Women In Combat

"I'm an American soldier too"

Can a woman handle fighting in combat? Should women be able to come face to face with the enemy? Will women be able to control their emotions and take the horror that war inflicts? Should women be grateful that they are not included in such a terrible thing as combat, or is it wrong to exclude them just because they are women? I say if a woman chooses this kind of challenge, then she is more than capable.

During the daring rescue of prisoner of war Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital, the first commando to reach Lynch identified himself as a United States soldier. The 19-year-old Army private replied, "I'm an American soldier, too."

Jessica Lynch is more than a soldier, she's a symbol, too -- one who reportedly fought her abusive captors with heroism and courage. Her experience shows that the time is right to blast through the armored ceiling that keeps women second-class citizens in the military.

You might think, if you watch Operation Iraqi Freedom on TV or read about it in the newspaper, that the military already has been fully integrated with regard to gender. But you would be wrong.

Yes, Progress has been made - Over the last fifty years or more, public officials have fought to open more opportunities for women. In 1948, President Truman helped create a military service separate for females. However, this service restricted them to only 2% of the entire

Military. More recently, in 1994, the Defense Department issued the "Risk Rule." This helped open up specialty jobs to women. "No jobs will be closed to women just because it is dangerous." (Willens 2) In fact, over 40,000 American women served in Dessert Storm in Iraq, twenty-three of which returned with a Combat Action Ribbon.

But Even though Women have important jobs (most of them are life threatening) they are still not allowed on the front line. Women who fight as soldiers in artillery units, on warships, or pilots are "just as likely to kill or be killed in combat" (Jones 3). If a woman proves she is capable of passing the requirements of boot camp, then why shouldn't she be able to prove herself out on the front line? If she tries to get the requirements lowered then she is obviously not able to handle it, but this goes for males too. "Women become physicians and surgeons with no restrictions- they are not precluded from performing brain surgery. Women can become civilian pilots with no restrictions- they are not restricted to lower altitudes, or single engine planes." (women in combat 2). If women are able to do such extraordinary things as civilians, what restricts them in the military?

A 1992 presidential commission used many well-worn arguments to push to maintain the status quo for women at the time. These dated excuses, as 19-year-old Army private Jessica Lynch and many others before her have shown, no longer hold water.

Excuse No. 1: Women lack courage and mental toughness. They say she would crack under the pressure because she would be too fragile. However, there are many women in the military today that are strong, intelligent, loyal, and patriotic; not to mention these women are extremely courageous. Today, over 200,000 women serve in the armed forces. Every year women prove their stamina by passing and exceeding the requirements of basic training. "Each individual is a soldier, first and foremost." (Jones 2). How could anyone say that women are too weak to be in the military, when 17% of the total armed forces are women?

Excuse No. 2: Women lack the physical strength needed for ground combat.

Yet, how would anyone know if she has never had the chance to prove herself? To be completely prepared, a person must practice. The only way to practice combat is to actually fight in combat. To be an effective team, all the team mates need to be able to put complete trust in each other. How can a man trust a woman completely to be successful on the battle field if she has never been given the opportunity to show her skills. This makes it difficult to perceive a female soldier in a serious manner. If a woman is not taken seriously, then how could she possibly achieve a role of leadership?

Excuse No. 3: Women have an adverse effect on male bonding and cohesion in a unit. People were afraid the women might fall in love, or even get pregnant. However, Time has shown that military units of mixed sexes have quietly maintained order, accomplished missions, and passed operational readiness inspections with flying colors. They're too busy doing