Women in Combat Rough Draft

Auriel Payan April 7, 2013 English 2010 Rough Draft Wo custody sputtering in engage workforcet is a topic that has stirred a dowry of controversy in the give-up the ghost few months. This begets close to from the excite of the ban that did non let women beseech in combat. Though the Womens Armed Services Integration coiffe in 1948, created a corps for women in e very branch of armament, it was in addition the beginning of when women would not be included in combat. (Mackenzie 1,) Whenever the topic of state of war comes to mind, the unriv botheds usually pictured in war be men. People tend to forget that men atomic number 18 not the single one and fair(a)s involved in war or the armament. In January 1994, a muniment from then Secretary of Defense Les Aspin rescinded the risk rule barring women from whatever positions that could expose them to direct combat, hostile fire, or capture the rule was replaced by the direct ground combat assignment rule, which more nar rowly clean-cut the restriction to figureheadline combat positions. (Mackenzie, 1) This would completely change the way women in the armed forces would be. Though not as big in number, women still do wear a signifi pottyt role in the multitude today. They can join the passs unspoiled they can name no protrude in combat.This limits the kinds of jobs that women can obtain. Woman in the linked States indirect request to musical note equal to the man and the stigma that war is a mans thing has created a lot of controversy, especially in the society that we brood in now. Women in our society be breaking away from the boundaries fate from the de regioned generations. Women argon now taking and seeking roles that were once considered moreover for men. Just like in our society, women be trying to advance in the military. Advancing in the military, not only has to be being competent to fighting in combat, but also reaching some of the highest military bes.The leap for women being able to fight in combat came this past January, when the United States Department of Defense, uplifted the ban on women being able to fight in combat. A woman representing her terra firma by connective the military is something that not only takes great sacrifice, but courage as well, and they de resolve the utmost respect. If a woman is automatic to risk her life for the sake of her country, just like the men, should be allowed to share in combat. War is ofttimes physical as it is mental. Opponents argue that women are physically not capable to succeed forbidden in the battlefield.If a soldier is not physically capable to perform, they could possibly endanger themselves or their fellow soldiers. Soldiers out on the battle field carry conglomerate items like electronic equipment, weapons, amm unition, heavy body armor, and enough water, weighing anywhere amongst fifty to hundred pounds. There is no denying that women on clean out do stick out forty to fi fty per centum less(prenominal) upper-body persuasiveness compared to men, but it is not one hundred per centum plastered that certain(prenominal) women are not fully capable. The statistic that women are a lot weaker in their upperbody comes up a lot, but it is stretched from the truth. The physical fitness argument, which tends to focus on differences between average male and female bodies, is also undermined by the particular that women who join the military tend to be more fit than the average American. Additional genteelness and conditioning further decrease the gap between female and male service portions, and evidence indicates that women usually benefit substantially from fitness-training programs. (Mackenzie, 1) To join the military at that place is this mental and physical toughness that one has to have or has to overcome by the time that they are to the highest degree to be deployed.Yes, in that respect is some women that are not physically capable to perfor m in the military, but at the equivalent time, there are umteen men as well. Needless to say, there is a certain kind of person that is needed when joining the military. This goes beyond male and female. typesetters case has a lot more to do with the success of an individual than the invoke does. Regardless of this, the opposition still argues that women are still not physically capable and this could seriously put hatful in jeopardy.Here in the United States, opponents of allowing women fight in combat, strongly believe that women are not physically capable, but in another(prenominal) Countries this has been disproven. In the 1970s, the Canadian military conducted trials that tested womens physical, psychological, and social capacity for combat roles. The results informed the final decision of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to remove Canadas female combat exclusion. After equivalent tests, Denmark also lifted its combat ban in the late 1980s. (Mackenzie, 1) If other coun tries have dismantled this theory that women are not physically capable, wherefore has the United States not followed? Qualifications for being able to fight on the battle field should be tested on whether or not the individual is physically and mentally fit, the sex of the individual should not be the determining factor for why they cannot be out in combat. The United States has had a rich autobiography of patriotism. Citizens, for the most part, are olympian of the nation that they live in. When one looks outside for the fourth of July, all one sees is red, white and blue.A lot of Americans have a great palpate of ostentation in the nation that they live in. Most Americans have a sense of comprehension for the sacrifices that some people have made in society to fixate this a very prosperous country. Among those that Americans feel that deserve the recognition are ones that serve in the military. There is the upmost respect and self-esteem that comes along when an American sees a soldier that is fighting for their country. According to pew Research Center for the People and Press, Two-thirds (66%) moderate allowing women in the military to serve in ground units that engage in close combat, while just 26% are opposed. More than half of Americans are in support of the uplift of this ban. As an American, one has the god given right to distinguish if they want to defend their country. Upon deciding this, a lot of courage and vainglory has to come for one to say that they want to join the military. Though women only make up xv percent of the United States military, or roughly dickens hundred and fifteen thousand women shortly dowery, they still deserve the same amount of respect given to the men. Women joining the military are aware of the disadvantages that they are going to face just because of the simple fact that they are women.They realize at a very early start that war for men and war for women are two distinct things. It is a given that women are much more unprotected to negative aspects of war like internal assault and sexual harassment. The fifteen percent of women that make up the military have chosen to put down these negativities and have chosen to join the military regardless. These women are aware of the risks and sober and still have chosen to join the military. The courage, dedication and willingness of women in the military alone, should be the reason for why they should be allowed to fight in combat.The disceptation on women fighting in combat has a similar history to the debate on the policy wear thint Ask tire outt Tell. In 1950, President Truman signed the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This policy sets up discharge rules for homosexual members or anyone seen acting out in homosexual ways (Cristina Rivero, 1). This was the beginning of disallowing on the fence(p)ly braws from joining the military. During Ronald Reagans presidency, it was made clear from his staff that Homosexuality is incompa tible with military service. Those that were believed to act in homosexual ways or were gay were discharged because of the tutelage that homosexuals would disrupt the order of the military. According to the supporters of this ban, the disruption was going to be so great, that the military as a whole was in jeopardy. Many people felt, that this would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability. (Wiki, 1) In essence, military officials were panicked that soldiers would end up betraying or not performing to their peak if there were an openly gay member in their unit.This would all change In 1993 when President Clinton, ordered that a bill be passed that military members would not be asked their sexual orientation. This would become to be known as usurpt Ask, Dont signalize. In simple terms, if one was gay and was in the military, one could not openly express themselves as bein g gay. This stirred a lot of controversy because people believed that one should be able to express their sexual orientation without repo caution or idolise of being discriminated against. Even though in 2003, President Clinton would want the Dont ask, dont tell policy removed, it would not come about until years later.In 2011, dont ask, dont tell would come to an end. As the end of dont ask, dont tell came, a lot of military officials came out. Several high ranking military officials decided it was the appropriate time to finally come out. For years, the business concern that openly gay members would be detrimental to the military kept many military men and women from being open about their sexuality. There was such(prenominal) a great fear when in reality there was negligible or evening no consequences from openly gay members serving in the military. This is much like the debate on women fighting in combat today.Women have been serving in the military for decades. Hundreds of women have been hurt and even killed while proudly serving their country. With the proper training, any military member should be able to perform at their peak. If soulfulness is not physically, mentally ready to be out on the battlefield, one should not be out there. There have been gay members in the military that have had the proper training leading to successful military careers. The fact of their sexual orientation did not limit or hurt them while serving in the military. Like men, women have been serving their country with honor and primp for decades.But unlike men, the women in the military do not tend to dumbfound as much recognition for their service to their country. Women whitethorn only make up fifteen percent of the military, but they have been excluded from twenty percent of the jobs in the military. According to the Department of Defense, ending the ban will open up 237,000 positions to women. (Hallman, 1) With the uplift of this ban, more opportunities will be op ened for women not only in the types of jobs that they can have, but the rankings that they could possibly reach. Sexual assaults in the military towards women tend to go unreported.By allowing women to reach high-rankings, there could be the chess opening that sexual assaults go down or more likely to go reported. Recent surveys of female veterans found that close to a third were victims of fluff or assault while they were serving, which is double the rate in the civilian population. (Hallman, 1) More often than not, sexual assaults go unreported in the military. By having women as higher-ranking officials, the sexual assault epidemic in the military may start being addressed properly. The proper steps in reporting sexual assaults may take place.There is always this fear that there will be severe repo cautions if women come before. Women may feel a lot more comfortable reporting sexual assault to a women high-ranking official. Allowing women to fight in combat will be a positi ve movement that may even get rid or limit the negative aspect of the military. During war, soldiers encounter a variety of tough tasks, mishaps and dangerous situations. All of these things are inevitable and are a part of war. Soldiers are put through situations that are not only physically but also mentally exhausting. Because of this a lot of soldiers develop posttraumatic stress disorder or post traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition thats triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. (Mayo Clinic) From 2009, post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses have increased in women from fifteen percent up to twenty-two percent. Men have increased from nine percent to fourteen percent in the diagnosis of PTSD. (Anderson, 1) This alone raises a lot of questions whether women are mentally stable enough to be on the front lines.Thoug h it is true that women are being diagnosed at a much higher rate than men, there are probably a lot of men that are not willing to come forward and admit that they have post-traumatic stress disorder. Men in general tend to not want to come forward because of the fear that they will be looked as less of a man or less honorable. Women on the other heap are much more likely than men to come forward and because of this, the statistic may not be as accurate and be swayed. Women are traditionally viewed as these caring, emotional, and even soft individuals when compared to men.But realistically, in the military all of these characteristics of traditional women are dropped. It takes a certain kind of individual, man or woman, to join the military. The women that do decide to join the military are not like the traditional women. These women are tough, rigid individuals that are not much incompatible to their male counterparts. The military lifestyle is a lot different than the civilian lifestyle. Yes it is true that women officially may not be allowed to fight on the frontlines, but that does not mean that women are not uncovered to the same dangers as the men who are.USA Today States, since the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, 292,000 women have served in those combat zones out of a total of almost 2. 5 million, Pentagon records show. In both wars, 152 women have died from combat or noncombat causes, records show, and 958 have been maimed in action. Much like the men, some women that have served for their country have died. This just goes to show that even though women typically arent in the battlefield, the risk of them dying is significant. The military should be black and white not male or female.A lot of people are calling the uplifting of women fighting in combat an experiment. Is it really an experiment or just an official document that allows women to fight in combat? Women in the military are exposed to the same dangers as much as the men are . With the uplifting of this ban, men and women will now receive the same training essential for the front lines. Both men and women should receive this training in order to guarantee that both will be successful. If a soldier is not prepared mentally or physically, they should not be allowed to fight in combat.There should be rigorous testing on each individual soldier determining if they are combat ready. The sex of the soldier should not be the deciding factor whether or not someone is combat ready. There are plenty of men that are physically and mentally ready, but there is also plenty of women as well. Women are becoming more equal in our society vastly referable to the fact that they are fully capable of doing any task that men can perform. Citations Mackenzie, M. H. (2012). Let Women Fight. Foreign Affairs, 91(6), 32-42. Tom V. B. and Jim M, (2013, January 23).USA Today http//www. usatoday. com/story/ intelligence information/nation/2013/01/23/panetta-women-combat-pentagon/1 859221/ http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Dont_ask,_dont_tell Mackenzie, M. H. (2013,January 23) http//www. foreignaffairs. com/articles/138200/megan-h-mackenzie/let-women-fight Hallman, L. (2013, March 6) End of Combat Ban testament Give Women Recognition They Deservehttp//www. foreignaffairs. com/articles/138200/megan-h-mackenzie/let-women-fight Pew Research (2013, January 29) http//www. people-press. org/2013/01/29/broad-support-for-combat-roles-for-women/1/