I'm a former Infantryman who was injured in the line of duty in Iraq, sent back to the rear, and had to work with women on both fronts. I've had a
female Brigade Commander (Acting) while I was in the rear.
The standards for women are low, and will remain low. Most women are pregnant, or in the process of being pregnant, and are perpetually in the rear.
It is a free ticket, as they aren't held to any real PT standards, usually even below the meager standards the Army sets forth. They just file
paperwork, whine when they have to do physical training, and even leave work earlier.
I've witnessed firsthand, a woman who "wanted" to be like a man, and earn an Expert Infantry Badge (EIB). She failed the roadmarch and actually cried,
pulled out an unauthorized cell phone, called someone and had them pick her up. The MP's were called in order to bring her back and arrest her for
bringing a military weapon into a Privately Owned Vehicle (POV). She had previously faked passing out, and even a seizure. This was her last resort to
get out of training.
Out of an entire brigade, we had a grand total of ZERO females earn a EIB. The EIB is the most coveted of infantry awards, and if you can't earn one
as an Infantryman, you might as well chapter yourself out of the army. I know for a fact that no woman earned one, because I was a grader and was
housed in the main TOC, entering in scores.
Most of us were clueless as to why women were there in the first place. That is an example of them wanting to do what we do.
In Iraq, there were countless cases of women sleeping with men for money. There were cases of women getting pregnant to get sent back home, and there
was even a General who had to redact a statement that he would chapter out (kick out dishonorably) any woman who was sent to the rear pregnant.
abcnews.go.com...
The point is, it's a large problem already getting women to do their jobs. Do a quick search, or ask anyone in the Army who is an Infantryman, what
they think about the role of women in the military is.
You will get much of the same answer. People who are in non-combat MOS's are in a separate military than those who serve for hardened combat. A field
artillery guy, MP, or tanker might think they're in combat, but they are not. I can hear the flames burning already.
To be abundantly clear, I have served with tankers who filled an Infantry role. Meaning they got out and cleared houses with us. I respect those men,
and I am obviously not speaking about them. I am speaking about those that would assume there is no difference in pushing a button, or firing a round
miles away or from a cockpit, than getting right in someones face and putting a bullet into it every single night.
Keep in mind when referencing me, I was in the most dangerous place in Iraq during my tour. Sadr City, Iraq in 2006-2008. Special Forces rarely
ventured into this city, Rangers seldom did, and everyone else was banned because it was so dangerous. My unit pulled Special Forces out while they
were being overrun with their Ranger outer cordon, in a 700 man ambush, known as the Battle of Zarqa.
www.army.mil...
We killed over 300, captured many and counted the rest in body parts.
A woman could not hang with us, because the interpreters, female body searchers, MP's and other soldiers all failed miserably. Once the rounds
starting incoming, be it 7.62, .50 cal, mortar or RPG, you would be hard pressed to get any of them out of the Stryker, much less in a fighting role.
edit on 2011/1/16 by sbctinfantry because: (no reason given)