slaves. “Working with General David Hunter, Tubman also began spying and scouting missions behind Confederate lines. In June of 1863, she accompanied Colonel James Montgomery in an assault on several plantations along the Combahee River, rescuing more than 700 slaves” (Civil War Trust). Women have also served as soldiers, even before it was legal. In 1782, Deborah Samson Gannet enlisted under the name of her deceased brother. She served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War for 17 months (Infoplease). There have also been women who have successfully led armies into combat. For example, the French luminary, Joan of Arc. “At the age of thirteen, Joan began hearing voices from God, commanding her to go to the assistance of the son of Charles VI, the king of France who had recently died.” (Worth 12). Joan had to lead an army to resist British intrusion on French territory. “Joan

Excuse No. 4: Captured women possibly will be raped and tortured. Women who choose to join the military are already fully aware of this possibility. They become informed and prepared before they complete basic training. Every soldier understands that becoming a POW means the possibility of abuse and torture. As the experiences of Lynch and Spec. Shoshanna Johnson highlight, keeping women out of combat positions — both were with the 507th Maintenance Company when captured — does not protect them from becoming POWs and possibly facing this danger. Rape, of course, is not a torture restricted by gender, nor is the determination to withstand whatever the enemy dishes out. The qualities that are most important in all military jobs, things like integrity, moral courage and determination, have nothing to do with gender.

This editorial discusses the subject of women in combat. The army is primarily known for the men who fight for our country. There could however, be a turning point for women in the army coming in the near future. Two women graduated from the Army Ranger School this month, which is something a woman had never accomplished before. They had to complete this physically, mentally and emotionally challenging course, which is designed to be just like combat.

A great leader knows how and what to do in any given situation. Great leaders know how to adapt, and find a way to conquer a specific task or obstacle. There has been an ongoing debate about whether women should have access to combat roles. Many argue that women are not physically build to match the strength of a man. A young lady by the name of “Joan of Arc” or commonly known as “The Maid of Orleans” was a young leader of the 15th century who changed the course of the hundred years war. Joan became an unlikely heroine leader who led a revolt against the British which ultimately ended in a victory. Joan embodies the definition of what a women in the military should be. She debunks the 21st century modern critics that say women do not fit the standards to survive and thrive in combat roles. The objective of this paper is to identify key arguments that are in favor of women fighting in combat. Gender equality among women has been a longstanding battle. Many are for gender neutral roles in the military, and many are against it. The people that are against it believe that “women will endanger their units”. While the “Army and the Navy believes that it will enlarge the talent pool, and that opening combat roles to women will enhance the readiness of the military.

Cultural changes require a directed effort to address current beliefs about women and men in combat. Integrating women into situations where only men were previously allowed requires a steadfast and consistent approach of advocacy. There is a long history on the debate for women in military combat positions and there is no fully accepted argument completely for or against the notion of permitting women in such capacities (Farnell, 2009). Bringing attention and advocacy to supporting women in positions of combat is one strategy that has proven effective in other situations such as women in pastoral positions in the church that were historically maintained by males.

Currently, there are female soldiers who are interested in serving in combat units. Recently, “the 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT)…welcomed the first army women to its ranks. 35 women who joined the 101st are among more than 200 participating in the Women in Service Review” (“First Female Soldiers Report” 1). The Army will assess the impact of changes within a 6-month period to see the progress of those female soldiers and then make recommendations on their future assignments that are part of the infantry. Many women are slowly transitioning into joining combat units because of the opportunity and the new challenges that have been presented to them. The Army is taking into consideration this systematic approach of integrating women into combat

They are an integral part of the military environment, handling everyday affairs with their creative thinking, team cohesion, and empathetic personalities. The will and determination of civil and military authorities challenge the current condition of women in today’s society, as well as the motivations and interests of new generations of soldiers. This will help contribute to shape the future of female soldiers. The nature of women being called to battle requires them to be trained and ready to fill the roles of combat positions within the U.S.