USMC to train a coed mini-MEU
In an effort to study the effects of the intermingling of males and females in a combat unit, the Marine Corps is planning to create an experimental expeditionary unit that is about 25% female, according to Stars & Stripes;
The task force will be made up of about 460 Marines, and about one quarter will be women, said Capt. Maureen Krebs, a Marine spokeswoman. The task force will look like a small battalion landing team with attachments such as artillery, tanks and amphibious assault vehicles — similar to the ground combat portion of a Marine Expeditionary Unit, but about half the size.
The Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based unit will replicate the predeployment training cycle that other ground combat units go through, and will help the Marine Corps evaluate whether women are capable of doing the jobs and physically demanding tasks inherent in the training, Krebs said.
The unit will be made up of volunteers….
I guess that, since they have to follow the ridiculous guidance of their political masters, this is probably the smartest way to do it. I just find it odd that this experiment is taking place while there’s still a war going on and those 300+ male trigger pullers are engaged in an experiment when they’re needed to fight the Taliban a half a world away.
Of course, it’s not the Marine Corps’ fault, it the fault of those social engineers in the Pentagon who are trying to ram this down the throats of the services while they still have the unfocused vision from the White House and while there are no grownups to stop them.
Category: Military issues
“it the fault of those social engineers in the Pentagon who are trying to ram this down the throats of the services while they still have the unfocused vision from the White House and while there are no grownups to stop them.”
You said it best, “unfocused vision”. By the way, how much will this little experiment cost in military dollars? Being an “experiment” it comes with the possibility of failure as well as success. If it fails, more wasted money. If it succeeds, then Lord help us because I guarantee the outlook going in and the results coming out of this are already skewed in favor of the women succeeding. Just MHO.
Today’s local TV says the 24th MEU is getting the first female Sergeant Major. See http://www.wcti12.com/news/nc-marine-to-be-units-1st-female-sergeant-major/24973038
I work with a gal that claims she was a major in The 24th MEU, so why would this be surprising. Oh, she also claims she was in Iraq in 02, 24th just seems to be way ahead of their times
Tweek the stats to make it look good. Diversity is the code word.
Jonn, the Marine Corps is down to about 4400 Marines in Afghanistan according to the Marine Times. So there are plenty of “volunteers” available for this cluster fuck.
I am all for this if it is done honestly. What I am afraid will happen is that if the results start to show that women are not up to the task, then “norming” will take place and females will pass all tests. Typical MEU workup is 6 months long. Infantry Marines spend much of that 6 months in the field and away from home. Training can take place in the mountains, in the desert or in woods, depending on where you are going. You will spend a lot of time on ship as well. It is physically and mentally demanding. I truly hope that the Marine Corps makes this “test” physically and mentally challenging as well. They owe that to the Marines who will participate and to the institution as well.
As for the female MEU SgtMaj, my personal opinion is that this was a back door way to put a female as the senior enlisted advisor to a mostly combat arms unit. A MEU is made up of a MEU HQ, composite helo squadron, a logistics combat element and centered around a Battalion Landing Team made up of a re-enforced infantry battalion with arty, tanks, amphibious assault vehicles and LAV’s. It is a warfighting unit. Now I am not saying that the MEU SgtMaj is going to be making tactical decisions, but I would think you would want a Senior Leader who has been around the block a time or two. While it appears that SgtMaj Wright has deployed (good on her for that) the man that she is replacing is a 30 year veteran infantryman with 3 combat action ribbons and bronze star with valor. I am thinking he brought more to the table in terms of warfighting experience. But sadly, this is the politically correct direction that the Marine Corps has chosen to go.
They did this in jump school years ago. Pull-ups waived because the girls can’t do them. Everyone must be held to the same standards was the final cry. The standards are a joke now.
“Mini MEU” all I could think of was Verne Troyer running around in MARPATs screaming “EEEEEEEEE”.
But I suppose somebody’s got to make the sandwiches
No, no, no…we love the Corpsman, we don’t gnaw on the Corpsman…
Mini MEU! Stop humping the howitzer!
I. Can’t. Stop. Laughing!
Get in my beelllllllaaaaaaayyyyy!
MGySgtRet hit the nail on the head. There is a 100% chance that this will be successful, becuase the books will be cooked to make it succeed. In fact, I’m not sure why we are wasting the taxpayers money pretending that there will be any other outcome than guaranteed success. Add to that a completely spineless CMC and you have perfect pretend equality all wrapped up in a neat little PC package.
Pretty sure there is no lack of available data regarding the personal injuries of female marines in comparison to male marines during duties.
The important factor of sustainment is going to be completely ignored for something like this when all the data is already available to show it’s not sustainable.
Fact is female marines participating in lesser physically demanding duties incur a significantly higher rate of serious injuries than males.
The wooks that graduated infantry training battalion, the tiny margin that did, were still performing 3rd class PFT’s.
The MGySgt is correct. On the first point, the Sergeant Major appears to be an awesome Sergeant Major with a great record. Now what does she offer a MEU commander in combat? This is an ongoing controversy in the Corps, happened almost ten years ago with the Gunners. She is no different than what is already allowed. A shit hot Gunnery Sergeant that does F-18 air frames gets promoted to 1stSgt, he can go anywhere, as a matter of fact is usually forced out of his MOS to “broaden’ him. Hell, he can go to the grunts. So what does he offer that Skipper when they are knee deep in the shit in Fallujah? Closr order drill and a knowledge of administrative stuff? This is why the MOS for 1stSgt’s and Sgt’sMaj has become glorified clerks. Thus said the Gunner’s and all the stars and diamonds were livid! As I said, I was a 1stSgt, lucky enough to stay in my MOS. This female Sergeant Major is no different than what already goes on, except she is female. For the record, I was a 1stSgt when the Gunner controversy started. I agreed with the Gunners. As a prior Tank Master Gunner and platoon Sergeant, I was an asset to my commander as a 1stSgt. On his second point, I absolutely agree. Any Marine on here that has been to CAX at 29 Palms has seen the end of the exercise where the CO calls everyone together and gives a speech where it is the greatest exercise ever. Even when the newest PFC knows it was an absolute goat f#*k. Now some Lucky officer is going to be given this “test”. Unless he or she is the Chesty Puller of moral courage, this test will be a brilliant success. How many officers have the stones to do otherwise when under microscopic scrutiny of the perfumed princes in the Pentagon and the social engineers in the White House? I know several WM’s from my time in the Corps that I respected greatly. I am not demeaning them or their contributions to the… Read more »
What the… MEUs already have a significant female presence between Ships Company and CLB/ACE. Not sure what this will accomplish, but then again the MEU CEs are often times a political stepping stone for senior enlisted and field grade officers. Their hands are probably tied.
Want to make sure the women really compete? Make the male to female ratio 50/50. The social dynamic is different when the ratio is more gender balanced.
Women hate losing to other women in a military situation. If I have learned nothing else in 35 years of service, I have learned that. While men are overt about a competitive nature, women are very competitive in a covert way.
If it’s going to fail , let it fail.
As has been pointed out, this is not supposed to fail. It’s supposed to succeed, beyond the wildest dreams of the social engineers in the White House/DoD. And, it will, damn it.
As for your second point, are you saying that women can be competitive, without appearing to be competitive? 🙂
Short term or long term, this mixed gender mini-MEU, once it gets out of the “exercise” lab, and into the real world, will be an EPIC FAIL!!
Lets mix in those WMs who made it through SOI with a company that does a 3 day CAX and multiple Fire and Manuver Ranges. Top it off with 26 mile MCCRES Hump.