Women in the Australian infantry and special forces?
Only if the physical fitness exams are not watered down. I read the article. However I would like clarification on this. Make sure the diversity bullies don't create a special PT standard based on sex. Someone that cannot pull their weight in the infantry or special forces gets people on their team killed.
6 comments:
Following this argument, you'd get the impression that women are clamouring to get involved in direct combat roles. I have to tell you the view from inside the ADF is that they just aren't. Every time that this issue is raised with my female (Army) colleagues they guffaw and ask: "Are you kidding?" In general, they're just not interested. Some girls may want to do this, and more power to them, but the numbers will likely be tiny.
So, using Mr Smith's logic, soon we'll be seeing females "who can pass the physical requirements" playing first grade rugby league or rugby union?
If there's anyone out there who doesn't think this is a valid analogy, he/SHE'S never seen front line infantrymen doing what they all too often are called upon to do.
Has anyone looked into the incredible waste of man(woman) hours that will be involved in trying to make this work for (as noted above by Anon) what everyone with any experience at the coalface agrees will be a near zero return?
I think it's a fine idea.
Scenario 1.
Women join the infantry, they meet the standard and we get some capable infantry soldiers.
Good outcome right?
Scenario 2.
Women join the infantry, cannot meet the required standards and are discharged or Corps transferred.
No great problem there except we've wasted money recruiting them if they don't make the grade and are discharged. If Corps transferred and effective at the new job, we've gained one more capable soldier. If discharged, so be it. It's no different to recruiting anyone else who doesn't make the grade and is discharged.
Scenario 3.
They join the infantry, cannot make the grade, are exempted or the physical standards test is lowered, allowing them "special" entry.
No great problem there. The job is harder than training. The job isn't changing under any circumstances, so they'll be placed into non-infantry roles within the battalion or they'll be medically discharged for being unable to meet Army's requirements.
No great problem there, except wasted money. Something defence or Government doesn't seem to have any great problem with and will in all reality be extremely minor compared to all the other wastage that goes on.
Go the "girls" battalion I say.
Great. Maybe you would like to carry their shit for them (as well as your own) when they can't keep up in a real op.
Then they won't make that Op Eric. That is the point. No-one will be carrying 'their shit' except them. IF they dont' carry it, it won't be carried. If they are not up to the task of patrolling, carrying section weapons, conducting section attacks, digging pits amd so on, there isn't anyone else to do that work for them and they won't be doing any ops. I don't know how much hands on experience you have with that sort of thing Eric, but when you are carrying all your own kit, plus mortar base plates, Carl Gustav anti-armour weapons, general purpose machine guns etc, you cannot carry anything else. Do you think section or platoon heavy weapons will be left behind so that the guys can carry the girls packs for them? It won't happen. Comcare won't let it...
Clearly you have not learned from
the American military yet. Yes,
standards WILL be lowered and,
yes, men WILL carry their loads.
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