Women in no hurry to join infantry
The Associated Press‘ Pauline Jelinek reports that she’s talked to dozens of women in the military and they don’t seem all that interested in joining the ranks of infantrymen;
For the record, plenty of men don’t want to be in the infantry either, though technically could be assigned there involuntarily, if needed. That’s rarely known to happen.
[…]
A West Point graduate working in the Pentagon estimates she’s known thousands of women over her 20-year army career and said there’s no groundswell of interest in combat jobs among female colleagues she knows.
She asked to remain anonymous because in the military’s warrior culture, it’s a sensitive issue to be seen as not wanting to fight, she said. But her observations echoed research of the 1990s, another time of big change in the military, when interviews with more than 900 Army women found that most didn’t want fighting jobs and many felt the issue was being pushed by “feminists” not representing the majority, said RAND Corporation sociologist Laura Miller.
Funny how the “activists” are more interested in women in the infantry than the women who would have to serve are interested in the whole thing. I had male troops who shouldn’t have been in the infantry, and after they found out what the job would really entail, did their best to leave.
I still fully expect the “activists” to force this issue down the Pentagon’s throat and issue them quotas for integration, because it’s all about social issues, not an effective fighting force.
Category: Military issues
I agree whole heartledly. Look, the way I see it is this: I will fight to the death to protect my own, but if there is a man to help or lead- I’m all about that. I don’t think most women are really that different.
I know there are women who will say that’s bs. But at 41 my inane strength and endurance compared to my husband six year older is a non issue. Young women may have it for a time- and even have the desire- but it’s not the same. And it’s chicks siting at a news desk worrying about if my daughter is on the front line.
Not inane. Lol. Jeez
I went 11B10 as a result of reading Robert Heinlein’s “Starship Troopers” when I was in the 6th grade. I’m very proud of my blue “crapper cord” and it hangs from my rearview mirror (couldn’t find fuzzy dice in an approprite color).
I have no doubt that there are young women who can/could kick my ass, but infantry service requires much more than simple strength. It requires a certain mind set that is not required in other MOS’, a panzergrenedier ethtos, if you will.
I have yet to meet a woman who would want to endure the infantry world.
@4 – You’re absolutely right. I’ve known some pretty tough gals in my day, but I would suspect that had I asked them about serving in the 03XX community (USMC Infantry), they would have told me it wasn’t for them, either.
Words escape me how the media comes up with social experiments such as these, as they do cause quite a stir. I doubt much movement will happen in the years to come (at least for the Marine Corps), and I think it’s even more less likely that women will line up for the infantry positions in either the Army or the Corps any time soon.
Huge difference from immediate reaction to very limited enemy contact or being on a large well defended position. For the media which has their marching orders and agenda however it is not. Marine Corps female engagement teams which are babysat by grunts are a joke. Ask any grunt who’s had them “attached” and he’ll tell you. Special amenities are made solely for them and that includes transportation because they apparently can’t even handle the required patrols with grunts to get to and from the objective.
I want to see each and every one of these so-called activists complete basic, AIT or whatever it is now days and hit the battlefield running with the grunts. You frahking activists do that and successfully without killing anyone around you, I’d be one impressed son of a bitch. Otherwise, go back to your Starbucks shop, sip double strength $5 a pop cup of caffeine and whimper.
And by the way, I used to know some female MP’s that were very capable of being your worst nightmare. Those gals loved our particular style of “combat” too. Hell, they ate it up…Just saying.
@6 – I know just what you’re talking about – special amenities and such. I’ll leave it at that.
The author mentions interviews with only “a dozen women” (12 whole women!), doesn’t provide any background on those “interviews” (what were they asked?), and points to a RAND study from 1990 (because things haven’t changed at all?). That isn’t exactly conclusive. She also only cites two actual people, Sgt. Cherry Sweat and Marine Gunnery Sgt. Shanese L. Campbell, neither of which say women cannot or should not be combat arms; one of them says it should be a personal decision and the other says she isn’t interested in changing her job after 15 years. The article itself doesn’t support the headline.