Military Women Should Be Allowed in Combat Positions

Private Taibtha Allen "took careful aim with her MK-19 grenade launcher, then fired off four rounds. Down range, the carcass of an old tank exploded in flash and fury: four direct hits" (Janofsky A10). A first for enlisted women, t he shooting of live ammunition from heavy weapons during combat training represents overcoming another obstacle limiting women's roles in the military. While women are integrated into boot camps, they are not allowed to serve front line combat roles. Op ponents argue that women should not be allowed in combat roles because they are not subject to the same physical training standard as men, and women do not possess the physical strength to be effective in combat roles. Based on these assumptions, opponen ts's claim that women are unable to enhance their units and this ineffectiveness endangers national security. Furthermore, opponents argue that the public is not ready to accept women in combat and if women were allowed, it would promote the idea that vi olence against women is acceptable. However the overall issue of allowing women into combat roles should be based on equality. If women in the Military meet the same standards as men, they should be treated equally and provided the same opportunities as men to serve in combat roles (Janofsky A10).

Opponents of women in combat roles claim that physical training standards are unequal; therefore women are unable to compete with men in training and are unequipped for combat roles. While physical training standards may have been unequal in the p ast, it is not a fact any longer. The Military has toughened its standards, making them more equal for both sexes. As of October 1997, every soldier, male and female is required to do 50 sit-ups in two minutes, representing an increase of three for men and five for women from the old standard which critics claimed was unequal. Also, both sexes must now run two miles, men in 16 minutes 36 seconds and women in 19 minutes 36 seconds. This requirement makes the distance requirement equal, while providing women 3 additional minutes to compensate for their smaller cardio-pulmonary systems. In addition, all soldiers must pass a fitness test every six months and if they fail and do not pass it again within 90 days, they are discharged.