By Stephen Dietrich, Managing Editor of The Horn
It was 2003. Less than two years after 9-11 and we were pulling security on the rutted streets somewhere near Baghdad International Airport.
Suddenly, we took sniper fire from a nearby building, and my unit returned fire with everything we had.
You never forget the distinct sound an insurgent’s Kalashnikov makes when it’s intended for you.
I took a bullet to my helmet, knocking me backwards as I scrambled for cover.
My buddies quickly identified and eliminated the sniper that had me pinned down.
It was a terrifying situation for anyone, but the one thing that kept me calm was knowing that the guys in my unit had my back.
That they had the strength to pull me to safety if I fell. And that any one of us men would take a bullet for any of the others.
Yes. Any of us men.
I was deeply disturbed yesterday by the news that Obama-appointed Defense Secretary Ash Carter will order all branches of the military to open all combat jobs to women.
As a combat veteran, let me speak plainly here: This political decision is going to directly cost American lives.
Reason should always prevail over political correctness when soldiers’ lives are on the line.
In this case, it has not.
Here is the one undeniable fact of the matter.
Mixed-gender combat units — in study after study after study — have proven to be less effective in combat than all-male combat units.
Full stop. That’s it.
Women and men, when mixed together, do not perform as effectively in combat operations as all-male units.
These studies simply confirm what common sense already tells us — genetic gender differences in bone structure, muscle mass, and strength and endurance are an inescapable fact.
Recognizing there are genetic differences between males and females doesn’t mean you think one sex inferior, or one sex superior. It is simply acknowledging reality.
To insist that the finest military in the world ignore this fact, and sacrifice their combat effectiveness in order to emotionally satisfy the voting public is a shameful display of liberal political correctness prevailing over reason.
The United States military – the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy – are a political tool to be used internationally.
They are a fierce weapon, a grand broadsword wielded by our political leaders, forged from the finest fighting men and women in human history.
They are a tool that is used to defend American interests with violence and force.
These are the heroes who stormed the beaches of Normandy and crushed Hitler. Who defeated fascism in favor of democracy. Who sent communism packing to a few remote corners of the globe.
Today, making the world safe against radical Islam is important for our freedom, our way of life and for good people around the world.
The views of Islamic extremism are not compatible with Western democracy. They cannot exist peacefully with a free society.
So we arm our young men and give them this Herculean task, and they perform bravely.
Our military is made up of 18-year-olds from the corn fields of Iowa and from the streets of Houston and from the ghettos of Baltimore. White, black, yellow, brown.
We train them, equip them, and send them to dangerous foreign lands to defeat our enemies.
We pray they all return safely, but everyone – even those very soldiers — knows they won’t all make it home.
Still they soldier on. They extended our reach across the globe, enforcing our international political goals – Defend peace. Spread democracy. Uphold our sacred American values.
They do so, because we as a nation impress upon our soldiers the vital importance of their mission.
When I was deployed on combat missions in Iraq, I did so knowing with full confidence my nation had done everything it could to give myself and my brothers-in-arms the best chance of victory.
Now, our soldiers will never know that level of confidence.
Because this administration has failed them.
The Obama administration’s actions will limit our troops’ combat readiness to achieve a cheap domestic political victory.
Study after study has proven it.
The administration has demanded the military satisfy the illogical emotional needs of a misinformed voting bloc, at the cost of their own safety.
That is lunacy. And as a combat veteran, it is infuriating.
Because that lunacy will do nothing but enable our enemy to more effectively shed American blood, both men and women alike.
Our enemies will gladly take our soldiers’ limbs. They are eager to demoralize our troops’ fighting spirit.
And they will leave their desecrated bodies discarded on a sand dune, far from home.
Our enemy – the rabid dogs that force on the world extremism and Islamic terror – are not interested in political correctness. They are locked in mortal combat with our very way of life.
They know their political objective is not compatible with our free society. For both sides, there can be no peace. There is only victory, or total annihilation.
So our enemy will gladly use every resource available to help them wipe Western values from the face of the earth.
In forcing mixed-gender combat units on our military, we’ve given these enemies a powerful resource by limiting the combat effectiveness of our men and women on the field of battle.
Gender equality is important for a free society. But to insist that both genders are somehow identical is wrong – and idiotic.
To extend this misguided opinion onto the battlefield — to force soldiers to ignore genetic reality when lives are on the line — will be deadly.
Shame on these politicians. Shame on the generals who bowed to political pressure.
Shame on Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
Shame on President Obama.
Well said! Thank you for your service to your country!
Women’s units function well together and women can function at a highly skilled positions but not on the front line. We talk about how the soldiers life is and how there is no privacy or deference given in action combat. This is a far swing of the pendulum, cant we agree to something in the middle. ok to most everything except the infantry. I feel that putting men and women together on the front is insane. Lets take a look at 18=20 year old men in the frenzy of battle and 18-20 year old women in the frenzy of battle. There is a supreme problem to deal with the sexist problem that will not change. Women I have been a nurse for 50 years and have observed this is truth. American Men will try to look out for a woman no matter what the circumstances and that hesitation can get all involved killed. Mutilation and decapitation rape etc. are all on the table. That is just the way it is.
Agree and well said! I too am a nurse and have dealt with multiple cultures across the US (particularly Muslim) in my role as a nurse and there is definitely a clash of religious beliefs /ideological thinking that would not hesitate to use the abuse of women on the frontline to weaken our male soldiers! I am all for equality, but agree with the writer.
S
Not limiting the fact that women dont respond well under duress. This fact will cause thier male counterparts to attempt to protect them, slowing every forward progress. This not a good techtical decision. It will fail. Our military will suffer. For every one of those women that think they can perform under the combat conditions there will be major peoblems and death will occur.
Marlene, it’s not a sexist problem; it’s an instinctual reality. Men are wired to take care of women. Women are wired to take care of children. If you’re in a life-threatening, emergency situation, who are you going to help and protect first, your husband, your sister, or your ten-year-old?
Ditto!
Thank you for serving and protecting our homeland!
S
Amen! Roger that!
As a note of humorous perspective: Imagine an NFL Football team competing against a mixed gender football team. Whaddya think would be the outcome?
the government has lost its everloving mind again…. men are different than women. women as your article shows are not meant for combat troops. they will have to find out the hard way like many other times.
Your Hussein Obama is a recondite character. No morals! Just be president. Did he say he believes both men and women are psychologically, anatomically, emotionally and physiologically different? Not sure!
How can you ever think of putting women to fight alongside men? Sheer madness! And they call it equality? Truth be told, God created men and women differently. Whether we like it or not, we are different and can’t do everything equally effectively.
ISIS and the ever bloody moslems will like to see this play out!
I was one of the first females in the Navy SeaBees in the late 1980’s. I was not assigned to a combat battalion. There are many contributions females can enhance and serve in male units. As far as combat, if females feel they need to serve in that capacity and as it has already been proven mixed gender units DO NOT WORK, why not have all female combat units vs. mixed gender combat units? Then females can prove or disprove their worth, if that is what the government, (Obama) wants!
Thank you Suzzette for being honest. The politicization do not want us to succeed that will e against the New World Order. obama wants us ta fail because then his muslim brothers will be the victors.
In America Men (Real Men) are conditioned from childhood to protect and cherish women. I think this is the only country where that is done. With out Woman there could be no Family.
I see so much disrespect to women in the upcoming generation, Peggy has to keep me on a short leash because I have the need to correct. Removing Hats in church, at the dinning table when in the present of ladies and so fourth.
Women in combat along side Men Very STUPID.
A squad of women, very scary, I know women can be meaner than men, If they cross the ling to survive.(Become Animals) Then would be terrifying.
I too thank you Suzette for your honesty. You seem to understand this is not any type of “sexist prejudice”, but merely common sense. I served in Vietnam and am glad we did not have the distraction of serving in combat roles with the gender we love and respect!!!
This sounds reasonable. How about all-female tank units? They can defend but not be forced into hand-to-hand combat with enemy men. I think the enemy would fight more fiercely if they were facing women because they would not want the shame of having been killed by a woman – esp moo-slime men. Maybe the powers that be are already planning this sort of thing.
I saw an article where the Kurdish women fighters said the enemy (IS) did not fight more aggressively because they were afraid of being killed by a woman. I think that was an all-female fighting group.
“Shame on these politicians. Shame on the generals who bowed to political pressure. Shame on Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Shame on President Obama.”
But of course this is what these two want. It’s one way to strengthen the terrorists and help them win. I keep hoping that somehow we can become a not “politically correct” people.
Shame on us for leaving Obama in office.
I could not agree with you more. I am a very independent woman who has fought her whole life to be successful in any business endeavor, one who now owns her own business. In business, we are still discriminated against without valid reason, this behavior I have a problem with. If a woman is capable of doing the same job and they have the training and interest they should be paid the same money and allowed the same opportunities to compete for those jobs. I am the first person to stand up for women’s rights.
We are NOT, however much we wish it to be so and no matter how politically correct, biogolically or genetically the same as a male of our species. Biologically and genetically this decision makes zero sense. This is just wrong. Maybe studies would show a seperate all woman unit would work equally as well as an all male unit but until we know for sure what will work, we are throwing away lives and further shafting our country with little or no care from those politicians who make those decisions.
Thank you for writing a common sense article.
One simple test
Can you pick me up and carry me off the battlefield
I can pick most anybody up and run to cover
If you cannot pass that test, that DO NOT go into a combat unit
PEOPLE WILL DIE, MEN & WOMEN
Trump can reverse this idiocy.
I have mixed feelings about this…about Women being assigned to Combat roles in all branches of the US Military…I look at other Countries around the world and I see women in Combat units…The Israeli Army has women in Combat units…and they are fully trained and fully competent and will, if necessary fight to the death to defend their comrads and Country..and they have been proven effective over the decades…The various Arab/Middle Eastern armies also have female soldiers in combat roles…and they, also, are trained and competent and effective…The Korean Army, the Chinese Army, and the Russian Army also all have female soldiers in combat roles/units..and they, also, have been shown to be effective…If they can be trained and be effective in combat, why can’t American Women also be competent and effective???…Maybe it is not Women that are the problem…Maybe it is American women…who are wrapped in and brought-up in PC and who have come to accept all sorts of concessions on their behalf and who are protected and coddled by the feminists and the PC government dictates…Maybe THAT is why American women are not effective for military combat roles…Maybe, if women were treated like their male counterparts, and had the SAME DEMANDS made of them (as in foreign armies)…Maybe, then, those who “pass muster” could be assigned to combat roles and stand proudly alongside the American Male Soldiers who have been defending America since her Creation…
This seems to be one of those areas where public opinion is changing. At the least the branches of the military should study this and see how co-ed units affect morale, casualty counts, etc. The branches may want to consider whether it would be more effective to have single sex combat units.
I served in the submarine force prior to women being allowed to serve on-board. I don’t have a problem with women on subs; as long as it’s ALL WOMEN on their own sub. Living conditions are extremely tight and the brotherhood that exist on these vessels is very close. Berthing (sleeping areas) are an open invitation to all kinds of problems. Sure, I guess it would probably work, but the quality of life has gotten much much worse I’m sure.
If berthing problems in subs are a given as you seem to imply, isn’t it better that they be hetero-problems – if you see what I mean?
I can see the pictures on Internet already with captured female soldiers being raped, tortured and beheaded. The public will go completely mad and will demand that the government gives in to all the demands of the terrorists…
Haha – the reality has been that our female soldiers have so far been the capturers and they’ve just been as vicious as their male counterparts in their treatment of prisoners – so much for the weaker and fairer sex! The solution, mate, is to forget the differences and focus on the performance.
I believe every woman should serve her country as she sees fit. However, the real victims of sending women into combat are their children, who must live without their mother, either for a period of months or permanently, if she is killed while serving. I do not think staying home to raise children is a second-class occupation. I feel that when a woman becomes pregnant, she should make a real commitment to motherhood and bringing up this child to be a responsible citizen who one day will be able to contribute to society in a positive way. I see today’s children growing up with no respect for authority or for anyone at all. I see moral standards being thrown away and laws being broken with no thought of consequence. I see emotionally disturbed people of all ages shooting up movie theaters, malls, schools, office buildings, and marathon races. Does no one see that our country is being destroyed? We need homes with good, stable environments and at least one parent who cares about their family enough to stay home and raise them right. Therefore, I am against women serving in combat.
The Kurdish women fighters seem to be doing all right. Plus being killed by a woman is horrifying to the muslims. It means they don’t get their 72 virgins or whatever. There are some women, that are probably as effective as some men, I’m thinking of the female truck driving tobacco chewing type, not some 120lb young feminine lady. I don’t think just ANY woman should be given a combat role. Only those that can pass the same tests men do, physically and mentally. And I think they should have to request it, and not just thrown into a combat unit. Some have been asking for it for years, why not let them have the opportunity, IF they qualify?
Maybe knowing they could be killed by a woman, will make the muslims less aggressive and easier to eliminate, If some of the masculine types, that won’t make men feel the need to protect them or have “feelings” for them, are thrown into the mix, It might not be as bad as they think. Maybe make all female squads and see how they do. I know a pissed off woman can be hell to deal with.
Shocker…Just a thought…A “pissed-off woman” and a well trained, level headed emotionally stable women are two very different people…I “pissed off” woman will probably get those around her killed due to her inability to deal with the situation and her inabiity to deal with emotions…Emotional reactions have NO PLACE in combat…
However…I do agree that women should be allowed into Combat Units…IF they can qualify and pass ALL the tests and training at the same level as men…with NO exceptions for size, weight, gender, or whatever…If they can’t, they should not be allowed in…Combat troops should be able to depend on each other…It can be the difference between life and death…A woman who has the intelligence and desire but lacks the PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES as the male soldier should NOT be in combat because they will NOT be able to keep up with the male troops…Let those women do office/desk/paperwork jobs…or jobs as (if qualified) mechanics, etc in the Motol Pool, etc. or even (again, IF qualified) as MPs…But placing them into Combat units/roles, when not up to par with the rest or the unit, will lead to problems, loss of morale (due to the troops not being able to depend on each other), a break-down in unit cohesivness, and a general inability of the Unit to function properly under all and any conditions…
Another thought/consideration….What happens if/when “the enemy” captures a female soldier…and televises her torture or potential beheading so as to get leverage against the US Troops…What then?…Does the country cave-in to the enemy because it is a captured female…because that is probably what would happen…American people are not prepared mentally to see a female combatant executed by any enemy…All the bleeding-hearts in the Country will start bellowing and demand that the government should cave-in to the enemy’s demands…Americans need to grow tougher skins if we, as a Nation, are to accept sending Women into Combat…If the American Public cannot deal with a woman soldier being tortured or killed, then placing Women in Combat Roles should never happen…It will only compromise the ability of the Military….
We women have done enough to distroy our Country now we want to distroy our armed services family has went by the way side look at our kids, what a mess we have caused, we were the life of the family but that wasn’t enough, had to show we can be what ever well are you happy know, and I am not and will not be political correct on anything that this gov. keeps trying to shove down our throats
I tend to agree…”We, the People” have weakened the Country as a whole by caving-in to all the political-Feminist rants and the idiotic ramblings of PC and all the destructive “let’s-all-feel-good” horse-droppings of the Liberal mentality…All that has been acomplished has been the break-down of Society and societal roles and role-models…and a break-down in Ethics and in the rules of Society…and a white-washing of laws so as to bend to the weakest, most ignorant, most lazy and most common denominator of American society at the total expense of Society as a whole….
The only positive thing I can see about women in combat is in the event some one is wonded is borrowing a tampon to stop the bleeding until the medic and get you airlifted to field hospital.
I can’t stop laughing, Rudy!
I think its a huge mistake, another in a long list of politically correct, or just plain ignorant decisions coming out of the White House. This is more proof he has no freaking clue as to what is going on in the real world. I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m picking on the Obama, but ask yourself… what does he know? What qualifies him to be in that position? Why does he continuously make poor decisions?
Another Zionist ploy to destroy America… WAKE UP AMERICANS !!!
Have American female combatants caved in under fire before or if they have, have they been any different from male combatants in similar circumstances? If they have, then that’s best kept secret from the combat zone because I haven’t heard of any tendency among woman combatants to succumb to the pressures of battle whether under fire or on bombing missions. Let’s step outside the experience of US forces and see what women’s experiences under fire have been elsewhere – we might get a different perspective; women soldiers in Nam were no less effective than their men, Russian women soldiers in combat, Chinese women soldiers and the list goes on. Not very long ago in our history male African American soldiers had limited combat roles for pretty much the same reasons put across now for not allowing women into combat zones. America’s a great nation today because more than any other country in the world we’re prepared to go where the rest fear to go. We teach our kids that they can achieve whatever they want as long as they put elbow grease and now there are those among us who’d love to keep women out of certain activities because they’re women. In some countries women are allowed to get PhD’s in engineering, aeronautics, management and the like but then they’re told to stay at home to make babies or do nothing more than manage the servants. America’s what it is today because we are different – very very different. Let’s stay that way!
A huge, huge, huge MISTAKE-!
Please find Utube videos of the Kurdish young women fighting Isis to defend their grandparents… They appear to be in all women units….