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.
If they can do the job, so be it. This is America, land of freedom to pursue your dreams, or at least it used to be, didn't it? Come on people, I have known a lot of women that I would have been proud to have as a back up when I was in Criminal Justice. I have also know a lot of men that would go the other way when trouble loomed. If they can and are willing to do the job, I do not understand the problem.
I am a veteran and a mother of a Marine and a Marine "poolie" The MOS you chose will decide what "standards" you need to have. I chose to be come a 71D - Legal specialist. I had no need to carry ammo boxes or lug a 50 cal any more than a mechanic had a need to learn the UCMJ. All the jobs are needed and should be respected and just like in the real world, not everyone can do another persons job. If a woman can take the physical test and pass as a man that requires that physical training then let her have the job just like a man who can type, understand the rules and regulations should not be banned from an admin position.
Does this mean when a female turns 18 she has to register with the Selective Service
Sounds like that one woman was jealous of the fact that there was no mention of women being killed or wounded. Gee I don't get it.
Qualifications will not be lowered? The standards are already lower for women across the board! The entire military needs to bring female standards up to male standards. Anything less is endangering them and everyone around them.