OK, I gotta say it. Women don't belong in combat.

[pasto76]

40. progress? yes I think so

Im in a rocket artillery unit for the national guard. Combat arms as they say. This is my 14th year in the army. Speaking only about my current battery, a female presence, in the long run, will be a really quite helpful. The current battery is overflowing with testosterone, ego and stupidity. I spent the first 12 years in Engineer Battalions. Things are a lot different in this artillery unit. Less discipline. Less professionalism. I had females in my squad back when I was an NCO in the reserves. No big deal. In the artillery unit, it shouldnt be a big deal either. A female can do 100% of the work we are tasked with. Moreover, we have a non combat 'forward support company' who have the cargo trucks and ammo trailers. They have females in that unit. So the loading of our pods...not a male dominated thing. Maybe shell artillery in a Paladin crew is different. I cant say.

In the long run, because we have been ordered to remove an arbitrary obstacle, based not whatsoever on performance or ability, we will have females in the unit. They will be good soldiers or they will not be. The 'rub' their presence causes any males...well Im here to tell you that those males arent professional enough to be in the army. The real professionals dont want them there. Sooner or later they will transfer out or leave altogether. good riddance. we dont have room for dead weight these days. The point Im trying to get at is that female presence in these units will eventually soften the uber testosterone, often conservative wing nut personalities that are in my army. If you are a professional soldier, you wont be subject to any disciplinary action for harassment, hazing or otherwise inappropriate comments or behavior. Those that arent professional will find themselves on the wrong end of army regulations and disciplinary actions. Sooner or later this will make the military a better representation of the american population. not such a bastion of conservatives and anti liberals.(most of them dont even know what any of this means, they just know liberals are fairies, and conservatives are 'tough') Im all for that.

anecdote: my armory is in a rural spot, so the local recruiter has an office there. Last year a female was there to see him during our training weekend. She walked out to the smoking area. The males I was standing with just could not help themselves. I could see the thoughts and comments forming about her less then feminine appearance and dress. Before any of them could say something stupid I said "you all need to bite your tongues". They looked at me knowing I knew what they were thinking. Im just a specialist right now, but had more professionalism and more respect than two of the sergeants in that group.

I am a structural ironworker by trade. All testosterone, all the time. NOBODY is more manly than an ironworker! (except when they meet sgt pasto, then they get all feelings hurt). Dont get me wrong, good guys and hard workers. But jesus H christ the conversations at break and lunch are always the same. Cars. trucks. right wing talking points. old stories trying to impress us that they are more badass than anyone. One upsmanship. sometimes I want to hit myself on the head with a 4 pound hammer and end my misery. Same thing in my artillery battery. So the prospect of having a female to talk to on details or during work assignments sounds as good to me as being paroled.

speaking from the inside - long career in the army. I was in one of the first gender integrated army basic training units in 1995. My wife was a soldier. I have two daughters. Ive been in non combat and now in combat units. I served the Iraq war. I saw female MPs kick the shit out of bad guys and outperform most males. Myself included. From that perspective, yeah. this is progress. Maybe with enough progress, the cynical rosy colored comments "nobody should go to war" (which is a thinly veiled backhanded sexist remark too) might happen. Wouldnt that be nice. I promise you that I want peaceful resolutions to things more than you do. Its my neck on the line. But reality...mankind fights. alot.