Women in Combat



Corpsman Shannon Crowley (left) and Lance Cpl. Kristi Baker (right) in Afghanistan, 2010. Photo: cnn.com



           

           A recent discussion involving lifting the ban on women in combat has struck debates all over the United States, some saying it’s a great idea, and others following the same belief that women do not belong on the frontlines of battles. CNN reported on this issue, giving both the good and the bad sides of women fighting alongside their fellow male soldiers.

            “In the coming years, lifting the ban on women in combat, announced Thursday by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, might prove particularly challenging in the most iconic of military occupations -- the infantry, among the most physically demanding and tradition-bound branches of the Marines and the Army. Determining the best path forward to integrate women into this elite group will require hard-nosed honesty, careful management and compelling leadership. For the 65 years that women have enjoyed a permanent place in the United States military, they have been subject to restrictions. One rationale is the notion embedded in our culture that women should be shielded from great physical risks. Another is a recognition of the physical superiority of the average male over the average female. A third is the fear that unit cohesion, critical to military performance, would suffer with the introduction of women. These three concerns apply to varying degrees in the infantry. But the last 11 years of war have clearly demonstrated that warfare is no longer waged in a linear fashion, and that the concept of "front line" no longer applies,” reports CNN’s Maren Leed in an article posted to cnn.com on January 26.

            Although the United States Department of Defense has made this announcement official, many are concerned that women will be unable to perform as well as men in high-risk battle zones because of issues such as personal hygiene and physical performance. To read Maren Leed’s full article, visit http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/25/opinion/leed-women-in-infantry/index.html?hpt=op_bn6