Pentagon to allow women in combat

[Kleves]

 

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has decided to allow women to serve in combat roles, a watershed policy shift that follows years of calls for a fully inclusive military.

Panetta and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, are expected to formally announce the change on Thursday, Pentagon officials said. The Army, Marines and other services will then develop plans to open jobs in ground combat units, such as the infantry, to women.

The decision comes after a decade during which women have been pushed closer to the front lines than ever before. Panetta, who is expected to step down in coming days, has long said the Pentagon is exploring ways to open more career opportunities for women.

Female veteran groups say that even though the number of women who would pursue combat jobs might be small, having the option is a long overdue step that would bring the United States in line with several of its allies.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, issued a statement endorsing the move.

"I support it," Levin said. "It reflects the reality of 21st century military operations."

[Brazen]

Just read that and got a sinking feeling about my opinion piece tomorrow 

A company's sending me body armour to trial this week (we didn't tell them we don't do that) so I'll pose in it to illustrate the story. Or just pretend I'm a Colonial Marine out of Aliens.

[Admiral Yi]

Then either they have to have a higher physical standard for women in combat units or they have to drop the standard for men.

Brazen: I'll give you 25 fake quatloos if you pose in the armor + a red bandana tied around your head.

[Razgovory]

What kind of trial would you do with a body armor?  Would you wear it and the editor just shoot at you for a bit?

[Brazen]

Brazen: I'll give you 25 fake quatloos if you pose in the armor + a red bandana tied around your head.

I so intend to 

[Brazen]

What kind of trial would you do with a body armor?  Would you wear it and the editor just shoot at you for a bit?

I AM the editor, I get to shoot first.

I dunno, see if the colour goes with this season's accessories?

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

I dunno, see if the colour goes with this season's accessories?

Aren't those required via an 85-page document to be the same color down to the subatomic level anyway?

[derspiess]

Great.

Then either they have to have a higher physical standard for women in combat units or they have to drop the standard for men.

No, they'll just lessen the standards.  Like they did for airborne school

Women certainly do have a place in the Army: secretaries & nurses. 

[CountDeMoney]

Silly move.

[Barrister]

Then either they have to have a higher physical standard for women in combat units or they have to drop the standard for men.

Brazen: I'll give you 25 fake quatloos if you pose in the armor + a red bandana tied around your head.

Why do they have to do either?

[11B4V]

Great.

Then either they have to have a higher physical standard for women in combat units or they have to drop the standard for men.

No, they'll just lessen the standards. rolleyes:

Yes. Ho-hum. More pregos too.

"Hey First sergeant they have another one knocked up in 2nd Platoon." 

a prego female infantry platoon sergeant or 1st sergeant. I shudder at the thought. Useless.

[garbon]

I see the troglodytes have already swarmed out of the woodwork.

[Admiral Yi]

Why do they have to do either?

Brazen has to wear the bandana because it looks really badass.  ROCK AND ROLL!  buddabuddabuddabudda 

Either the physical requirements are necessary to perform the job or they're not.  If they're not, there's no reason to make the men pass them.

It would be discriminatory.

[derspiess]

Yes. Ho-hum. More pregos too.

"Hey First sergeant they have another one knocked up in 2nd Platoon." 

a prego female infantry platoon sergeant or 1st sergeant. I shudder at the thought. Useless.

I gotta say though I bet it's nice to have the option of getting knocked up to avoid deployment. 

[Barrister]

Why do they have to do either?

Brazen has to wear the bandana because it looks really badass.  ROCK AND ROLL!  buddabuddabuddabudda 

Either the physical requirements are necessary to perform the job or they're not.  If they're not, there's no reason to make the men pass them.

It would be discriminatory.

Oh, I think I understand now.  At present women have a lower physical fitness threshold than men do in the army?