I’m amused to hear the combat ban for women has ended

U.S. military leaders on Thursday formally lifted the ban on women serving in combat positions.

I shook my head at it all. Really, it took this long?

What’s been the perception of women in combat all these years?

OK. So, technically, women haven’t been allowed on the front lines of fighting for our country, but that doesn’t mean that they’ve been safe and protected during battle. Since the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, women have been holding valuable positions in the armed forces.

Back to me, shaking my head. Has it really taken 65 years to “allow” women to serve in a full combat role?

Clearly, that’s not the case in several other countries. Since the 1970’s, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, Germany, Israel, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland have allowed women to fill active combat roles.

Why did we hold back?

Some people say that women shouldn’t be on the front lines because they are mothers and have families to return to.

What about fathers? My husband is just as valued as I am. Our family would not be complete without EITHER of us

Some people say that women don’t have the strength to face the world of true combat.

But during major wars, many female nurses were the ones who stitched and nursed people back together. I can’t imagine the horrible things they saw behind the front lines. Ask those women about their strength and focus — obviously, two things needed on the front lines.

The irony about the ban is that women have been on the combat front lines for years.

In many news reports after the ban was lifted, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was quoted saying women have become an “integral part” of the military and have already demonstrated their willingness to fight during the wars of the last decade.

According to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, who was recently interviewed by NPR about this issue, “Thousands of women in the military have already found themselves in combat situations. Recent wars such as Iraq and Afghanistan have lacked a real front line, and women serving there have come under fire and had to fight back alongside male counterparts.”

What will it take for the world to realize that men and women can work together to strengthen our country?

There is no need to be condescending and tell women that we can be in the military and not fight.

Women ARE fighting, and whether we win or not, at least we can now say we fought together for a country that finally appreciated ALL of its military.

Danielle Herzog is married and a mother to two children. Read her every Wednesday on momaha.

* * *

Stephanie Laramey:

February 13th, 2013 at 2:20 pm

Should the physical fitness test required for entry into the military/combat positions be the same for both men and women? Currently the women's test is a watered down version of the men's test. I would think if we are going to put women, who by nature are physically weaker up against and alongside men, they should at least be a physical match.

Cat Koehler:

February 13th, 2013 at 2:28 pm

I am a huge military supporter, my husband is a veteran and my twin sister is active duty Navy. A soldier has to trust his unit 100%. It is the only way for him to completely focus on his job. How can a soldier focus on his job if he is worried that a female soldier will not be able to evacuate his 230 pound body and 50 pounds of gear should he need it. Will she be able to carry him the two miles to safety? It isn't about what's right and wrong, and war is not about saying "we fought together for a country that finally appreciated ALL of its military." War is not a social experiment. War is about winning. Are you really willing to tell your grandchildren who no longer live in a free democracy that at least women got to fight on the front line, so the oppression isn't so bad?

Sara Eldridge Neaves:

February 13th, 2013 at 2:57 pm

I love my sister, have no doubt in her support for me as my husband and I serve our country, but I dissagree with her stance on women in combat. In the military, we are trained for our job, physically and mentally. Can most military woman carry a 230lb man with 50lbs of gear two miles to safety? No, probably not. But most men in the military can not perform that task either. First, you will have a difficult time finding any solider, sailor, or Marine weighing any more than 200lbs (a man at 6ft is allowed 201lbs, 6ft female 185lbs). We no longer are fighting in open fields where a 2 mile hike to safety is needed. We are fighting in towns, we have vehicles, we have air coverage. Should women have to have the same physical requirements as men? Maybe. But remember, a woman's body is different. Our body's are menat to have more fat than a mans, so should we expect women to have the same body fat composition? Does a woman with 27% body fat make her less fit and capable to fight a war than a man with 18% body fat, maybe not. Because a man can do 20 more push ups than me two times a year does not indicate how he will perform during a crisis in combat. Many factors weigh in at that moment, adrenilin, the ability to focus, remember training, make quick and accurate desicions. War is no longer all about muscle and guns. Our enemy isn't marked with a uniform. One must be observant, have instinct, act quickly and smartly these days to combat our enemies. When trained as team, the focus is mission. Distraction comes in many forms, but when it is time to live or die, all that goes out the window. If trained properly and posses the desire, male or female should be able to fight for the country on the "front lines".

Matt Johnston:

February 14th, 2013 at 3:49 am

If you will....a point from a infantry prospective. Yes, we fight in towns and have vehicles and air coverage, but i think the most important point to be made here is by allowing women in combat units, you are saying they can go to the absolutely remote Combat Outposts(COPS) where you have to burn your trash and live in a tiny space. Think logistically now, over a years time, different hygiene supplies a woman would need as opposed to a man, and sometimes there just isnt enough space for extra things, heck, there sometimes isnt enough space for guys' things. Another con- I completely disagree with points made on here that men in the military arent over 6'0'' and 195. There are some MASSIVE men in the military, especially in infantry units, and when they are wounded, it is the soldiers job to get them to safety, man, woman, or whoever. If you cant carry, drag, or in any way move a 200 lb male, then IMO you should NOT be outside of the 'wire' or base, going on missions and such BECAUSE when trauma occurs, half of the time, people become combative, especially with head wounds! A combative and hurt individual is NOT easy to deal with. Yes, women get CIB's but they mainly get them from convoys moving from one base to another, and yes there are amazing circumstances where women have fought their way out of horrible situations, but i think people are thinking too "equal rights" and not enough "war is WAR.-not a male vs female debate"

Dave C Janssen:

February 14th, 2013 at 3:56 am

At 18 years old I had to register for selective service to provide my personal information to a lottery of sorts should a draft be implemented. To those advocating for women in combat, do you believe that women should have to register for selective service? If not why? If your desire for equal treatment goes so far as to say women should be equally required for the draft, then I will respect, though not agree with your position. If you do not feel that once women are ok'd for combat they should face the same consequences of a draft, then you are a hypocrite.

Copyright © 2013 Omaha World-Herald ®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.

BLOGS

MUST
READS

Calendar
& Events

Magazine

What You're saying

BLOGS

MUSTREADS

Calendar& Events

Magazine

What You're saying

MUST
READS

Calendar
& Events