SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE UNITED STATES

[5whiskey]

I’m just wondering why no one jumped with a full ruck and combat load except the CO. No comment on the all female jump school, I see nothing wrong one way or the other. As a father of three daughters I have to be the worlds biggest feminist. At the same rate, I’m very much a “get tough or else” kind of guy. Which is why I ask the question why did they jump slick.

I never did jump, nor would I. I’ve fast roped 60’ with a crew serve weapon and a full combat load. Different, yes, but no less demanding. Especially when the machine gunner gets stuck by his gear in the hell hole of a CH53 and has to be kicked free!

The US women's soccer team that has won three gold medals lost to a 15 year old high school boys team. Not being nasty, just realistic. The strength and endurance simply isn't there.

There are roles for women in the military, even combat roles, fighter pilots, tank drivers/commanders, artillery, but infantry, isn't happening.

Generally, in the matter of wholesale integration of women in the infantry, I agree. There are special cases where I’ve seen a few women who could outperform 90% of men in the infantry. The greater argument against it, IMO, is the disrupted chain of command and order that inevitably will result from necessary cohabitation of male and females, and the resulting relationships that are likely to ensue. That does not fit into infantry lifestyle well at all. Both of my combat deployments, we almost never saw a female. If we did, they were kept on lockdown from us. And for good reason. Grunts do what they do, and thinking about hooking up is inevitable when opportunity is there. That’s the last thought anyone needs prior to or during a mission. That’s not the females fault, nor is it necessarily because they can’t hack it. It’s because many/most of the 20 year old males that frequent the infantry can’t be trusted more than anything.