Female veterans hail decision to allow combat roles
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Iraq veteran Alma Felix hopes the U.S. military's new rules to open hundreds of thousands of combat jobs to women will lead society to recognize that female troops can be courageous warriors.
While women have proven themselves over the past decade in Iraq and Afghanistan where they have increasingly found themselves in combat because of modern warfare's blurred frontlines, many have come home with the feeling that few know of their contributions, the 27-year-old former Army specialist said Thursday.
Felix said military women often feel like "we disappear into the background. You always hear we're losing our sons out there, and although women have fallen out there, you really don't see very much of it.
"We are the support. Those are the positions we fill and that's a big deal — we often run the show — but people don't see that," Felix said. "Maybe it will put more females forward and give people a sense there are women out there fighting for our country. It's not just you're typical poster boy, GI Joes doing it."
In lifting the ban, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said women have become integral to the military's success and have shown they are willing to fight and die alongside their male counterparts.
The historic change overturns a 1994 rule prohibiting women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units.
Across the country, members of the military of both sexes said they accepted the new policy so long as women will have to meet the same standards as their male colleagues.
Panetta said that not all women will be able to meet the qualifications to be a combat soldier but said they should be given a chance. He said the qualifications will not be lowered.
Others believe the public may not be ready to handle seeing more female troops come home in body bags or with lost limbs.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
Remember, the right thing to do and the fair thing to do are not always the same thing to do.
Doesn't congress make decisions like this? I am unaware that the Secretary of Defense has this much power. I thought he has to answer to congress.
While I certainly applaud any person who signs up to serve our country in uniform, and I have great respect for those assigned to front line and support service positions in active theatres, there is one concern I have that nags me constantly about this.Â
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The culture in many theaters of combat that the US is currently in, and will likely be in the future, do not give the same respect to women that is given in the US and most other western countries. If captured, I have a real concern for the well being of a woman in an active theatre in most of the theocracies of the Middle East. Sexual abuse, rape and other such offenses are committed against women who are citizens of their own countries as a form of reprisal or punishment, and often (re:recent events in India) for no real 'reason' (not that there can really be a viable 'reason' for such behaviors) other than just some males deciding to do it. A male soldier is just as likely to be killed outright, or tortured in other ways...
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I would hope that the military does its best to advise prospective female soldiers of this very real possibility.Â
I don't think anyone ever doubted they could be courageous warriors or that they were not quite capable. It's just when you tend to mix men and women in confined environments like that away from their family in remote locations things are likely going to happen and it likely won't be helpful to the tasks at hand. I think they may have missed the point of some of the objections...
Iâm not really sure what the big deal is here. I am far more surprised this is anything at all and should have happened a decade or more ago than it being a major shift in military. Everyone knows some of the world greatest militaries had/have women. Indeed female conscription is required in Israel for example in order to be able to vote.
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Do we want to protect our sisters, mothers and daughters? Yes of course, but arenât we just sacrificing our brothers, father and sons to do it? Isnât the goal of military chiefs to find the greatest warriors and put them in harms way to insure the greatest survival and more assured success? Does everyone think that there exist so few women capable of being part of the greatest fighting force on the Earth that the US military wonât be able to find them?
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Before women spent time in the kitchen, they fought to tame The West. They lived in the same dangerous and frightening world men did. They protected their children for every war as men went off to fight. There is no more capable female then the human one and no more capable human female than the American one.
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Donât believe me? Look right now at our fighting forces. They are littered with women that even though they arenât âin combatâ earn some of the highest honors of our fighting forces. Do they get these for being pretty? Yeah, being pretty bad *ss.
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The only reason why anyone would hesitate to put a woman in an elite combat force is fear of them being equal and ignorance of them being strong.
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We are the best, strongest and most capable nation built. With that comes women who are no less strong and capable.
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They will do just fine.
Gives a whole new meaning to fox-hole:)
I am not sure what my instincts would be under fire with a female next to me. Would my first one be to jump in front of her to protect her? Would I treat her differently and try to make things easier just because it was how I was raised? I really don't know how I would react. I am not saying that there isn't plenty of females that are capable, I just think it could be an issue for some.
@Pointblank Not to worry. Your trainning would make it where she would just be another soldier watching your back. Of course, I have a biased opinion; I got into a fight with my neighbor in Eugene, he had 2 friends over that I did not know about, when his friends came out to back him up my wife went sh-it raving nuts and between the two of us we thrashed them pretty good. I have total confidence in womens' ability to step up when the time comes. Been married to this woman almost 35 years and have always felt we were a team!
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"I am not sure what my instincts would be under fire with a female next to me. Would my first one be to jump in front of her to protect her?"
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Yes you would, and she would for you. But that's no different than anyone I have ever heard speak about combat.
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"Would I treat her differently and try to make things easier just because it was how I was raised?"
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If you do, it's your mistake. I have known women who are every bit 9and using the mean of men, often more) capable warriors. Some cannot muster it, but so can't most men.
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"I really don't know how I would react. I am not saying that there isn't plenty of females that are capable, I just think it could be an issue for some."
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14% of the warriors in US service are women. Line up 100 of your favorite women. Do you think you could find 14 who could kick your but? I bet you could.
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as long as the exact same criteria is used in judging the readiness of men is used for women.... I'm OK with that
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But if they modify the tests like they commonly do for women firefighters...... then that weakens our forces, and thats NOT acceptable.
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I've been told the criteria will be the same for both sexes so thats encouraging.
I appreciate those men and women who put their life on the line for my freedom whether they are on the front line or not. For the military to be successful in this change of policy the implementation plan, consistency and adherence of requirements and standards will be the most crucial. The policy change raises a lot of logistical questions that will be interesting to learn more of as it's implemented. I pray for our soldiers daily who need our love and support.
" Iraq veteran Alma Felix hopes the U.S. military's new rules to open hundreds of thousands of combat jobs to women will lead society to recognize that female troops can be courageous warriors."
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It can also make them dead which is the more likely scenario.
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While I do like the option for women to participation in battle there are more downsides that upsides. I just hope that women get into it for the right reasons.
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We, as a country need to be ready for women to come home in body bags.
 @RalphCramden Well said Ralph. I think our country will struggle when more women fall in battle than already have. Like you, I support the option, and certainly believe the standards must be upheld, but the reality of seeing women in body bags will be a different experience for our country than we've had in the past. Each death and lost soldier is equally heart breaking, but this is a change in our history and culture.
 @DeaconBugg  @RalphCramden Your statement is spot-on: We see abuse of females highly worse than males thanks to 1000's of years of societal preservation. You see, every society has survived by having a section that's disposable to preserve that system/ society. Absolutely no one can deny this has been men. Men being shipped of to die in wars and combats for the preservation of our lifestyles. I truly believe, this idea of men sacrificing themselves and taking the front lines has led us to believe abuse of men is "business as normal" whereas abuse on women, is a tragedy. I, as a female, have never understood why abuse of males on TV and movies is seen as funny. Worst, why they have little to no resources for assault and domestic violence? We have numerous outlets for women. This in turn, has made our society truly believe women are abused at such a higher rate. This is not actually true. These resource centers cater to women. Would people not expect when you have resource centers merely for women, it's going to see a high number of abused women? If we are such an enlightened culture, why do we not take male abuse seriously?Â
 @Lisa  @DeaconBuggÂ
Men are taught not to share feelings and are embarrassed when they are being abused by a woman. I have seen this first hand and yet most of the time the man is arrested because society doesn't see woman as capable of abuse.
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Most women abuse resources are political from the old days of militant women who hated men. That structure is still there and has a life of it's own now and will never go away. Few women believe that women can be abusive so there isn't much of a drive to have resources for me. Men, after all, are supposed to be tough and be able to handle stuff. Being a homeless man is not near the issue as bring a homeless woman.
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I am mentally prepared to see women coming home in body bags. I prefer women being taught and able to fight if necessary than for them to depend on males for their protection.
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One of my favorite movies is Terminator 2 with Linda Hamilton who is a very capable, smart and self sufficient woman who can handle a gun, pain and weapons and still be a woman. My wife is like that. She has no problem killing a bad guy if she was attacked and can field strip an AR15 if necessary and yet she loves to cook and fix up our house.
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I love that type of self sufficiency. I raised my daughter to be that way. She can run a chain saw, change the oil, replace the brakes, jump start a car, and still cook a nice meal for her family.
 @RalphCramden I respect her for her service, but "We are the support. Those are the positions we fill and that's a big deal â we often run the show â but people don't see that," this seemed kind of whinny. We do all the stuff and men get all the credit.Â
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I tell women in uniform as well as men that I appreciate their service. To me it's no different. Being in the military is a sacrifice.
 @TreeWizard  @RalphCramden I didn't take her statement to be whining as much as wanting to share the importance of their role in combat. They do play a crucial role that often is not considered as dangerous, yet we've already seen fallen female soldiers from the wars were currently in. I'm not criticizing your post by any means and recognize the respect you paid her; just a different perspective from reading the same statement.
 @DeaconBugg  @RalphCramden Thanks for sharing your perspective with me. I think you are right and I am wrong. =)
Being willing to fight and die for your country is very honorable, but (veterans can correct me) it seems like it takes more than just that.