It was a major platform in President Barack Obama’s plan to remake the U.S. military.
Despite studies that show mixed-gender units perform poorly in combat compared to all-male units, the administration forced every branch to accept women into combat roles this past January.
The results so far have been a major embarrassment for Obama.
New physical standards established so women can compete for combat posts in the Marine Corps have weeded all but one female hopeful, according to data first reported by The Associated Press.
In the last five months, 6 out of 7 female recruits failed to pass the new regimen of pull-ups, ammunition-can lifts, a 3-mile run and combat maneuvers required to move on in training for combat jobs, according to the data.
That’s an 86 percent failure rate.
The tests, taken about 45 days into basic training, force recruits who fail into other, less physically demanding Marine jobs.
While women are tough mentally, critics point out, the test results seem to strongly support a point conservative lawmakers have been arguing for years — genetic differences are real, and war isn’t fair.
The high failure rate for women raises serious questions about how well integration can work, including in Marine infantry units where troops routinely slog for miles carrying packs weighed down with artillery shells and ammunition, and at any moment must be able to scale walls, dig in and fight and kill in close combat.
The new standards are a product of the Pentagon’s decision to allow women to compete for frontline jobs, including infantry, artillery and other combat posts.
Less than 3 percent of the 1,500 males given the same physical standards failed. During that same time period, only one woman passed.
“I think that’s made everybody better,” Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller told the AP in his first in-depth interview on the subject. “We’re trying to raise everybody’s bar a little bit and we’re trying to figure out how to get closer together, because at the end of the day we’re all going to be on the battlefield and we all have to be able to do our job.”
Marine Corps leaders initially balked at allowing women into certain infantry, reconnaissance and combat engineer jobs, pointing to studies that showed mixed gender units did not perform as well as male-only units. But Defense Secretary Ash Carter, an Obama appointee, ordered all combat jobs must be open to women.
The Marines developed a detailed progression of physical standards that recruits must meet to get into the combat jobs. And officials insist that standards will not be lowered to allow more women to pass.
The tiny success rate for women also presents additional challenges if only one or two qualify for a combat job in a previously male-only unit.
If two women qualify, they will be placed in a combat unit together. But, if only one qualifies, she’ll be put in a unit with men she trained alongside in school. Those men, the Marine Corps said, will have seen her go through the training and know that she had done as well, or better, than they did.
The Marines will also put a female officer and a female senior enlisted leader in the combat units. Early on, those will likely be women doing a non-combat job — such as an intelligence or logistics officer. And they will be required to pass a physical fitness test to qualify to serve in that combat unit.
Neller said it will be an adjustment for Marines with women in previously male-only units. “I think a lot of the talk is more just maybe they’re nervous about the unknown,” he said. “But there are some things we’re going to have to work through.”
Neller, a career infantryman, didn’t see a lot of women Marines in his units as he rose through the ranks. He’d seen women as Army military police in Panama and female Marines in administrative or supply jobs in his early assignments. But he first saw female Marines on the battlefield when he was in Iraq.
While it will be difficult for some, “if you can carry the weight and you can do the job, and you’re smart and you’re a good leader, and you’re a person of character and quality and set a good example, people will follow you,” he said during an interview in his Pentagon office. “I don’t think it really matters who you are.”
The Marines’ fitness tests get gradually more difficult. Recruits interested in combat arms jobs have to take a harder physical fitness test, comprising pull-ups, crunches, a 1.5 mile run and ammunition-can lifts, than those looking for other Marine posts. And as they move through training, the tests get harder and more complex, requiring them to qualify for specific infantry, artillery and other jobs.
“I have great respect for them being the pioneers in this area.” Neller said. “If they can compete and hang with everybody else, I think it will all just go away.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
It’s amazing that the Marines are admitting this publicly. But at least the Marines still have separate boot camps for men/women recruits. Same base (Parris Island) but separate training. Give the Marine Brass credit for releasing this information in this PC age.
They have eased the training regimen and they still can’t pass!! The prt is a joke now!! We had about 6 out of 88 not make boot camp!! And that was all male!!
Hey, In combat not everyone gets a trophy,,,,but if you have a bunch of substandard personnel that are not as good or better then the enemy soldiers,,,,,,Everybody gets killed.
Please DO NOT be concerned over trivialities such as STRENGTH , ABILITY , MORAL INTEGRITY. The US must now do WHATEVER is required to ” help ” these female troops pass boot training. If it means that they can do one to five push ups – EXACTLY WHY should that concern anyone. Right ?
The FAILURES happening during Bammy’s reign of Muslim terror are too numerous to count and typically CAN NOT be found on the majority of this countries media. Swept up nice and neat and conveniently placed under the rug with his past , his wife ( BOYFRIEND AKA MICHAEL ) his false paternity and his undying oath to do ALL that he can to tear down ALL Christian fabric and ALL of those that have ANY belief in the US Constitution.
OH? Don’t be concerned with STRENGTH , ABILITY , MORAL INTEGRITY, just kick the women to the sidelines even if they pass because you “know” they don’t?
Do the women know , that combat in war time is no joke , do they also know that if there in combat
and get captured the enemy will rape them again and again ,and then probably kill them !!!!!!!
Especially isis fighters , that is a real fact !!!!!!!!!!!
Depends on the enemy. And you belittle women by implying they’re not serious about their commitment.
I am a combat vet 75 Ranger Reg. ABN US Army 1Lt. Recon. I wonder what little Miss is going to do when she has to piss and she has a whole Patoon looking up her ass or she has to have a guard with her
I WAS a recruit at Parris Island back in 1951. Our drill instructor was a male; Sgt. Brooks. Some things a Marine never forgets. LOL. Fast Forward;, I’m now in my 80’s and shared 50 years and one day with MY Marine. I’ve had a wonderful life and proud of my Marine background. My 30 ft. flagpole flies both the U.S. flag and the USMC flag.
The reader has to know the whole story to make an up or down decision re. females on the battlefield. The Before Obama’s mischief, the Marines, after many years of study, have all they need to know on the subject. The Marines previously published answer is: no to females in combat. It is politics that drive this inclusion of females where they don’t belong. Obama doesn’t know which latrine to direct them too. Does this story inform the reader that females are taken from the field no fewer than four days while on their menses, along with other mandatory days off the men do not receive? That will demoralize men who already know females are given a pass in many other situations.
Further demoralization grows when infantrymen observe the female leader cannot deal with a marine in need of correction…too much, too little, or inappropriate. Reader… Do you know the term Fragging ? What is good for the gander is good for the goose.
Are you sure it wasn’t politics that drove the Marines to say “no” in the first place? After all, before the racial integration of the military, there was plenty of “proof” that “colored folk” weren’t as good at soldiering as white people, either.
My nephew trained in Camp Pendleton in California. (He actually got to choose.) And a group a few weeks ahead of his had a guy stress-fracture both legs during the Crucible.
ive seen this happen before to a fire dept, and they just keep lowering the standards, until they get there quota of free jobs. The dark side is the taxpayer and the home owner aren’t getting what they are paying for, the FD starts losing its rating. Im not a hater. these are facts that nobody wants to discuss.
Obama’s solution will be to recruit transgenders — men who have transitioned to women. Problem solved!
Everyone knew what the outcome would be. The Emporer in his fairytale world was oh so certain that this was going to happen. I commend the Corp for setting the record straight.
Now it’s time for the Army to come clean too.
What? That most wouldn’t, but a few would? Just because the positions are opened to females doesn’t mean ANYBODY expected them to become 50/50.
My Grandson is a active duty Marine with two deployments to Afghanistan and he confided in me his two concerns about having women serving in combat positions.
1) Inter personal relationships which may develop and effect the overall performance of the unit.
2) Being overly concerned with protecting the fairer sex and again placing the unit at risk.
I remember doing my training in the intense heat in Texas many years back. I actually got sick for a while, but still had to persevere. I remember one of the instructors was a bit of a jerk and thought my sickness to be humorous. Then you see the wealthy and folks like Clinton who avoided service but get all the benefits of our nation.
I was serving when that COWARD was attending Oxford and protesting the war – I also remember Kerry appearing before Congress and denouncing the war what an A _ _ H _ _ E and both are liberals in good standing.
Makes me sick to my stomach.
And NOW those same cowards believe in leading from behind. Last I heard that WAS the cowards position. What has happened, where are leaders like Eisenhower, Patton, and MacArther? Are we reduced to “potluck”?
Considering our “wonderful” commander-in-chief that would indeed be pot luck with emphasis on the POT!
Obama has fired them!
Sooner or later ” someone” will force a new set of “standards” to allow more to pass. Across the services many tried to hold the line but with civilian leadership who don’t or won’t understand or worse yet do understand, our defenses are weakened. There will be less push back as political pressure pushes strong, outspoken leaders out and political promotions at the top pushes “others” up. Find another test tube for social experimentation. Elect leaders who respect the military. S
emper Fi
Why in the world would an intelligent woman want to join the Marines, these marines are a tuff bunch of guys ,,this NO place for a woman, unless she wants to be in a bunch of MEN,,get a life you silly women, PLEASE!!!!
they want in the infantry for the promotion opertunities.
Maybe she was born female, but feels like a man. Remember how things are going these days.
Many of the women who join the Marines are very patriotic and believe that if we live in this country, we should somehow defend it. I was one of those women….and I am still proud to have served. At the time (during the Vietnam War), the idea was to “free a man to fight”, and that is exactly what we did. All jobs in the service, no matter which one, are not combat positions. They have clerical, MP, dining facility, medical, interviewers, supply and many many other positions which women could fill quite well. I don’t happen to agree to women in combat positions, but here it is in a nutshell; if the men don’t join, it only leaves the women, and without the draft, even with the greatly reduced ranks, a good portion of the military is now women.
What was the PFT for Women when you were in . During my 20 years it was a dead Arm hang, 2.0 mile run, 80 sit ups. (now crunch sit ups) The men had to master 20 dead hang pull ups (harder) 3 mile run, 80 sit ups now crunch sit ups They have since made an alternate women PFT for Women who wish to. Men is still 20 pull ups 100 points % minimum 3 = 15 points, 3 mile run is 18 min 100 points, minimum 28 min, 100 crunch sit ups in 2 min minimum 50. You can not pass as a Male Marine if all you can do is the minimum of each. Minimum of 135 points total of 300. Women’s PFT has changed to Flex arm hang 70 seconds 100% or min. 15 sec = 15% Optional Female PFT Pull ups 3 = 40% – 8 =100% Dead hang pull ups, Crunch sit ups same as males 2 min. 100 = 100% or min 50 = 50% Female run is now 3 miles , but time is max 21 min 100% or Max 31 min 50% and you can’t pass with a score below 135% out of 300%
Maybe she’s sick of being put on a shelf and treated like she’s a piece of glass? Why does any MAN want to join the Marines? And why do you expect that no woman would share those sentiments?
Yes, they will lower the standards so women can pass. They need to realize this will cause many deaths. That is why our commander in chief needs to have a clue how and what our military is. It is not a social experience ! It is not equal for men and women. I am as smart as any man, but I do not have the strength of a man. I cannot gain it as I was born a woman. Men cannot give birth, no matter how they train or study, it will not happen. Men and women are built differently.
They’ve lowered the standards because Americans in general are getting so WEAK that they can’t fill the ranks using the old standards. With women OR MEN.
Maybe the women can get their equal rights by being assigned to be the guards for the Obama family.
You mean to tell me that there are physical differences for woman and men. Women can’t perform at the combat ready level of men? I’m shocked!!!!!
And one final thing. Upon re-establishing the draft, for both women and men, let us place into law that no ibdividual can hold any govt job without having served in the military. No duty, No job. This must include all members of Congress, the Pres., the VP, etc. Serve your country in two ways.
I’m tired of draft dodgers like Gov Brown of CA, and Ali,. I risked my life for them, and in the end I get NADA, nothing, Zilch, and struggle to get through everyday. I hope Trump demolishes the incumbents, scholars, etc, and we can regain this country and make it great again.
I don’t think women are fighting for this. My daughter was in the military for 20 years, she was not in combat. She knew her strengths and weakness. A very intelligent woman, and she did a great job, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. The administration is pushing this PC crap. Either we lower the standards for all so women can make the cut or we have a a strong military. Guess what Obama will choose.
You should have to be born in America to work for the Government. You should have to have served in the Military to be a Senator. To many House Reps to try to make that one stick to them. But Senators their are only 100 slots.
I’m with you 100% Joe…
BTW the first person I ever heard that from was my wife !
You don’t want them as White House Guards. if Bill is first lady he will sex them all up and have a bunch of kids. All White House Guards have to be over 6 feet tall.
Totally agree, I said that years ago. The draft dodgers are the ones who live a nice live as they get older with no pains. Those who served to keep this country up and running have all the pains later in live including pay the taxes for the draft dodgers to live off off.
Amen, Joe
This administration is an absolute embarrassment and disgrace to this USA that many of us had defended not to mention died for
So you would disqualify a 4F from government service? Or are you arguing the military should be held to the ADA, and have wheelchair-accessible training fields?
I hope the Marine remain steady on their requirements. Please do not Kitty down on what is required
This is another example how Obama is trying to hurt us! Women are not like men! They are not as strong as men. This is a fact.
I’m not surprise women are having problems. Also, you can’t put women and men together!!! Sooner or later something is going to happen. This is not a sexist statement . It is a FACT. Obama had no business being President!!! I believe Trump could fix this!!!!!
He’s confused because his wife is stronger then him. So he assumes all women are stronger then men. Its an honest mistake. He wife regularly beats the crap out of him Just like Hillary beats Bill.
Yea, but you have to admit, both Obama and Bill deserve it. They are both obnoxious.
In terms of maximum developable strength, yes the strength of men is greater than that of women. As individuals, it is quite possible for a woman to be stronger than a man, just as it is quite possible for a woman to be “strong enough” to perform at Marine combat levels.
This is another example how Obama is trying to hurt us. Putting women in the military. Women are not as strong as men. This is not a sexist statement. It is a fact! Also, you can’t put women and men together. Something is going to happen. Sooner or later..
He does the most stupidest things! I’ll be so glad when he goes!!!!!
Well in Combat they definitely need to Issued birth, IUD control while deployed. #1 so their fellow Marines don’t make them pregnant. Or worse #2 if they are captured, the enemy does not make them pregnant. We can’t have to replace Marines and Soldiers in Combat because now they are going to have a baby. You don’t want our Military Women having the enemies babies.
The worst thing Nixon ever did was to stop the draft. We got a cross section of skills. It matured men. Today we have 40 year olds acting like 14 year olds. MacArthur, Patton, Eisenhower and Abrahms all highly praised draftees. It would be good for the texting, smart phone worshiping 19-35 year olds of today.
Military was 100 times better with the all Volunteer force. Until Bill Clinton, and Obama, put in Gays, Women into combat, soon Transexuals. Now they went and broke it again. Old adage if its not broke don’t fix it. Politicians like young officers never learn they always have to mess with a finely tuned machine until it breaks. I saw both the Volunteer force was better less attitude. When some one does not want to be there, they are counting down the days till they get out it hurts moral.
Brad: Good comments. Draftees proved themselves to be great troops in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Yes, they used to count down the days to discharge. It gave them more of an incentive to get the job done. So many of our medal earners in the past 100 years were draftees.
Yes in combat they will still be brave no doubt. The all Volunteer force was not started until after Vietnam late 70’s Took until the 80’s to get most of the draftees out. Were still a few all the way through the 90’s as Master Gunnery Sgt’s and Sgt’s Majors. Came in right after Vietnam ended, Military was really a mess. Attitude where every wear. Crime, Drug, Killings, Robberies, Desertions, Awol’s, You name it. Took until about 1984 to clean it all up. So 10 years. Worked Great until 2008. Now after Obama its all broken again. Over worked, No money training or for equipment, Marines and ever one else cut to the bones. Now on top Gay’s, Transvestites and Women in combat. Moral is way down. How do you make some one believe they are special when they serve their country while they are sharing a room with a Tranny, or a gay man. Yes we had a 200 pound Gay male Marine try to rape his 135 lb new recruit male roommate. . When he got drunk and awaiting discharge after the Brig for raping a 15 year old, Marines daughter. Another case a Marine was getting other Marines drunk saying they would then go out to the bar to look for Women then he rapped them when they passed out. The Military is hushing this all up. The barracks are turning into gay prison cells. So you wonder why Moral is fading. Gay Married couples in base housing right next to your wife and kids. Good examples for your children to see when growing up. You don’t have a choice in which home your assigned on base in the Marines. You live where they put you. Chaplin’s are being forced to perform Gay Marrige or it will reflect on their service record. End their ability to be promoted and provide for their families.
@ Brad: Good comments again. I 100% agree with you. The whole nation is fouled up these days.
Brad: I 100% agree with you.
yea, And they were willing to tell what was going wrong !
This just shows that the fat overweight boys enlisting can handle and get in shape (3% drop out rate) better than nearly all women! A fit women in most cases would get her butt kicked by and unfit young man! That’s why Women do not belong in combat..PERIOD! All the data shows Women can’t handle combat, I would not go into battle with a Women! God help us, PLEASE!
Women have Genetically thinner bones, Smaller lungs, Less muscle VS. fat. Obvious hips are different. Women have 2 layers of fat. Missing one other key Testosterone, like it or not it makes you more aggressive. Estrogen will let you live longer, but if you want aggressiveness more muscel its Testosterone.
There are several reasons women should not be in a combat area:
First: They do not have the upper body strength to carry heavy equipment for long periods of time.
Second: The effect they have on the men is dangerous. Men will do stupid things such as jump on a grenade or try to rescue a woman whether she needs it or not.
Third and most important: She is a dangerous target, not only for what the enemy will do to her if caught, but those in her own unit. Sexually, she is a time bomb waiting to go off. It is mother nature, rape will skyrocket, STD’s and pregnancies will skyrocket, accusations will skyrocket, etc. These are young men and women who are quite well aware of the situation they are in, in the prime of their lives.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some women who can hold their own with the best men, but they are far and few, and she still carry a heavy burden of holding off the men.
A simple way to deal with it will be like the Israelis do, and have all female units. However, the Israelis are born and raised to be tough so things might be a bit different when that all female unit is committed to the front line in a battle somewhere. Then they will either suck it up and do the job, or it will be such a disaster that it will be a long time before the US Military is willing to take another chance on it. But, one thing that is certain is that mixed units will be a problem until there are equal numbers of women in with the men, and that will be a long time coming from the current view of things. Until then, it would be best to have all female combat units.
Women have been lied to for decades about their ability to equal men in battle. It’s total nonsense. Most women are not big enough or strong enough to equal or best a man in physical combat. This also applies to firefighting, and police work.
I know it might be hard to believe, but men and women are different, and that is a biological fact! As a man, I think God for that. Where women are physically challenged as compared to men, they are usually emotionally superior to we males. My respect for women would not allow me to watch her go off to war. Any man who thinks this is okay is a wimp!
Again obummer has an idea that fails!! We are not surprised that it failed!!!!
Sadly he hurt the Marines and other Military services in doing so.
I did not want this done , but if the Marine Corps is forced into this. Then our Marine Leaders are handling this leadership challenge is the best way that it could possibly be done. For to long we had 100 pound weaklings in the Marine Infantry and Artillery. an Artillery HE round weights 95 pounds. Ever artilleryman man or Woman should have to be able to carry that round by them self at least 100 yards in less then 5 min. As far as infantry Humping with full battle pack, which includes 2 mortar rounds and hundreds of rounds of rifle Ammo, meals and every thing else for at least 10 – 18 miles. Without falling out needs to be the standard. I can’t speak for a test for tanks, or Combat engineers. I was only in the Artillery and Infantry Mortars. I did not ever meet a woman that I thought could do the job. I am sure if you beat the bushes hard enough you will find a few. I hope they do not do like the Army has and drop their standards lower for Women to pass at the cost of the Combat readiness of every one else.
We did have one woman in the Artillery Regimental HQ who maybe was strong enough. She was a power lifter and on steroids, back when they first started testing for it. Big as a large man. She dipped snuff. Don’t know if she could run, but she could dead lift the back of a jeep. She dead lifted the back of a jeep while another woman changed the tire for a regimental competition we had. Just one of man events during the Unit competition. She went to the drill field and I heard she was kicked out of the Corp,when she was caught doing lesbian things with a female recruit.
When I was training troops in the Army, I was amazed that even some men couldn’t even pass the basic entry physical test. Just goes to show you that the physical fitness of todays young men and women is down the tubes. Women don’t belong in the combat arms part of the military.
Women have no business in combat. There are plenty of positions to take and help to provide in the military that do not depend on this kind of masculine vigor. I don’t know what it wrong with females wanting to play war. It’s insane.
Then just what is going to happen if a woman does make it into an infantry type unit and that unit while out on patrol gets over run by the enemy and taken captive. Especially in the middle east somewhere where they treat women as possessions who are only good for pleasing a mans every want. Just how will these (captive prisoners of war) women be treated. How many times will they be beaten and savagely raped, or perhaps sold off as sex slaves? Just look at all the increases in the rapes in Sweden and the UK and Germany from the influx of immigrants from these middle eastern countries. Sweden alone has had an increase in rapes of 1500 percent over the past year. In Germany during a celebration hundreds of women were either fondled by Muslim immigrants or raped and the police and political leaders were attempting to cover up the fact. I commend the bravery of those women who wish to compete for those tough jobs in our military but I just don’t believe they should ever be placed in those type of combat positions where they would ever be required to fight against an enemy with that type of a mentality against women. Look at what ISIS is already doing to the civilian women and young girls of their own countries. Raping and selling off women and young girls as sex slaves to the highest bidder. What would they do to a captive woman from the US military?
Remember Jessica Lynch us army
Jessi lost three hours,” Bragg wrote, according to the New York Daily News, who obtained a copy of the book. “She lost them in the snapping bones, in the crash of the Humvee, in the torment her enemies inflicted on her after she was pulled from it.” According to Bragg, Lynch’s medical records indicate she was anally
raped.
“The records do not tell whether her captors assaulted her almost lifeless, broken body after she was lifted from the wreckage, or if they assaulted her and then broke her bones into splinters until she was almost dead,” the Daily News quotes from the book.
This is just another way of dismantling our armed forces by the WORST PATHETIC PIECE OF HUMANITY IN THE White House. Drastic changes only results in a WEAK MILITARY. I’ve said it before ……..women do not have the strength of men and have no business on the front lines.
All the people that think women can keep up with men ,have there head up there Ass.Why do we have football teams with no women?Or base ball teams with no women.A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Combat is the most stressful thing you can do.You need to win or die.Why would any body want some one on the team that is weak.This is the thinking of a sissy or a person that has never been in the Marine Corps.This is why we should never let a draft dodger in the white house or pussy,Communist.or girly men.
“While women are tough mentally, critics point out, the test results seem to strongly support a point conservative lawmakers have been arguing for years — genetic differences are real, and war isn’t fair.”
I wonder just how the female “marines” would fare in a combat situation such as Khe Sanh, Hue, Dak To and others. Personally, I would not like to be in a Marine platoon in a combat situation led by a woman. I think sooner than later, she will crack. No pun intended.
They are Mentally tough but most who where in Combat in these last two wars Afghanistan, Iraq, where more of a stumble into battle while being in supply convoys, etc. They where not trained as direct combat troops. They performed incredibly bravely in battle. But like the poor Jessica Dawn Lynch (born April 26, 1983) former United States Army soldier who served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq by U.S. and allied forces. On March 23, 2003, Private First Class Lynch was serving as a unit supply specialist with the 507th Maintenance Company when her convoy was ambushed by Iraqi forces during the Battle of Nasiriyah. Lynch was seriously injured and captured. Her subsequent recovery by U.S. Special Operations Forces on April 1, 2003, received considerable media coverage and was the first successful rescue of an American prisoner of war since Vietnam and the first ever of a woman.
Initial official reports on Lynch’s capture and rescue in Iraq were incorrect. On April 24, 2007, she testified in front of Congress that she had never fired her weapon (her M16 rifle having jammed), and that she had been knocked unconscious when her vehicle crashed. Lynch has been outspoken in her criticism of the original stories reported regarding her combat experience. When asked about her heroine status, she stated “That wasn’t me. I’m not about to take credit for something I didn’t do… I’m just a survivor.
Jessi lost three hours,” Bragg wrote, according to the New York Daily News, who obtained a copy of the book. “She lost them in the snapping bones, in the crash of the Humvee, in the torment her enemies inflicted on her after she was pulled from it.” According to Bragg, Lynch’s medical records indicate she was anally raped.
“The records do not tell whether her captors assaulted her almost lifeless, broken body after she was lifted from the wreckage, or if they assaulted her and then broke her bones into splinters until she was almost dead,” the Daily News quotes from the book. That is not the narrative the military wants pushed. So its hushed up.
President Obama, in a historic first for the Pentagon, has chosen to nominate Eric Fanning to lead the Army, a move that would make him the first openly gay civilian secretary of one of the military services. The New Secretary of the Army Is the Highest-Ranking Openly Gay Official at the Pentagon … He is “the highest-ranking openly gay official period.
About 4 years ago the Army made the wife of the year!!! a Lesbian Colonels wife stationed at Fort Bragg NC.
I went through the heat of Parris Island in 1957. My aunt was a Woman Marine married to a Marine Sergeant. She would never have attempted to be a combat Marine.
When this “experiment” began, we Marines discussed it and said it would never succeed. Not to be politically correct, men are built for the rigors of combat and 99.9% of women are not. This is destined to failure. I am glad my Marine Corps is reporting the truth. Semper Fi
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than half of female Marines in boot camp can’t do three pullups, the minimum standard that was supposed to take effect with the new year, prompting the Marine Corps to delay the requirement, part of the process of equalizing physical standards to integrate women into combat jobs.
The delay rekindled sharp debate in the military on the question of whether women have the physical strength for some military jobs, as service branches move toward opening thousands of combat roles to them in 2016.
Although no new timetable has been set on the delayed physical requirement, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos wants training officials to “continue to gather data and ensure that female Marines are provided with the best opportunity to succeed,” Capt. Maureen Krebs, a Marine spokeswoman, said Thursday.
Starting with the new year, all female Marines were supposed to be able to do at least three pullups on their annual physical fitness test and eight for a perfect score. The requirement was tested in 2013 on female recruits at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., but only 45 percent of women met the minimum, Krebs said.
The Marines had hoped to institute the pullups on the belief that pullups require the muscular strength necessary to perform common military tasks such as scaling a wall, climbing up a rope or lifting and carrying heavy munitions.
Officials felt there wasn’t a medical risk to putting the new standard into effect as planned across the service, but that the risk of losing recruits and hurting retention of women already in the service was unacceptably high, she said.
Because the change is being put off, women will be able to choose which test of upper-body strength they will be graded on in their annual physical fitness test. Their choices:
• Pullups, with three the minimum. Three is also the minimum for male Marines, but they need 20 for a perfect rating.
• A flexed-arm hang. The minimum is for 15 seconds; women get a perfect score if they last for 70 seconds. Men don’t do the hang in their test.
Officials said training for pullups can change a person’s strength, while training for the flex-arm hang does little to adapt muscular strength needed for military tasks
The delay on the standard could be another wrinkle in the plan to begin allowing women to serve in jobs previously closed to them such as infantry, armor and artillery units
by allowing this obama is still showing what a IDIOT HE is and folks he is will on his way to DESTROYING this once great nation,,……. e : (
Why women want to be up front with us is beyond me, always has been. But if they want in then only those that can equal the men in strength and endurance should be allowed or people die! It’s that simple, Marines will die unnecessarily due to inferior women. There are other reason I say this, but I’ve had my balls beat bloody over the subject. All I am to those that object is a chauvinist pig. Fine, think and say as you will, but I actually just want our Marines to have the best advantage possible.
Semper Fi – USMC – 1964/1968 with 2 tours in Vietnam
I, too, wonder why women would want to be up front with the men in combat. What is the reason for that? Especially if they cannot pass the tests, why do they want to be there? They obviously do not realize that more people will die if they are given the positions without being physically able to do them as well as the men. Are they really trying to prove that they are as physically strong as men? Isn’t it obvious that that is not the truth?
I served Viet Nam from 1968-1973 in the usmc I was a pow 23months16days until President Nixion brought me home feb1973
I came back from hanoil prison camp 105 lbs with 71 bones broken. Even though I am stage four cancer from agent orange and three other critical illnesses . I as a capt in force recon would do it all over if it meant I could save any female from the front lines . It not so much what. Weight you have to carry it is also the wait of marine next to you that may need you to carry them to safety. I feel women do not belong in combat.If Obama wants that then send his girls. Bad enough our men have to come back in bodybags let us not have to have our sisters
Thanks for your service Capt my thought and prayers are with you
H.Martin. 1LT.
U.S. Army Rangers
ABN. LRRP. Vietnam
1966 – 1970
No doubt there are women who can out-perform some men in physical activities, even when it comes to upper body strength. But whether people want to admit it or not, there are physical differences between men and women. Generally, men have more upper body strength, and more strength overall. Generally, women have more stamina. Our military needs to set standards for the physical, mental and emotional abilities needed to perform various jobs. The standards need to reflect the results that are required. Then any man who cannot meet the standards, should not get the job. Likewise, any woman who cannot meet the standards should not get the job. It is suicide to change the standards in order to social engineer the number of men or women who get into certain jobs. Use sports as an analogy. Why doesn’t the NBA change the standards so that more white men are in the NBA? Answer: because no one cares what color a player is. The only thing that matters is the end result; which team can score more. The same MUST also be true for the military. The color or gender of a soldier should be irrelevant. The relevant question is whether the person is the best person for the job, PERIOD, END OF STORY.
When men can beget babies then physical differences will not matter. It’s Biology Stupid. As Bill Clinton would say not Political Correctness!
Ladies have you ever killed a man with a knife. I am talking about crawling up behind him and cutting his throat. And having his life drain out all over you. Just wondering!
H.martin USArmy. Rangers ABN
1LT Rep of Vietnam. 1966 – 1970