Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso answers questions about the Air Force's plans to fully integrate women into previously closed career fields during a press conference in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2013. Grosso is the director of Force Management Policy and deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Varhegyi)
by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
6/19/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force released details of the service's plan to fully integrate women into previously closed career fields June 18.
The implementation plan was recently submitted to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for review.
More than 99 percent of Air Force positions are currently already open to female Airmen. In fact, 2013 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Department of Defense allowing women to serve as combat pilots.
The Air Force plans to open the remaining seven career fields -- all tied to special operations -- by Jan. 1, 2016.
"The Air Force has been actively integrating women into nontraditional skills since 1972," said Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso, the director of force management policy and deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services. "Today, less than one percent of all positions - Active, Guard, and Reserve - are closed to women. This equates to approximately 4,700 positions in a total force of 506,000 people."
The current Air Force specialty codes that do not allow females to enter due to the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule include: combat rescue officer; special tactics officer; special operations weather officer; enlisted combat controller; enlisted tactical air command and control party; enlisted pararescue and enlisted special operations weather.
According to the Air Force's plan, the service will validate occupational fitness standards for every career field.
Once the standards are validated for the seven skills currently closed to women, the Air Force will notify Congress of its intent to open these skills to women and begin recruiting into these skills.
Grosso expects recruiting will begin Oct. 2015.
This implementation plan came as a result of former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta rescinding the 1994 Direct Ground Combat exclusion rule for women in January 2013. This rule restricted women from assignments in special operations and long range reconnaissance units.
Comments
6/28/2013 1:20:43 PM ET Ben way to go assuming a female attempting these jobs is 5'0 and 110lbs. A man of those proportions couldn't pass pipeline for CRO-STO-etc. A female that can pass the pipeline with no compromise in standards would do fine if she had the right mentality. Shelby different standards will set a female candidate up for failure and absolutely no respect from her male counterparts unless she elects to meet the male standards. Ryan there should be one standard for males and females but NO age groups. One AF one test. And the test should be harder I'm tired of hearing from male and female O's and E's that can't make the waist measurement or run 1.5mi
Capt, USAFA
6/27/2013 11:15:24 AM ET This reminds me of Monty Python's Life of Brian where the man wanted the right to have babies. He knew he could physically have them but as long as he had the right then he was fine.
Jeff, USA
6/27/2013 10:53:32 AM ET Spot on President Mt Dew Camancho The softening will be detrimental to the strength of our Operators in all branches I hope it soesn't get as ugly as we all know it could.
Beef Supreme, Time machine Costco
6/27/2013 10:52:05 AM ET At Shelby ANG ANGBecause these are combat Special MissionOperations fields. You want equallity Then become equals to the men already serving in these areas.The standards should not be lowered because a person has different anatomy. If a woman or man can't meet the standard already in place they have no place in that field.This goes for the other 99 percent of fields open to women. Meet the higher standard set for males or find the door.Quit creating a double standard. If this kind of crap continues our military will only head in one direction down the toilet.
Joe , SJAFB
6/27/2013 10:26:30 AM ET We push for equality but I still see a separate PT test for men and women of the same age group. How about we start there if we're talking about equality.
Ryan, Illinois
6/26/2013 5:19:28 PM ET I find it ironic that the Sexual Assualt Prevention and Response article is placed right next to this one.
Dan, Arizona
6/26/2013 1:35:14 PM ET I have absolutely no problem with this. As long as they can pass the same tests the men have to.
Sean Ulczycki, Shaw SC
6/26/2013 1:14:54 PM ET The regular PT requirements are already different between male and female so why shouldn't the special job PT requirements be SLIGTLY different Not drastic but a little bit of a change.
Shelby ANG, ANG
6/26/2013 12:38:02 PM ET In my opinion this decision should be made by the chain of command directly in and under Special Tactics deployed operators and school house instructors. All of which are combat veterans of the job they are respectively in not money grabbers in Washington.They say the pipeline and physical standards won't change but what I see happening is thisThroughout the main core schools cadres have almost no boundaries when it comes to insulting you belittling you and removing the softness out of the weak minded. There is a perfectly good and understandable reason for this. Those who weren't alpha males prior to entering this area of training are in for a rude awakening and majority don't succeed if they can't take it. This aspect shouldn't change at all. But what will happen if females train along side the males at the main pipe schools is a female getting offended and running to the EOSARC office resulting in the cadres being told to not be so harsh and rude. This softening
President Mt Dew Comancho, Midwest
6/26/2013 8:34:39 AM ET The service will validate occupational fitness standards for every career field. Translation a lowered standard made so for the sake of appeasing candidates who otherwise would not make the cut.Is a 5 foot nothing 110 pound female who got into a unit based on lowered standards going to be able to drag my 5'10 170 pound frame plus combat gear to cover across a killzone if I were to go downThe Marines have already experimented with this and ZERO females who attempted the Marine Infantry Officer Course have passed it... and that's just standard line infantry not including SOF-type units.It's a bad decision all around period. My wife who's also military thinks so too. She has stated more than once that women need to just accept the fact that there are some things they just CAN'T do alongside men this included. That policy was written for a reason it wasn't designed to be sexist or inhibiting.Further dumbing down and weakening of our military courtesy of
Ben, JBLE
6/25/2013 6:43:03 PM ET This is about leveling the stadards or lowering them for that matter. It's about opening career fields. I'm SF and yes that's more than enough for me but I know there is some other female out there who thinks sure why can't I. I'll give it a shot. And that is where it should stop if a female wants to try then all more power to her. Personally if she can do all that is required of her or more for that career field then there's nothing saying she can't be a part of it.
Lauren, Tyndall
6/25/2013 4:58:54 PM ET To those griping of biological issues we put men on the moonI am certain AF scientists can devise a rudimentary solution to solve women's hygiene. And sure the amount of women that make it will be low but that doesn't mean we shouldn't allow them to attempt it for those who can succeed. An SOF field will always be desiring people regardless of gender.
A1C Castro, LRAFB
6/25/2013 2:24:27 PM ET The mission of the AF is to fight and win our wars. Our mission is not to be fair and give everybody a chance to prove themselves or to pursue their personal agenda. I would love to fly the F-22 and I'm pretty sure I could do it but the AF is not obligated to let me try. There are plenty of other qualified and capable candidates.
Capt Jason Hawkins, Fort Drum
6/25/2013 1:17:43 PM ET Ruth just curious. You advocate that most women arent cut out for special operation mission. You advocate having separate physical standards. You suggest women should not be placed in a position to endure extreme physical hardships. Do you also advocate a separate pay scale for women
SNCO Ret, Scott
6/25/2013 12:30:34 PM ET DoD has ordered standards will be evaluated. Bottom line standards will be lowered to accommodate the PC line. And the JCS will says what a great day it is for the US military.
RetANG, WPAFB
6/25/2013 12:14:35 PM ET My two cents are that if a woman is able to physically pass all the requirements without having a single standard lowered then by all means let her join. Not all men are cut out for special operations and not all women are cut out for it but there are those few who are able pass all the standards with flying colors. I personally know a few women who are stronger and more fit than I could ever be. One could argue that the genders were not created equal but those numbers are just an average. The upper extremities of those numbers I'm sure would do just well in a combat job if they chose to go that route.
Male A1C, California
6/25/2013 11:47:31 AM ET I have personally asked TACP's and Army Green Berets and they are all deeply offended by it and both prefer not to take females into action. My opinion is that they will be trained as necessary for their job just like all of our males. Sure most females could not do any of these jobs but then again neither could most of our males. Im pretty confident that if a woman is put into a combat job that she will be held to a high standard and be capable of doing anything she is required to. Samantha- I'm more concerned that the female would have the strength and stamina to carry me compared to a 45 year old Special Force vet even though I would assume a 45 year old man would be on his way out of the military and not in combat based on my experience.
Tom, Texas
6/25/2013 10:23:23 AM ET If the women can pass the SF test just like the men then they should be able to join the career field. The standards of graduating from the courses should be the same for both males and females.
Baker, Camp Rilea
6/25/2013 8:25:04 AM ET Call me old fashioned but men and women were never created equal and the Military proves that by having two seperate PT standards one for females and one for males. I believe that women can do jobs men do but it doesn't make you equal. The PT standards should be the same for men and women if you can't pass it get out. That goes for anyone any gender
Phil, Washington
6/25/2013 2:02:58 AM ET While I am all about Womens rights not all women are cut out for the type of missions belonging to special forces. Physical standards differ between the two sexes and women are often the easy target. This decision is poop. Too many women are injured doing the same jobs that are typically more cut out for the men I see this daily as my position in the medical field. SOF are full of men that have been through extreme types of training women have no place in this
Ruth , Ramstein Air Base
6/24/2013 10:38:55 PM ET As coming from a SERE tech school That allows women to try out for the job as a SERE instructor there are VERY few that can actually pass the PT test they have. Most males can not withhold the standard. So SERE having one of the easier past test of the special forces i feel that most women would not be able to pass. The standard should also not drop just for a gender it should be even straight across the table.
Ryan, Eglin
6/24/2013 9:26:01 PM ET First off I want to thank those who serve in these crucial career fields. I am a female in the United States military and should be given every right the same as males. I signed on the dotted line just like the rest of you and have sworn to give my life if called upon. Now with that said I myself could and would never do these jobs. I don't have the strength it takes both mentally and physically to go through what these folks have to do on a daily basis. We have all watched GI Jane and I would have failed on day one. However why not let that person who thinks they can do it try. What if they succeed What if they prove everyone wrong and save your life one day. What will you say then Will it go back to being a sexist guy thing by making up some story to make you look better than the female who just saved your life or will you give her the credit she earned. Not every female out there is going to be lined up at the door pounding saying let me in. To sit there and actually type t
Female TSgt, JBPH-H
6/24/2013 8:48:08 PM ET I do not see anything wrong with women joining the ranks of any job. But i do not think the current standard for the physical requirements for those career fields should be altered. There are reasons why the standards are the standards and usually based on the mission they should not be reduced. To me if you change the PT requirement for those jobs you will have to do the same AF wide. After all if you have the same job you should have the same capability. Whether you are behind enemy lines turning a wrench on the flight line or sitting in an air conditioned office. I personally believe that the standard should be the same across the board for men and women regardless of age. After all we are a volunteer force so if we wish to stay in we must make the effort.
Tom, Osan
6/24/2013 7:39:35 PM ET I am all for equality but that means equality across the board. PT tests need to be standardized to be Airmen Fit Test with no differences based on gender. Selective Service needs to be open to all males AND females. The standards for those SOF jobs should NOT be lowered in any way shape or form. The standards are set that high for a reason
Bud, Alaska
6/24/2013 5:22:27 PM ET I believe that women should be allowed to serve in any career field that they meet the requirements for. There is more to being an operator than physical fitness. The dangers of a woman being captured are the same for men men can be and are raped too. The bottom line is equality and the right for anyone to have a chance to show that they are capable or not. Stop the non-sense people. Lets not debate whether certain genders races or sexual orientations should be allowed. Lets just use everyones capabilities and get the mission done.
MTJ, WY
6/24/2013 5:13:03 PM ET The men in the combat career fields should be asked if they would like to work with females. As you would assume most to all men the men in the SOF career would prefer to keep it male only. Its sad that were at the point where were asking females to take these SOF positions when people are begging to join the military. If it was up to me I would leave it they way it is. Its been working for over 200 hundred years why would we change it Your going to drive the men out of those career fields and damgage are military.
Michael, JBSA
6/24/2013 4:52:56 PM ET I personally don't care just as long as she is able to carry myself and my gear to a safe location patch me up and accompany me out there to fight. Although I would be lying if I said they will keep to standards so women must be able to do what a man can do. But in the field or during training some biological stuff may complicate things so lets see how this turns out.
Jon, Hill
6/24/2013 4:23:22 PM ET I think they should lower the standards enough to the point of the same percentage of women in the service. You guys need to understand there are women around and they are just as good as you.
RW, JBSA Texas
6/24/2013 3:34:15 PM ET Why hasn't anybody asked any of the guys that are actively doing these jobs how they believe this integration will work out How is this going to benefit the effectiveness of accomplishing the mission These jobs aren't occupations that present opportunity. There is no sense of equal opportunity in combat. Either way its going to happen becasue the AF doesn't understand it's own SOF forces and the mentality that we have. As the great general GINA Grosso points out women have been doing nontraditional skills since 1972. Um...Gina what nontraditional skills have they been doing that comes close to dragging dead bodies up hills while taking fire Social experiments have no place in real time combat. You are hurting combat effectiveness by trying to give everybody the opportunity to feel good about themselves. However if you've actually experienced combat you wouldn't feel so great about yourself. It's sickening to see people run towards it like its an opportunity. Be car
Milton, RQS
6/24/2013 1:58:50 PM ET Just like Airborne school and everything else the standards are going to be dropped because a girl couldn't make it.
AFVet, SW
6/24/2013 1:47:59 PM ET If you complain about inequality among sexes for the argument of 'field capability' then there should be no separation of pt requirements by age. Just as you are concerned about a female carrying you out you should be concerned about a 45 year old man doing the same. The physical fitness difference is laughable. I could leisurely walk backwards the 40-49 run time for men or women. Before you cry 'unfair' I can name dozens of men and women in their 40s and 50s that can max out the fit test in the 20-29 category. Fitness capability should not see any discrimination at all. In the end we are all required to do the same job. At the very least they should combine the male and female requirements into simply 'airmen requirements'. However in that case you need to cut out the abdominal circumference considering women and men have strikingly different hip measurements. Abdominal circumference may be a great health indicator but proves nothing in fitness capability.
Samantha, USA
6/24/2013 1:15:03 PM ET I think a good first move of good faith would have been to equalize the normal fitness standards we have to show women are truly every bit as good as the men and capable of handling anything and everything a man can. Prediction there will be many that do just fine.
RH, JBSA San Antonio
6/24/2013 11:35:58 AM ET Since when is it okay to not give someone the chance to try Someone being the keyword there. Even if it's just a chance given to a male so it should for a female. THAT being said I truly believe it should be earned in the same way a male earns it. If a woman can prove they have the physical strength the mental strength and most importantly in my opinion the emotional strength then they make themselves just as capable if not more than a male candidate. All the nonsense about a woman's bones lungs and crap needing to be strong for combat is garbage. Let her take that chance let her figure out that her bones are super strong or super weak or that her lungs are better than joe blow's. Or weaker for that matter. The point is let her work her butt off to meet/exceed the standard and let her have the chance to just try. The standard's for men are difficult for a reason therefore a woman has to try extra hard to be up to par with those males who are allowed to try as well. Physica
D, CO
6/24/2013 11:17:04 AM ET I'm sick of hearing that some women are physically equal to men. I won't argue that but those men aren't your average men. The men that complete any SOF training are above average men most men can't complete the training. This shrinks the percentage of women who can pass any SOF training probably none. Why waste the money on tryouts. Let the study run its course and I'm sure it will get squashed.
MI , AL
6/24/2013 10:34:02 AM ET I hope the women that are going into these challenging jobs are willing to accept the possible consequences of the job i.e. getting captured by the enemy and getting possibly raped and sodimized and whatever else the enemy could do to a woman.
Nancy, Malmstrom
6/24/2013 9:51:13 AM ET I've deployed with special forces and been on dozens of combat missions and I strongly agree with true equality and 1 pt test for both men and women. I need to know that a female fighting beside me is just as capable of carrying me out of battle as I am carrying her. On another note too many guys are upset about this for no reason. The way i see it these females have high standards to live up to and they won't make it through training and be put in the field if they aren't capable of doing a SOF job.
Tom, Texas
6/24/2013 9:41:33 AM ET The Air Force should have 1 PT standard for each age group. It is offensive and pandering to women that they have a seperate PT standard to enterremain in the service however I have only met a dozen women in 15 years of service that could do the male PT requirement for their age group. Our service would have a lot less women if they were actually held to the same standard as their male counterparts. 1 PT standard for both sexes. If women can't cut it they can't come in or stay in.
Richard, Active Duty at Lakenheath
6/24/2013 9:36:51 AM ET Meeting and exceeding the PT standards isn't a golden ticket to SOF. It doesn't matter if women can meet the same standards as the men is SOF. First of all fact is 9.510 women can't meet those kind of standards anyways. Now you have to account for their lady problems on the battle field pregnancies on teams picking up the slack when she's not emotionally up for it. Women volunteered for this service knowing they can't go into battle so why change it Did anyone ever ask the operators out there how they might feel about it
TB, PopeBragg
6/24/2013 9:30:45 AM ET oh just give it a chance and quit whining. What are you men afraid of A woman doing better than you We all should have the chance to serve our country with the talents and gifts we all have. So just get over it. If you don't like it get out.
Kathy, St. Louis
6/24/2013 6:38:19 AM ET 1 PT standard for men and women is equality any changes for women is pandering and that is not equality. it sounds like 'validate occupational fitness standards' means lowering them for women and that is just wrong. The AF needs 1 PT standard for each age group.
Rick, RAF Lakenheath
6/24/2013 12:48:49 AM ET I feel this needs to happen and it's about time. Look at other forces throughout the world Polish Russian and Isreali just to name a few. Women are not segregated from what they can do because of gender. the United States should always be leading the way when it comes to equality and innovation and right now we're not.
David, Ramstein Germany
6/23/2013 3:00:23 PM ET Although studies show women not being physically equal to menas a researcherthere are always limitations to studies like that. There are indeed women who are as strong-as or stronger than some men and better suited for combat. Not to mention it has ALSO been studied that women are more tough mentally and that it appears they are not because they emote more than men do. Although they should NOT lower PT standards and many women will not make it there are definitely women who will and they should have every right to do so.
Tara N, Westover AFB
6/23/2013 8:53:46 AM ET And this was the beginning of our down fall...
Josh, Mideast
6/22/2013 10:44:37 PM ET Just because the SECDEF was on Nam doesnt mean he knows Jack about putting women in SOF. That is a line of horse dung.
Robert Reeves, Manas
6/21/2013 3:51:46 PM ET If we truly want to be a equal military then there shouldn't be two seperate standards of PT for men and women. Make one test for males and females. All these sperate tests and lowered down criteria just divide the force not bring it together
J, Earth
6/21/2013 3:22:21 PM ET I agree with Mr. Bradford. There are also other career fields in the military women are better suited for than men. One of these would be submariner. Use less oxygen and food per day than men. They would also be better suited to explore the moon and possibly Mars for the same reason. It would take less fuel to get three women and required gear and food into space than it would three men and required gear and food into space.
Jerry, USA
6/21/2013 2:40:32 PM ET As a girl in the AF I wanted to be a PJ when I first joined but they told me I couldn't because I was a female. I am the farthest from a feminist however I agree that every job should be open for women to join. BUT I absolutely do NOT think that they should lower the physical standards for women. If a women wants to try and do that job by all means but make sure you can do that job just as well as a male would. The purpose of your job is to save another person's life so you better make sure you can physically and mentally handle that. It should not be about making a quota to accomadate for women. If females can do it let them if they can't DO NOT make exceptions for them.
Kaylor, Missouri
6/21/2013 1:32:55 PM ET I wonder if this will eventually lead to a PT test with one standard for both genders.
MSgt Richard Olivarez, Hanscom AFB
6/21/2013 12:43:46 PM ET SOF careers have remained restricted to men for a reason. The fact is that men and women have physical differences and as a result different capabilities. There is no denying that fact. Why do you think that sports teams at all levels are separated into male and female teams Look at professional football. Do you see women out on the field competing among the male players Why do you think that is Its not because teams and coaches want to be chauvinistic or discriminatory. Its because they want the players best athletes suited for the game and they want to win Now apply that to the battlefield. We aren't talking about intramural sports where the goal is to go out and have a good time. Lives are on the line. Mine my teammates and those we support and recover.Some may say a woman is just as capable to call in an air strike or deliver life-saving aid on the ground as a man To continue with the football analogy thats like saying a female player can throw a footbal
Dave BR, PJ Currently deployed
6/21/2013 12:43:30 PM ET What does everyone think it means in the article According to the Air Force's plan the service will validate occupational fitness standards for every career field. Once the standards are validated for the seven skills currently closed to women the Air Force will notify Congress of its intent to open these skills to women and begin recruiting into these skills.What it means is the Air Force will say there needs to be at least a certain percentage of that force women. It will then say that equates to a certain number of women. Then it will decide what physical standards that number of women who are currently in the Air Force can meet. Does anyone think the current standards will not go down If the current standards did not reflect job requirements they should have been reviewed last year or the year before. Hell Week just became Heck Week.
JD, USA
6/21/2013 11:13:22 AM ET David...you haven't met my sister.
SNCO Ret, Scott
6/21/2013 10:32:42 AM ET If you meet the set qualificationsstandards male or female then whats the big deal however male and females register for the Selective Service equally upon reaching the age of 18. You cannot have your cake without the requirements currently placed on males only.
Neale, JBLE
6/21/2013 10:31:08 AM ET It is obvious that the Air Force plans on lowering physical standards in order for a quota of women to be allowed in these career fields. If they weren't planning on lowering physical standards they would not have said the service will validate occupational fitness standards for every career field. Validating fitness standards means looking to see how many women you want in each career field and then changing the standards so the correct quota of women can quailify. If not then why are the standards what they are now and why didn't they review them last year
Don, USA
6/21/2013 4:24:13 AM ET It will be a good thing as long as the standards are not watered down. PJ's train by carrying a 70 pound pack and carrying a 200 pound dummy at the same time to simulate a combat rescue. Plus you have the IV run. I do not care how many push-ups or how fast a woman can swim and run - I have never met one who could do that.
David, Lajes
6/20/2013 6:49:03 PM ET There are scientific studies that show women are not physically capable of most combat jobs like infantry.1. A woman's skeleton is much more prone to breakage. A strong set of bones is mandatory for any strenuous activity such as carrying a 250 pound dude and all his combat gear.2. A woman's cardiovascular system lacks the endurance of a man's. Powerful lungs and a strong heart are needed to survive a combat situation. A weak cardiovascular system can get people killed.However There are some jobs in the armed forces that women are better suited for than men. Fighter pilot is one of those. Due to how a woman's spinal blood vessels are anatomically set up they are less prone to blackouts during a high g manoeuvre. See I'm not a hypocrite.
Braddock Bradford, North Dakota
6/20/2013 4:15:36 PM ET This does sound like a good plan. Either scrap Selective Service all together or require women to register upon reaching the age of 18. You can't have it both ways.
Bruce, IN
6/20/2013 1:16:46 PM ET Woman in combat will sure bolster our strength in combat and make us a global leader again in theaters around the world more importantly woman can think clearly passively as men can think clearly and aggressively so it will make a good duo when it comes to combat.
Chris, Columbia s.c
6/20/2013 12:53:13 PM ET I'm all for opening up combat roles for women. However I'm concerned with the validation of fitness standards. The standards are the standards for these career fields and I hope they don't lower them. I fear the if the washout rate for women is higher than men then they will say they are discriminatory and adjust them to accomodate. That would be a mistake.
Cautious, DC
6/20/2013 11:43:59 AM ET I think it should be open to women with NO compromise in the pipeline standards in these career fields. If there is a woman that can seriously meet all the standards that all the guys going through have to meet then give it to her. As to the likelihood of that occuring I think it's low. Either way the career field won't be compromised and then folks in Congress can get back to work on other issues. Dustin I agree women should be part of selective service and I'm a woman. In the event of a draft most American males and females are too unhealthy due to lifestyle choices and have too many disqualifying conditions anyway.
Capt, USAFA
6/20/2013 11:30:36 AM ET I am all for it. As long as the Air Force does what the Coast Guard did several years ago when they opened the Rescue Swimmer career field to women. They didn't change any of the requirements. There are no different PT or other requirements for men or women and they didn't lower the PT standards at all. As long as that happens in the AF career fields there is no reason women shouldn't be allowed in those fields. But DO NOT change standards or have different standards for men and women. It sounds like what is going to happen is they are going to lower standards. That is what is meant by According to the Air Force's plan the service will validate occupational fitness standards for every career field.
Jerry, Oklahoma
6/20/2013 11:27:35 AM ET So let me get this straight Oct 2015 will also be the date that those females who turn 18 years of age after that date will be required to register for the draft correct Be careful in what you ask for you can't have it both ways. All career fields open to females but not required to register for the draft. BULL. Take a poll although society has accepted females in many combat roles but only as a voluntary choice I venture a guess that mothers and fathers aren't ready for their daughters to be drafted should world events and national security drive a draft. Now you might say that registering for the draft and a draft itself only applies to the Army and yes you are correct. And yes many females serve in combat roles in the Army but by CHOICE. I say again mothers and fathers just might not be ready for their daughters to register and be drafted. You can't have it both ways. Personnaly I've no real problem or issue with women in combat roles if they can meet the already established
Curious, everywhere
6/20/2013 10:19:01 AM ET Dustin is talking out of his fourth point of contact. This is no big deal. We hear this kind of talk every time we open ranks to a new group of Americans and every time it turns out to be no big deal. Last time I checked we were still killing people and breaking their stuff pretty effectively even after desegregation and opening the ranks to women and homosexuals. SECDEF was line infantry in Vietnam. I think he knows what he's doing.
AJ, Not Afghanistan
6/20/2013 10:03:24 AM ET The sad thing is that these poloticians are spinning these young girls up with this gung-ho femenist propoganda when the rigors and realities of war are not a movie. Not to mention the obvious drop in the standards that will occur sorry just being honest we all know it will happen.
formerJH, AFG
6/20/2013 10:02:50 AM ET Mistake.
Caveman, Bedrock
6/20/2013 9:56:14 AM ET That sound you just heard was the standards plummeting.
formerJH, Texas
6/20/2013 9:16:28 AM ET Its Anchorman not Anchorlady.
Brick, San Diego
6/20/2013 2:07:36 AM ET Absolute garbage. SOF is being force feed this policy by careerist generals complying with outside influence for the sake of getting another star. If any of these policy makers who by the way have no experience with the excluded occupations were for equality they would push for the abolishing of women's exclusion from selective service. Politically correct nonsense weakening America's military.
