A woman in the military has been a controversial topic for years. The first enlisted woman entered the Army in 1948. During this time, women where ousted in the community for being in the service. Opinions were more towards a woman’s place was at home taking care of her family and home. Prior to 1983, only 9.8 percent of women were enlisted in the Army. How the time has changed over years, there is now currently 15.5 percent enlisted.
There are female service members who have proven themselves to be physically, mentally, and morally capable of leading and executing combat-type operations; as a result, some of these soldiers may feel qualified for the chance of taking on the role. In the end, my concern is not whether women are capable of conducting combat operations, as we have already proven that we can hold our own in some very difficult combat situations; instead, my main concern is a question of longevity. Can women endure the physical and physiological rigors of sustained combat operations, and are we willing to accept the consequences and medical issues that go along with integration? While the majority of jobs in the armed forces are open equally to men and women, there are some to which women are just not physically suited. The standards of physical fitness have been set to suit men, and women attempting to reach them will over-stretch themselves. In addition, combat units engage in activities designed to suit men’s capabilities. Women serving in integrated units will suffer higher injury rates as a result of this.
One question has been should there be women on the front line? What would happen if she was captured? The abuse by an enemy could be detrimental to a prisoner. Female prisoners are at risk of torture and rape. What is the risk not only to her but to the male soldiers fighting alongside of her? Our soldiers as American’s have always been taught to protect women and children. Men, especially those likely to enlist, maintain...