Women in Combat? Some
Marines React
In the New York Times this week, there was an article about
whether or not women should enter certain combat roles, such as infantry, in
the Marines. For years, infantry in the Marines has always been male, and now
the Pentagon has decided to lift that rule without the opinion of other Marines
in combat. Infantrymen are the most aggressive combat force in the military; It
is a “killed or be killed, blood, entrails and fear.” Many sergeants such as
Sgt. Alex Reyes believe that “it is the worst decision that the military could
make.” Other high officials such as the Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta
believe that it will be the same as a brotherhood, “fighting and dying
together.” For women to be in the infantry they have to go through the same
training as men, which is very rough and aggressive because some men don’t even
pass the training. Women who are in the military have to take a different kind
of fitness test or training than men to be considered “ready” for the combat
world. Many soldiers think that if women are in the infantry, the men would
have a sense to protect the women over protecting another man soldier based off
of natural instinct. Panetta commented on how women entering infantry should
not be a big deal, at the end of the day, it should be “solely based on ability
and qualifications and on performances.” Although women are uses sometimes as
Female Engagement Teams (F.E.T.), also known as “Lioness Teams,” the main
mission is to reach out to local women in Iraq without violating their cultural
regulations. So far, only two women has signed up and took the training
required for infantry, but failed, which is ok seeing that plenty men fail the
training as well.
Honestly, I believe women can do anything their mind and
abilities set them to do. For so long we have been agreeing with society about
men and women roles without stepping out for once and doing what we as
individuals want to do. Everyone should be treated equally, especially women
who have fought hard to be near or on the same level as men. This is a new
world, laws, rules, assumptions, and opinions about important issues have
changed since the past. If a women would not mind being in an aggressive
environment such as the infantry, then they have the right to decline. Men need
to get over that they are the “alpha dog” and let the women prove their
abilities that they have worked so hard for. In other words, “power to you
ladies for entering the infantry, may God be with you.”
Sheila Floyd
1/31/2013
6:30pm
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