Women in modern combat
I would like to hear your comments of women in combat. Both good and bad. But please only respond if you actually conducted operations where female solders were present. No I heards or second hand stories please.
While in Iraq we often had a lower enlisted female attached to us. Her primary duty was to search Iraqi women. She also was assigned as my driver. She performed both duties very well. But she was only used on missions of short duration. No overnites out in the sand, we didnt need her skills laying in counter IED ambushes or duing security patrol at nite. She was very professional and understood that when we used vulgar language it was not directed at her nor was it personal. The bigest negative was that her presance created a sexual tension among some of the men. But once they figured out that she would not sleep with any of them that tension rapidly deminished and she was treated like one of the guys. She even became a fairly proficent gunner (at the range never on missions).
While in Iraq we often had a lower enlisted female attached to us. Her primary duty was to search Iraqi women. She also was assigned as my driver. She performed both duties very well. But she was only used on missions of short duration. No overnites out in the sand, we didnt need her skills laying in counter IED ambushes or duing security patrol at nite. She was very professional and understood that when we used vulgar language it was not directed at her nor was it personal. The bigest negative was that her presance created a sexual tension among some of the men. But once they figured out that she would not sleep with any of them that tension rapidly deminished and she was treated like one of the guys. She even became a fairly proficent gunner (at the range never on missions).
0
-
I have mixed feelings about women in combat. I have personally seen women use sex acts to obtain favors while in theater. I have also seen women that were attached to our forward deployed unit create animosity between male Marines who were fighting over the women's attention and the women loving evey minute of it. I'm not a women hater by any means, my sister was in the Army and I hope to God she wouldn't stoop to the levels I've seen. I also know that in my gear at 6ft 2in and and weighing in with my combat load at 325 a women couldn't carry me or probably even drag me. I am not happy about the lowered standards for women. They should be held to the same standards as males to maintain a uniform standard. In boot camp we don't lower the standards for the week or fat, why lower them just for females? 0 -
I have no problem with women in theater as a hospital corpsman, or admin, legal, or some other POG job. I disagree with women in combat unless she can meet the exact same standards as the males. The doctor types say thats not possible. Occasionaly we would be able to get a female to search females, most of the time it was not practical. When some come out to search females they did fine. We were not overly sensitive about searching females ourselves if they objected their other option was a bullet. 0 -
My theory is this, if I told my platoon Sgt that this week I'd miss pt because of cramps and I would be moody and talk back but you can't expect me to show respect for my superiors because of my hormones, Oh, and I'll be light duty and non-combat ready for one week every month for the rest of my enlistment I'd get my ass kicked behind a conex box in the motor pool. So why do we let women do it? From a taxpayer's perspective we're paying women for 52 weeks a year to protect our country and only getting 39 weeks of performance. Thank god the Marine Corps still seperates the sexes for boot camp! Oh, the stories I've heard from my cousins in the Army! 0 -
While I have seen the Bad side of women using hormones as a excuse, and using sexual favors to get what they want. I have seen many with the good qualities that professional Infantry have.
While not all women are mentaly and phisically fit to serve in direct combat.
The majority male soldiers are not mentaly and phisically fit to serve in the Infantry.
I would say about 20% on both of the above.
As far as carrying someone that weighs over 300lbs. I only weigh 150lbs. I doubt in combat gear that I could carry you very far, maby into the ditch or drag you behind something safe. I would probably let the PLT SGT and his RTO get you since it is his job anyway and I would do my job of trying to close with and destroy the enemy in close battle. For some reason combat is so much more effective when everyone does there job.0 -
quote:Originally posted by jsuggs
While I have seen the Bad side of women using hormones as a excuse, and using sexual favors to get what they want. I have seen many with the good qualities that professional Infantry have.
While not all women are mentaly and phisically fit to serve in direct combat.
The majority male soldiers are not mentaly and phisically fit to serve in the Infantry.
I would say about 20% on both of the above.
As far as carrying someone that weighs over 300lbs. I only weigh 150lbs. I doubt in combat gear that I could carry you very far, maby into the ditch or drag you behind something safe. I would probably let the PLT SGT and his RTO get you since it is his job anyway and I would do my job of trying to close with and destroy the enemy in close battle. For some reason combat is so much more effective when everyone does there job.
I know that many women use their T&A to get what they want and some try to do nothing but collect a paycheck. However consider this, how many male Marines have refered to WMs as Walking Mattresses, and how many even while deployed have tried to "Get with them." How many have made obscene sexual gestures and noises towards them. I have seen a lot of that and even done some of it myself. Is it fair on either side? The answer is No. I have seen women do their job commendably, I have certainly seen the same from males. Before you form an opinion know this: I don't personally think that women have a place in the military, that is however my personal opinion, which I keep separate from my professional opinion. I see it as being like 2 elephants screwing, all the decions are made way up there and there ain't much you can do about it except deal with it. I have seen some on both sides who need to be kicked back to whatever crap pile they came from.0 -
HERE, HERE! Walking Mattresses? What about wookies or desert yetties? I don't think that women should be in the military either, but better them then homosexuals. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by wildeman.7.62nato
HERE, HERE! Walking Mattresses? What about wookies or desert yetties? I don't think that women should be in the military either, but better them then homosexuals.
I have no problem with a fag in the military so long as he is not too busy staring at my butt to return fire and I don't know he's gay. I have served with several people that I wasn't too sure about, it really wouldn't surprise me if I found out they were gay, but they were great guys. The units I was a part of were very politically incorrect and we ragged on each other constantly about everything: race, religion, percieved sexual orientation, etc. Don't take that as we didn't like each other, we were like brothers somebody may be called a fag, but he's our fag, and anyone else picks on him we all fight together. If anyone ever come out and seriously said they were gay I think that would have destroyed our unit. I don't really know what would happen because I never saw it, I never even heard of it, but I think everyone would just completely exclude that person.0 -
quote:Originally posted by wittynbear
quote:Originally posted by wildeman.7.62nato
HERE, HERE! Walking Mattresses? What about wookies or desert yetties? I don't think that women should be in the military either, but better them then homosexuals.
I have no problem with a fag in the military so long as he is not too busy staring at my butt to return fire and I don't know he's gay. I have served with several people that I wasn't too sure about, it really wouldn't surprise me if I found out they were gay, but they were great guys. The units I was a part of were very politically incorrect and we ragged on each other constantly about everything: race, religion, percieved sexual orientation, etc. Don't take that as we didn't like each other, we were like brothers somebody may be called a fag, but he's our fag, and anyone else picks on him we all fight together. If anyone ever come out and seriously said they were gay I think that would have destroyed our unit. I don't really know what would happen because I never saw it, I never even heard of it, but I think everyone would just completely exclude that person.
I think it's that way in every unit. It really is like a family, a disfunctional one, but you beat up your little brother but heaven help anybody else who does it. Aren't we all glad Barrack Osama bin Ladin is goin' to do away with don't ask don't tell. I wonder how many homosexuals will wave the banner and run into the military to help with unit cohesion!0 -
quote:Originally posted by wildeman.7.62nato
I think it's that way in every unit. It really is like a family, a disfunctional one, but you beat up your little brother but heaven help anybody else who does it. Aren't we all glad Barrack Osama bin Ladin is goin' to do away with don't ask don't tell. I wonder how many homosexuals will wave the banner and run into the military to help with unit cohesion!
Yeah if they let gays serve openly it will be a really cohesive unit right around lights out. I wonder how big of stink it will cause when the first openly gay Marine gets thrown of the bow of a ship while underway because his fellow Marines can't trust him?0 -
Think about it logistically, you could pack a lot more Marines and Sailors onto a ship because they could share bunks and they wouldn't complain about the tiny showers! And 5 to a humvee, no way, they could just sit on each others laps. 0 -
Sorry, I get sarcastic when some politician says he knows whats best for the military. Shoving gays down the average enlisted man's throat isn't going to make him happy. NO PUN INTENDED! If thier going to try that why not fully integrate the military and have coed showers and barracks? It would have the same effect. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by wildeman.7.62nato
Sorry, I get sarcastic when some politician says he knows whats best for the military. Shoving gays down the average enlisted man's throat isn't going to make him happy. NO PUN INTENDED! If thier going to try that why not fully integrate the military and have coed showers and barracks? It would have the same effect.
You are right I hope they have coed showers soon, I would go try to join the national guard if they did. If they had coed showers, I think that would help integrating gays, just look at them as a REALLY ugly chick.
I think it should be required if you want to be a politician you have to be willing to personally put your butt on the line for 4 years. After that you can run for any office from dog catcher to president.0 -
quote:Originally posted by wildeman.7.62nato
Think about it logistically, you could pack a lot more Marines and Sailors onto a ship because they could share bunks and they wouldn't complain about the tiny showers! And 5 to a humvee, no way, they could just sit on each others laps.
Sailors already share beds0 -
quote:Originally posted by 1911 Gunslinger
My own experience was that they work well in medical and office jobs, but are too weak for most maintenance positions and completely unsuitable for combat. Most are unable to perform to standards and expect to be pampered. They cause controversy whether it is sleeping with someone in the squad or giving officers/nco's bj's they keep things stirred up.
My experience as well...I screwed around with several women in the first Gulf war (officers included)...met my first wife over there.
I do not believe women should be in the military...period. Part of my reasoning for that is I believe they should be cherished and protected...not doing the protecting...among a few other reasons.0 -
quote:Originally posted by ECC
I do not believe women should be in the military...period. Part of my reasoning for that is I believe they should be cherished and protected...not doing the protecting...among a few other reasons.
I agree completely with that.0 -
In the Navy I have worked with and for females. I found it was easier to work for a female but harder to work with one. Now I will caviot that I was land based and not deploying but the coworker relationship was such that the female was trying to prove herself way too much but that could have just been her.
I would not want to have one working for me in any type of industrial area as my father in the lawn care business could not depend on them as much as he could the males and I have witnessed the same with the Navy.
The females get transferred off the deploying unit and sent to another unit for a time and leave the males to do all the work. We have some that are single and on their fourth kid trying not to deploy. This does not leand itself to a good working relationship as it would always be in the back of my mind that I could get screwed(no pun intended) by the female and end up with her work.
I will also include that I have seen the rare woman that I would trust to work with/for me but is is the more rare....
Slightly off topic but what gives with males still being required to register for selective service but the equal rights females do not?0 -
One of my friends and I were just descussing weather or not women should have to regester with for selective service last week. We both are veterans and both feel that they should have to register. If there is a war we need as many men carying rifles in the field as possable. During war each woman in the military frees up a man for the Infantry or Armor to use. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ECC
My experience as well...I screwed around with several women in the first Gulf war (officers included)...met my first wife over there.
I do not believe women should be in the military...period. Part of my reasoning for that is I believe they should be cherished and protected...not doing the protecting...among a few other reasons.
Was that you that got caught screwing a female lt in the water buffalo? We had a SSgt who got caught screwing a female lt in a water buffalo while we were in 29 palms. He got an NJP for it, which for a SSgt is like ok whatever you can't really do anything to him. We all bought him lots of beer. It gave us an excuse when we got caught with beer in our camelbacks, we ain't drinking that water.0 -
I was on the border and we patrolled into and alongside the vaunted Iraqi minefields. Our 'home' was a little spit of dirt surrounded by CW and every so often Women Marines in trucks would come out and resupply us.
Much to their credit they were very professional and I don't recall too much oogling or any 'unprofessional' behaviour. It was kind of like seeing your sister show up. I suppose if we were based out there with them then problems might've occurred.
My fondest memory is several very dirt-encrusted Marines getting cold Cokes from the 'clean' WM drivers. This means something because I was never in a place with a PX or mess privileges for the first couple of months.
My 2 cents.0 -
quote:Originally posted by wittynbear
quote:Originally posted by ECC
My experience as well...I screwed around with several women in the first Gulf war (officers included)...met my first wife over there.
I do not believe women should be in the military...period. Part of my reasoning for that is I believe they should be cherished and protected...not doing the protecting...among a few other reasons.
Was that you that got caught screwing a female lt in the water buffalo? We had a SSgt who got caught screwing a female lt in a water buffalo while we were in 29 palms. He got an NJP for it, which for a SSgt is like ok whatever you can't really do anything to him. We all bought him lots of beer. It gave us an excuse when we got caught with beer in our camelbacks, we ain't drinking that water.
That wasn't me...and I'll never admit to it...but there were two different Lt's that I became acquainted with[;)] ...the good old days...[:p]0 -
Women should only be alowed in the Navy, were they are all women anyways ! [:p] 0 -
Was a squid in the Navy, knew some gay, knew some women, knew some straight, not all of any group were worthy of wearing the uniform, just as I would assume in every branch of the service. Women in combat - if they are willing to do the job, let them. Gays in combat - if they are willing to do the job, let them. The job is the only thing that matters. Off base, on shore, on leave, not my business, on the job thats something I have a say over. 0 -
I think it's wrong to have fags in the military, it leads to problems. Should they have thier own showers or should we go to full integration and have coed and gay showers?
quote:Originally posted by oldwolf49
Was a squid in the Navy, knew some gay, knew some women, knew some straight, not all of any group were worthy of wearing the uniform, just as I would assume in every branch of the service. Women in combat - if they are willing to do the job, let them. Gays in combat - if they are willing to do the job, let them. The job is the only thing that matters. Off base, on shore, on leave, not my business, on the job thats something I have a say over.0 -
I think that what you do in your free time is your business, if you want to use your 13 button bib fly to wipe another guy's poop off your junk go for it. I don't want to see it I don't want to know about it. If I do find out you might end up getting off the ship between ports in the middle of the night. From queer bait to shark bait. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by wittynbear
I think that what you do in your free time is your business, if you want to use your 13 button bib fly to wipe another guy's poop off your junk go for it. I don't want to see it I don't want to know about it. If I do find out you might end up getting off the ship between ports in the middle of the night. From queer bait to shark bait.
I don't want them there period...gays have NO place in the military.0 -
I don't want them there period...gays have NO place in the military.
[/quote]
Well put, or in the media or any where else.0 -
quote:Originally posted by 1911 Gunslinger
quote:Originally posted by ECC
I do not believe women should be in the military...period. Part of my reasoning for that is I believe they should be cherished and protected...not doing the protecting...among a few other reasons.
I agree completely with that.
Amen Brothers0 -
It is not a good idea at all because of the rivalries and sexual tensions it causes. While at Dharan airbase in the early buildup phase of Desert Shield, we had a female that was charging $10 for hand jobs. Then she started palling around with an NCO and most of the other guys started getting jealous which caused a lot of bad vibes.
I am not against women participating in direct action against the enemy - but they should do it in all-female units that have met the exact same standards as regular units.0 -
I am a woman, I am a veteran, and I deserve your respect for my contributions. I was a medic, I was an NCO, and believe it or not, I didnt like working with most woman either because of all the aforementioned bs most of them bring to the unit. Its not a woman thing, its a little kid thing. We are doing a grown up job and the kids are running around trying to screw each other. I was a Soldier first, and I took that seriously. I did not use cramps as an excuse, and those who tries to pull that poop with me got a good workout. I was dirty in the field for weeks, just like you; I got shot at, just like you; I pulled broken comrades out of bloody trucks; just like you.
A lot of women in the Army were useless; so were a lot of the men. It didnt matter what was between thier legs; its not what made them lazy or disrespectful. The hard work, the blood, the medals -> I did that because it was expected of me, and because people depended on me.
There are good Soldiers and bad ones. And btw I can lift your fat ass, gear and all....b/c if you were bleeding, my job was to stop it. And I always did my job.0 -
Most of my time in the navy was spent working with and for females. For the most part all pulled there weight. If it was moving heavy items they did the same as the males, got help. Spent 6 years with a field unit where the berthing tents were coed with no problems. It seemed like the CO's and XO's had a problem. female CO attitude work the h**l out of them, male CO protect them or I'll have your azz. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
34 comments