Women in Combat Arms/ SOF Discussion

[metalmom]

Why not just let them live and learn through this process. Think there are a lot of judgements in place and for some hoping they will fall out and fail.When some DO make it-they will be your sisters in arms.Never been SOF so maybe speaking out of turn but no kudos for at least them trying. Dont get it.

 

[AWP]

ASOS in Mississippi has the first female TACP recruit. Her first PAST she failed every event, and then quit on a 4 mile ruck. Like, sat down and just wasn't having it.

Not to grammar Nazi here, but please tell me you meant "had" the first female recruit.

 

[racing_kitty]

ASOS in Mississippi has the first female TACP recruit. Her first PAST she failed every event, and then quit on a 4 mile ruck. Like, sat down and just wasn't having it.

That level of giving up makes me all Kinds of pissed the fuck off.

 

[DA SWO]

Not to grammar Nazi here, but please tell me you meant "had" the first female recruit.

I am willing to be has is the correct word.
I am also willing to bet that every state with an ASOS is in competition for the first successful candidate.
That State that wins will have taken 6 months to a year in preparing said female (which is incredibly sad) so she can pass.
There are capable women who can be good (dare I say outstanding JTAC's) our recruiting approach sucks and that's why we are failing.

 

[pardus]

Why not just let them live and learn through this process. Think there are a lot of judgements in place and for some hoping they will fall out and fail.When some DO make it-they will be your sisters in arms.Never been SOF so maybe speaking out of turn but no kudos for at least them trying. Dont get it.

How about unqualified candidates taking slots away from qualified/much more likely to succeed candidates, and the waste of valuable resources to support a policy that is dead in the water?
IMO, This program is not going to enhance SOF units outside of some specialist units that we don't often hear about.

 

[digrar]

IMO, This program is not going to enhance SOF units outside of some specialist units that we don't often hear about.

And those groups already (or they do in Australia and the UK) have internal job specific pre selection/training reo cycles for females who are required in the units.

 

[CDG]

Not to grammar Nazi here, but please tell me you meant "had" the first female recruit.

How dare you accuse me of a lack of attention to detail!! I meant "has". Every ASOS does it different. At my home unit in PA, you have to pass a PAST in order to enlist. We had one girl already try out and fail. In MS, a potential 1C4 is allowed to join sight unseen, and then has 4 months to successfully complete a PAST in order to avoid being reclassed.

 

[AWP]

I meant "has".

My contempt for this world increased today.

 

[AWP]

Whatcha' gonna' do, PL?

Exclusive: Army approves first 22 female officers for ground combat jobs

WASHINGTON — The Army announced Friday the first 22 women to be commissioned as infantry and armor officers under new rules that open all ground combat jobs to females this year.

I can't wait to see the Pass/ Fail rates.

 

[metalmom]

How about unqualified candidates taking slots away from qualified/much more likely to succeed candidates, and the waste of valuable resources to support a policy that is dead in the water?
IMO, This program is not going to enhance SOF units outside of some specialist units that we don't often hear about.

Hey Pardus-your likes say it all. Thank you for your response and not being impatient with me.

 

[ThunderHorse]

And so we continue down the treacherous road: Army OKs the first women to be commissioned as infantry or armor officers

I wonder how Hooah they are, it takes a special type of person to live on a Bradley with 10 dudes.

 

[Florida173]

And so we continue down the treacherous road: Army OKs the first women to be commissioned as infantry or armor officers

I wonder how Hooah they are, it takes a special type of person to live on a Bradley with 10 dudes.

And shitting on the track is some tradition I believe

 

[Hillclimb]

I can't wait to see the Pass/ Fail rates.

Theyre gonna reveal that the results were inconclusive after a few recycles, then lose any grades and documentation. And say that the command wasn't supportive of the study, and then mandate that the military make it happen. Then SgtMaj Lehew will speak out on fb and.. Wait.. I think I'm mixing the Marine Corps mixed gender experimental unit and Ranger School

Classic gender equality.

 

[TLDR20]

Theyre gonna reveal that the results were inconclusive after a few recycles, then lose any grades and documentation. And say that the command wasn't supportive of the study, and then mandate that the military make it happen. Then SgtMaj Lehew will speak out on fb and.. Wait.. I think I'm mixing the Marine Corps mixed gender experimental unit and Ranger School

Classic gender equality.

I don't know that I would equate Ranger School and the Marine experiment. As I have been told, by those there, and have read on here those women met the standard.

 

[Hillclimb]

I don't know that I would equate Ranger School and the Marine experiment. As I have been told, by those there, and have read on here those women met the standard.

I'm a terrible narrator. I had meant to foreshadow the events of the pass/fail rates of Freefallings article with events of the past.

I'm sure there'll be a mix of stud (ettes?), accusations, excuses, drama, and finger pointing.

 

[TLDR20]

I'm a terrible narrator. I had meant to foreshadow the events of the pass/fail rates of Freefallings article with events of the past.

I'm sure there'll be a mix of stud (ettes?), accusations, excuses, drama, and finger pointing.

Hard agree.

 

[Devildoc]

Where are the girls that packed down in the scrums in the forward pack at College, the 75kg + Olympic lifters, the light/heavyweight freestyle wrestlers, the throwing disciplines from track? Those are the girls that have half a chance of making it. 5'4", 120lb Loren Ross, with no discernible muscle definition, is just going to snap.

...with the thighs the size of tree trunks that could move a Volkswagen? Freaking stronger then hell.

 

[Marauder06]

Whatcha' gonna' do, PL?

Exclusive: Army approves first 22 female officers for ground combat jobs



I can't wait to see the Pass/ Fail rates.

I think the pass rate for the basic course is going to be high. It's simply not that hard. The real test will be how they fare out in the force, and how much, if any, help they're given from the system to ensure their success.

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

Why not just let them live and learn through this process. Think there are a lot of judgements in place and for some hoping they will fall out and fail.When some DO make it-they will be your sisters in arms.Never been SOF so maybe speaking out of turn but no kudos for at least them trying. Dont get it.

There are other issues at play, and its not (at least from my end) a disparagement to their wants and desires. It's an understanding of ability and demands of those specific jobs. I've always thought women would do well in combat arms MOS's like artillery, engineering, etc, that do not require extreme physical fitness and robustness. I do believe that there are some women who can make through OSUT and possibly complete an enlistment in a line unit. Will they be an asset to that unit? Time will tell, but one thing I do know is there bodies will be broken from it, faster and more permanently than males. Which brings up issue of do we enlist people into jobs that we know will be physically broken down and after a few months a year are medically booted and now a drain on the VA system and many other programs.

I think the Army could do this and do it right, but they have to get the social engineering and politics out of it, and stop playing the "everyone is a winner everyone gets a trophy" game, and properly select, screen and prepare women for the harsh reality of Infantry and SOF type jobs.

Honestly nobody is kidding around, sticking their chest out about how hard and physically demanding these jobs are. It's worlds apart from the rest of the military, and the schoolhouse is the easiest part.

 

[medicchick]

I honestly want to know what is going to happen when they get pregnant. I'm pretty sure they won't be able to do a 10 miles while 7 months along, not to mention maternity leave. I had restrictions of not lifting over Bibby's weight (normally was no more than 5 pounds, she was over 8) for 6-8 weeks due to a c-section. There was no way I would have been able to come right back and hump a 100+ pound ruck. Even firing a rifle would hurt tbh. Every infantryman has a job and team/squad members would have to pick up the slack because a member chose to take themselves out of action. How will that play into morale?