Ok Women, You Have Gotten Your Wish

[esmith]

Secretary Of Defense Ash Carter has just issue the military their marching orders. Open all combat jobs to women.
Opinions?

 

[Sunstone]

Only if current standards are not lowered. Lowering the standards for combat jobs will cost lives. That should be impermissible.

 

[Koldo]

Yes, as long as the current standards are not lowered but only IF the current standards weren't simply pulled out of someone's behind. In other words, an unrestricted 'Yes'.

 

[esmith]

Only if current standards are not lowered. Lowering the standards for combat jobs will cost lives. That should be impermissible.

Yes, as long as the current standards are not lowered but only IF the current standards weren't simply pulled out of someone's behind. In other words, an unrestricted 'Yes'.

added another choice since you replied, due to the response from different military branches

 

[Sunstone]

I'm definitely in favor of allowing the branches to set the combat standards they feel are necessary, provided the standards they set genuinely reflect the needs of that branch, rather than politics.

 

[columbus]

Only if current standards are not lowered. Lowering the standards for combat jobs will cost lives. That should be impermissible.

Having a larger pool ought to allow for a rise in the standards. Not all chicks are wimps, plenty can physically outperform most guys.
Tom

 

[Revoltingest]

I'd leave it up to the particular branch considering the issue.
It can get complicated.

 

[leibowde84]

Secretary Of Defense Ash Carter has just issue the military their marching orders. Open all combat jobs to women.
Opinions?

As long as women are held to the same tests and standards as men, I fail to see any issue with this. It should be a case by case basis. There are plenty of women who are just as able as their male counterparts. I don't think it's fair to deny anyone opportunities merely based on generalities regarding sex.

 

[Sunstone]

Having a larger pool ought to allow for a rise in the standards. Not all chicks are wimps, plenty can physically outperform most guys.
Tom

Very true. For instance, I've seen stats that the fastest women runners are faster than 95% of all men. There are bell curves to male and female abilities and the curves overlap.

 

[esmith]

This article explains why I added an addition choice in the poll (the one about determination by branch)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...ilitary-to-open-all-combat-jobs-to-women.html
The Marine Corps is at the present time has an objection.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Gen. Joseph Dunford, former Marine Corps commandant, had argued that the Marines should be allowed to keep women out of certain front-line combat jobs, citing studies showing that mixed-gender units aren't as capable as all-male units.

I guess only time will tell, but just wondering if the US population is physiologically ready for combat deaths of women; although as of 2013 145 women have lost their lives which has not really been covered in the media.

 

[Tomorrows_Child]

Only if current standards are not lowered. Lowering the standards for combat jobs will cost lives. That should be impermissible.

what do you think of the abnormally high rates of sexual abuse that female recruits suffer in the US army?

 

[Sunstone]

what do you think of the abnormally high rates of sexual abuse that female recruits suffer in the US army?

I assume it can be changed without sacrificing military effectiveness.

 

[Tomorrows_Child]

I assume it can be changed without sacrificing military effectiveness.

It is far from being change, it has, in fact, gotten worse over the years. So , I assume you are a feminist, do you think it would be safe for women to join the army under the current climate? Would you encourage them to do so? Is it a valid career option in modern America?

 

[Sunstone]

It is far from being change, it has, in fact, gotten worse over the years. So , I assume you are a feminist, do you think it would be safe for women to join the army under the current climate? Would you encourage them to do so? Is it a valid career option in modern America?

I would be reluctant to suggest it as a first choice career for anyone, male or female, given the odds the politicians will employ them in dangerous tasks that have nothing to do with national defense.

 

[Tomorrows_Child]

I would be reluctant to suggest it as a first choice career for anyone, male or female, given the odds the politicians will employ them in dangerous tasks that have nothing to do with national defense.

But that's not the question I asked, the dangers a woman faces joining the US armed forces (the UK too, I don't want to be a hypocrite so I have to mention it) is far greater than any man now, yesterday or tomorrow. Do you not believe feminists maybe campaigned for the wrong option, rather than campaigning for a safer work environment first? If you check the American State Department and military forces for these statistics, it makes for quite stomach churning reading for women. Just horrible, horrible things that are done to them, often over looked in military investigations or swept under the rug.

 

[Skwim]

Lowering the standards is a significant issue. I recall that some years ago when the Minneapolis Fire Department was ordered to hire females they had to dip below the 300th person on the list to get their first female applicant. Couldn't have been at all reassuring to the other firefighters on the job.

 

[esmith]

what do you think of the abnormally high rates of sexual abuse that female recruits suffer in the US army?

Just what does allowing women in all combat related jobs have to do with sexual abuse? Please explain your logic.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I guess only time will tell, but just wondering if the US population is physiologically ready for combat deaths of women; although as of 2013 145 women have lost their lives which has not really been covered in the media.

I voted yes, as long as standards are not lowered, but I think you've raised an interesting point here.
On quick reflection, my guess is that society will adjust to the 'new norm' but I agree that the issue has a few more facets than are apparent on face value.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Lowering the standards is a significant issue. I recall that some years ago when the Minneapolis Fire Department was ordered to hire females they had to dip below the 300th person on the list to get their first female applicant. Couldn't have been at all reassuring to the other firefighters on the job.

To a much smaller degree this has happened with policing in my state. In some cases the tests were skewed (historically) to taller people without clear operational justification, but there have been instances of more worrying 'test creep'.

 

[Skwim]

I think what skwim was getting at is that there is an irregularly high sexual abuse rate in the military, and once you put in women with that predominantly straight group its likely to increase.

You have me confused with someone else.