Woman In Combat Arms...

[Anglesachse]

I must admit, back when we had WRAC`s with us you were careful with your mouth and never got into a fight with one, All of ours were Drivers, the likes of Bedfords and Knockers.

Then they decided to let them into the Corps, and they would turn at the tools office, and ask if someone would carry the tool box for them? 2 days later they would turn up in pairs LOL.

The old style WRAC was a better women for the job in my opinion. They had a whole different way of thinking, and could drink most blokes under the table.

 

[Need an Oasis]

We could carry the extra load, but the girls found it difficult.

I agree with Jimmy. I think equality is great, but I also know that when it comes to physical strength it's not a match.

But I also have to say that I never got any shit from anybody. As long as I was trying to do my part as best as possible and carry/do my share, when I got tired or exhausted, there was always plenty of help offered from the men. But if you're a whining slacker, sorry, you're on your own.

But combat MOS versus non-combat MOS, it's not always that easy, is it? For example, if you are the only medic in your platoon, you go where they go, female or male, doesn't matter.

 

[Jimmy1]

You know what, most women don't want to be grunts, but they don't like being told they can't do anything either.

The equality in the military was brought about by some bra burning, lesbian shim's that were told they could not be a grunt. We go on exercise and the women are allowed to go have a shower every couple of days, most don't, but a few do.

When push comes to shove though, there is no way a female could stay in a sniper's hide for a prolonged period of time with a bloke, some exceptions of course.

 

[shogun]

I personally don't have a problem with it as long as ALL IS EQUAL. Equality is one of the pillars of military right ? "Here you are all equally worthless. " so if women want to sign their cards so there 5ft 100lbs daughters can get drafted in time of war, live, shit, eat, sleep, fight and bleed with the boys. Then by all means bring em on. But the minute a seperate toilet is asked for all that goes out the window.

 

[Need an Oasis]

but they don't like being told they can't do anything either.

Maybe so, Jimmy, but (at least speaking for myself) it's one thing to be told flat out you can't do something, and another to at least be given a chance to try. And I think that goes for men and women alike. If I try and fail, fair enough. Unless it's clear at the outset that it's futile, like maybe weightlifting or something, and even then, there are always exceptions, like you said. Just my opinion, and I am not a bra-burning lesbian, and I never wanted to be a grunt. :)

 

[Need an Oasis]

But the minute a seperate toilet is asked for all that goes out the window.

Agreed Shogun, but the military/government provides separate facilities to cover its own ass (lawsuits, harassment, whatever). There are probably a lot of women out there who would have no problem with sharing. I worked as a paramedic at a local fire station, and I bunked with the men and shared facilities with the men. Never had a problem with it during shifts, and the guys didn't either.

 

[shogun]

Agreed Shogun, but the military/government provides separate facilities to cover its own ass (lawsuits, harassment, whatever). There are probably a lot of women out there who would have no problem with sharing. I worked as a paramedic at a local fire station, and I bunked with the men and shared facilities with the men. Never had a problem with it during shifts, and the guys didn't either.

Problem is when an infantry unit is deployed to a warzone via ship. They shoved 120 of us into one berthing and had all of 4 females occupying an equally sized room. Who's the efficiency expert who thought of this one?
And the gov didn't provide showers or toilets for my deployments. We had to make our own. ( a folding metal chair with the seat cut out and a toilet seat zip tied to it. ) the showers that halliburton did build electrocuted one of our docs and they bull dozed them.
Don't even get me started on Shitting into an MRE sleeve in the back of a humvee while outside the wire cuz there's no time to stop.

 

[Sludge]

I can only imagine the horrors of women in the field. I was unlucky enough to be on one of the first ships to fully integrate. I felt bad for those gals. Ships are just not designed with feminine hygiene in mind. A guy can go a few months with no shower without many issues, but them gals were suffering....bad... Used to be engineering berthings were the worst smelling, but I can tell you female berthings blow engineer stink out of the water.

 

[Jibby]

I think have to agree with Zipperhead on it, but that's me talking from limited experience. Very, because we never got to see fairer sex much at work. Different types, but then same could be said for blokes. We've all met them. I did deploy on a ship for short period of 3 or so months just after the matelots integrated women on board in the 90s, but there were about 30 to 200 ratio and they were matelots anyway so never came in to direct contact with how they did whatever matelots do :) . One of them accused one of us of sexually assaulting her before admitting to SIB that she'd made it up to work her ticket home. Either way she got her wish, she was on next available flight back to UK which pissed off her matelot oppo's anyway, but one bad apple and all leaves a skewed taste in the mouth.

There are women who can do the phys side am sure, and am sure a few even passed All-Arms (sacrilige!) since I got out. Doff my lid to anyone who cracks that, but that's a world away from operating out there for 6 months (or 12 for some of you poor sods :) ) on ops at a time isn't it??

My nephew's girlfriend has done a few Herrick's to Afghan as a medic embedded on FOBs and patrols every day and she had to walk it out there, but remember at the time thinking that's just not right. Sexist of me, because she was obviously capable (or hope and assume she was because she finished tours and went back), but I don't know. The automatic need to protect females like Jimmy said must be strong for those guys with her. Or maybe it's not and after a while you forget about it and she gets treated equally. I don't know.

Ignoring the tactical side, and practicalities, strategically she was told by some kind, caring soul she would be a target as in word spreads she's around and out on the ground. I know a live kidnapping is ultra ultra ultra ultra rare (as in it doesn't happen in relative terms) in both Iraq/Afghan but it was something mentioned to her and that the stakes might be upped. Not sure how gen dit that is, but can see the sense. The strategic value to them of having a weeping ('better' if eye candy, even 'better' if she's a mum) young western soldier female pleading for her life online must have massive PR value if pulling on heart strings in the West. Or maybe that's me clutching at straws of looking for reasons that don't exist.

Unecessary risk and kind of like the Prince Harry deploying thing, but not?? :D

Another sexist out of order way I might think, is that in my nut the difference between a mother and father. Loads of fathers can deploy and that's ok, but a mum?? Something doesn't sit right with me on that, and that's me being a hypocrite and sexist but I don't know. It just doesn't seem right to me.

 

[Zipperhead]

We had a Couple in the Strats awhile back. Mom and Dad were both Zipperheads. The little tike was 6 months old when the Regiment deployed to Bosnia in 94. Both Mom and Dad in tow. They left the little nipper with an Aunt. That got to me. Wasn't right, and they knew it. They sent her over to prove that women couldn't handle deployments like the guys. She got out at the end of contract. See, they were right, couldn't hack it. Really?

 

[Jibby]

We had a Couple in the Strats awhile back. Mom and Dad were both Zipperheads. The little tike was 6 months old when the Regiment deployed to Bosnia in 94. Both Mom and Dad in tow. They left the little nipper with an Aunt. That got to me. Wasn't right, and they knew it. They sent her over to prove that women couldn't handle deployments like the guys. She got out at the end of contract. See, they were right, couldn't hack it. Really?

Yeah, to me imvvvvho, that's just 'wrong'.

 

[Jimmy1]

Maybe so, Jimmy, but (at least speaking for myself) it's one thing to be told flat out you can't do something, and another to at least be given a chance to try. And I think that goes for men and women alike. If I try and fail, fair enough. Unless it's clear at the outset that it's futile, like maybe weightlifting or something, and even then, there are always exceptions, like you said. Just my opinion, and I am not a bra-burning lesbian, and I never wanted to be a grunt. :)

Hey I never called you a bra burning lesbian. I believe that woman make good fighters, but equal opportunity has gone just too far. I treat all women with respect, it is how I was raised, but I reckon if they want to do blokes things that much, then they should get a sex change. The government is responsible in the end. Someone pushing for votes raised it as an issue. Like gay marriage, and not smacking children, this whole thread could get me fired up. Better stop.