Why Women Deserve to Serve in The Military

“Why Women Deserve to be in the Military”
By: Devin McDavid
In 1775 our great nation created its first form of armed forces when the Continental Army took arms in defense against the British to fight for their independence. We’ve come a long way since the Revolution and today our Military is a force to be reckoned with. Known around the World as the toughest and most advanced Military, the Armed Forces of the United States of America have a combined total of 1,435,078 people actively serving today. This number is significantly larger today in part due to the addition of a very key component, women. Women in the military has provided a great service to this Nation, despite many oppositions claiming that women should not be allowed to serve, or that they are incapable of performing the duties of a soldier. It is time that people open their minds to mixed genders in the Military and provide Women the same respect that their Men are given.
Currently serving, there are 205,396 Women spread across the four branches of the military, making up 14.2% of the total. That means that 1 out of every 7 people in the military is female. If we did not allow women to serve in the military there would be a significant drop in the population of our military. “Women fly helicopters and fighter jets, serve on combat ships, and command military police units. But they are not permitted to serve in units that engage in direct ground combat with the enemy. The debate concerning the role of women in the military is unique in that it concerns both the issue of equality for women and the issue of national defense” (Wise To Social Issues Digest). Those who oppose gender-integration of women, say that women “possess physical and biological handicaps that will damage the cohesion of combat units. Skeptics contend that women are not as physically strong as men, creating a sense of wariness in male soldiers that a woman can be relied upon to perform essential functions on the battlefield. Perhaps most important is the concern that men will inevitably find themselves attracted to the opposite sex and will compete for the attentions of women” (Wise To Social Issues Digest). I find fault with this argument simply because there are a number of measure being taken to ensure that women are up to the physical and mental demands of being a soldier. For one, Women go through the same training that men go through. There are only a few elements that are altered to better fit a woman’s strength, yet still cause the same physical strain as men go through. Women are expected to understand military tactics, and to be able to carry out a successful mission the same way that men would. Women are carry the same weight in their ruck sacks that men do and they are expected to be able to pull their own weight. They have the same standards when it comes to marksmanship, and in many cases out do their male counterparts.
In today’s modern day war fare, much of what is used to combat enemies is sheer strategy, something that men and women are on equal playing fields at. They can be taught to drive a tank, fire a weapon, or provide medical care the same as any man could. I think that many people would be surprised to know that women serving in the military is not a new concept. In fact, women have served in the military as far back as the Civil War! There are over 1,743,578 female veterans known to have fought for this country, many of which lost their lives in doing so. I believe that those who oppose the use of women in the military, undermine the death of every one of those women who sacrificed their lives in service. If women feel called to serve their country I don’t see why if they are willing, and able, that they should be discriminated against, merely because they are women.
MG Jessica Wright, appointed to lead the Pennsylvania National Guard in early 2004, is the second woman in history to lead a state's National Guard. She states “The important thing for our soldiers to remember is that whether you are mechanic or an infantryman, you are a warrior first, women serving in the military are warriors. Our 131st Transportation Company from Williamstown, Pa., was led by a female commander, CPT Laura McHugh, and a female first sergeant, Brenda Coston. That unit was very successful during combat. I also know that during many operations we need women to come along to search other females and in many cases smaller females are useful when crawling under vehicles or in crevices to check for bombs” General Wright claims. ( Brower). I may self have answered the call in deciding to join the US Army, despite the stigma carried by women in the military. I make it a personal goal to show others that I have what it takes to be a leader and to prove my strength. I know that when I wear that uniform I am not only representing myself and my country, but also the women of the United States Armed Forces, and I wear it with pride.
Women will always be the minority in the military, and they will constantly have to prove themselves to those who doubt. It is something that women have dealt with their entire lives, but we have come a long way. For the first time in history, we see women becoming Executives and CEO’s of major corporations across the country. We see women becoming lawyers, doctors, and engineers, jobs that had always been Male dominated. It has come time for us to prove ourselves at war as well. But we can’t prove ourselves unless we are first given the right to fight alongside men. It is especially important that we, America, show that we truly are an equal opportunity country in today’s war. Think about the message it sends to Iraq and Afghanistan, two Countries who don’t even allow women to show their faces in public. For them to see a female soldier standing tall, able to defend her nation, it is a slap in the face to the way their society treats women. America is looked at by many countries as a “big brother,” therefore we have a duty to set an example to others. It starts by giving everyone equal opportunity. Women in the military are not going away. People might as well come to terms and acknowledge the huge role they play."Army manpower cannot support elimination of female soldiers from all units designated to be units of action elements," and all-male FSCs are impossible because recruiting numbers are too small” (Washington Times) If men are not going to sign up we must extend the offer to women.
When it comes down to the bottom line, we are fighting the same battle and no one should be looked as inferior or inadequate when it comes to the military. Everyone has something to offer and it is important to remember that the military does not solely rely on strength. I believe that women are a positive addition to this Nations Armed Forces and I hope that their service will continue to grow. I joined the US Army, not because I wanted to prove that I could do everything that a man could do, but rather to do my part in serving this country which has offered me so much. What does it mean to be a soldier? To me it means being a leader to others, it means going beyond what you think you are capable of, it means protecting freedom, and upholding the core values of loyalty, duty, respect and honor. It’s saluting the flag when the National Anthem is played and the pride you bring to your friends and family, it’s answering the call to fight when you are asked, and stepping up to the task. These are all things that women are perfectly capable of doing and it’s time that they be respected and honored, the same way that men are. It is my hope for the future that women will not be looked at as a deficiency amongst our troops but rather as helpful and important elements to the military as a whole. “As of mid-January 2005, 32 servicewomen have been killed in Iraq, five in Afghanistan, and more than 230 have earned Purple Hearts for combat wounds” (Brower), that should be proof enough that we are doing our part.
I am proud of the women who answer the call to serve because they are up against greater odds beyond their duty. They represent every woman who marched for women’s liberation, for every woman who fought for the right to vote, for the right to voice their opinions. They are pioneers for every woman that will serve after them and they are an inspiration. The argument that women cannot be in the military is a foolish one. Let them tell that to the female soldiers in Afghanistan, who patrol the streets looking for terrorist, to the woman bandaging soldiers wound, or to the woman who stand watch over the camp at night. I promise that she will prove them wrong.