Women to Begin Training as Army Rangers and Navy SEALS by 2016

The positive aspect of this is that women who chose to serve in these high-risk positions will be rewarded by faster promotions, or at least this is the perception.

However, there will be many negative consequences. When this becomes reality and women attend training to be in the Infantry, Rangers and Special Forces, do not expect training standards to remain as tough and demanding as they are now.  The reality is that women in general are not as physically able to carry the standard loads required by Infantry soldiers.  Take the U.S. Army Ranger School for example.  The Ranger Students carry 80-100 lbs. in their rucksacks, plus 6 quarts of water, ammunition, their uniform weight, helmet, and weapon weight (which may be a heavy machine gun with extra barrel and tripod) for two months (if they graduate on time and do not “recycle” to day one for medical or administrative reasons). They walk up and down 3000-foot mountains and through swamps.  They walk up to 16 miles at a time carrying this weight. In the Ranger Regiment, foot marches up to 30 miles carrying the same load are typical.  50% of the men who attend Ranger Training do not make it.  Do we expect women in general to be able to do this? The Army has stated that it will go to one universal standard for men and women regarding the physical fitness test.  This will be a joke to most men, as the typical male has much more physical strength than a typical woman.  The fact is that training will be watered down in order to accommodate women, resulting in an overall weaker unit and Army.  Washington and the Army will not allow women to attend training that few, if any, will be able to pass.  Therefore, the standard will be lowered to a point that the majority of women can pass, no matter what politicians and the Pentagon are saying about it now. The plan to do this is likely already in motion.

People understand why there are not women in the NFL and why women do not compete against men in most sports.  Why is there no call for women to play in the NFL in the name of equality?  The standards could be dropped to a level that a female could compete by changing the rules and making it flag football.  Would anybody stand for that? The answer is obviously, no.  Why then, do people not understand why women should not serve in the Infantry, Rangers, or Special Forces?  Football is just a game.  Small unit, close quarters combat is brutal, physical, deadly and the consequences will be permanent.  Mission accomplishment and survival are at stake in combat, as are our national strategic goals.  Is a woman able to pull to safety a 200 lb. soldier with all of his equipment who has been shot?  Can a woman throw that wounded soldier over her shoulder in a fireman’s carry to get him to medical care? Will her basic structure allow her to carry such a heavy weight and still perform?  Can she physically dominate an enemy combatant to detain them or kill them in close combat?  If a woman can do the same tasks required by men in combat this is no problem.  But there will only be an extremely small number of women who can meet the same standard as men.  Feminists will not tolerate only allowing one out of probably thousands of women who would attempt to meet the current standard being allowed to serve in the Infantry and elite combat units.  Remember, this is all about equality and fairness towards promotion.  Politicians will demand that a “fair” number be allowed to serve, and the standard will be modified to meet those acceptable numbers.

Logistically and financially this will have effects also.  Women will have separate barracks, showers and bathrooms. This will all cost money. 

Unit cohesion, which is of utmost importance to a combat unit, will be greatly affected.  Women and men will be treated differently.  When men and women live in separate areas and have separate facilities, developing true cohesion that you currently find in combat units will be near impossible.  Women will inevitably file Equal Opportunity complaints when they are denied promotions or feel that men are being treated differently, which will further degrade unit cohesion. Pregnancies that will get a soldier out of a combat deployment will degrade cohesion and readiness. Sexual Harassment cases will go up.  Sexual assaults will go up.   An Instructor that fails a female soldier during testing and training better have a good reason why and witnesses, because they will likely be accused of being sexist for doing so and their career could be in jeopardy.  Anybody who thinks this is not true has their head in the sand.

Retention and re-enlistments will be affected.  The type-A personalities that are drawn to these units for the challenge and adrenalin rush will no longer be enticed to join as it will no longer be seen as such an elite assignment. Current soldiers may not want to stay in for the same reasons. Infantry soldiers in general do not trust their lives to anybody who may not be able to perform when needed most.  Expect a mass exodus of qualified infantry combat veterans from the Army.  Expect that strong soldiers you would want to go into the Infantry, to Ranger School or into the Special Forces will no longer have any interest in it and expect that weaker soldiers who could never have made it in the past will all of a sudden show interest in attending. Expect no Infantry, Ranger or Special Forces Non-Commissioned Officers or Commissioned Officers to want any part of working as an Instructor in an environment that will force lower standards and put them at risk of a career ending Equal Opportunity complaint.  The definition of professionalism in the Army will be to train as many soldiers as possible to a standard most can meet, without hurting anybody’s feelings or offending anybody in the process.

The bottom line is that we will have a weaker Army and therefore a weaker nation, in the name of equality for women in the military, mainly regarding promotions and getting women into Leadership positions in the Infantry.    

We have to acknowledge that men and women are indeed different physically, intellectually and emotionally. We are not built the same and we do not think the same. We are not capable of doing the same things. If the Infantry, Rangers and Special Forces could be opened to women without lowering the standard, I do not think anybody would object.  But, that is impossible if any real number of females are expected to join these units.

These views are based on prior experience, common sense, and reality.  They are not discriminatory in any way.  Open these jobs to women, but maintain the same high standards currently in place.  Will feminists really accept this?

Political correctness reigns supreme.  Social Engineering is the goal. Your sons and daughters lives that are sent into combat are the pawns in this game.

You might also be interested in reading: