DADT and Women in Combat: The Logical Outcome
It was bound to happen. While some have claimed the US military should not discriminate on the basis of sexual preference, they’ve been unable to explain why the US military still discriminates on the basis of gender. A new report from a Congressional panel now recommends removing those very policies.
The Defense Department should eliminate restrictions on women serving in combat units and end all “gender restrictive policies,” according to a blue-ribbon panel created by Congress.
The logic of the report is astounding:
Keeping women out of combat units and combat-related job fields can reduce their career opportunities, particularly in the officer corps and in the Army and Marine Corps, according to the commission’s research.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown current policies and their references to “forward” units to be outdated. In some situations, women in non-combat jobs have faced more danger than male infantrymen.
So… Women should be in combat because it will help their careers; and since they’re in danger inadvertently, they should be put there intentionally. Makes perfect sense.
How, again, does this improve the military’s ability to accomplish its mission? Why is it right?
If you expand the pool of available talent, you will get better soldiers. That is a better plan that simply saying that you will not use someone just because they are a woman.
I think before they can even think about allowing women to do the same jobs, they need to hold them to the same physical standards on something as simple as a PFT.