JOKER96BRAVO
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- Aug 13, 2004
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Army Wants Women On Front Lines
The Herald
October 24, 2004
The U.S. Army is trying to overturn a ban on using women soldiers in forward
support units in war zones to ease its growing manpower crisis in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
While females still would be barred from combat formations likely to experience
direct contact with an enemy, planners want to deploy them alongside fighting
brigades as drivers and logisticians to free up scarce male forces.
A shortage of trained American infantry in Iraq prompted the request for the Black
Watch to be sent north to Iskandariya to free up American marines for the assault
on Falluja.
Although women serve as jet, transport, and helicopter pilots, they are excluded
from ground combat. There are about 200,000 females in the U.S. Army - about
17% of its total strength.
About 8% of the 102,000 soldiers in the British Army are female, a proportion
which has grown since roles available to them were expanded in 1998. Women
represent 9.5% of officers and 6.8% of other ranks.
UK servicewomen are also excluded from direct combat and submarine service.
British governments have resisted changing the policy because they feared the
political impact of large-scale female casualties.
A Pentagon spokesman said yesterday: "The policy introduced in the U.S. in 1994
which prevented the deployment of women soldiers close to the front line no
longer has a basis in reality. There are no clearly-defined front lines any more.
"A high proportion of the 250 or so supply convoys which criss- cross Iraq's roads
every day come under attack. Many of the vehicles have females in their crews.
Bases supposedly behind the lines also come under regular mortar and rocket
attack.
He added: "It makes no sense to have to use male soldiers for tasks which could
be done easily by their female counterparts when we are short of troops trained
to close with and destroy the enemy."
The U.S. Army's high command hopes to be able to persuade Congress to lift
restrictions in time for the deployment of the 3rd Infantry Division to Iraq next
year.
The Herald
October 24, 2004
The U.S. Army is trying to overturn a ban on using women soldiers in forward
support units in war zones to ease its growing manpower crisis in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
While females still would be barred from combat formations likely to experience
direct contact with an enemy, planners want to deploy them alongside fighting
brigades as drivers and logisticians to free up scarce male forces.
A shortage of trained American infantry in Iraq prompted the request for the Black
Watch to be sent north to Iskandariya to free up American marines for the assault
on Falluja.
Although women serve as jet, transport, and helicopter pilots, they are excluded
from ground combat. There are about 200,000 females in the U.S. Army - about
17% of its total strength.
About 8% of the 102,000 soldiers in the British Army are female, a proportion
which has grown since roles available to them were expanded in 1998. Women
represent 9.5% of officers and 6.8% of other ranks.
UK servicewomen are also excluded from direct combat and submarine service.
British governments have resisted changing the policy because they feared the
political impact of large-scale female casualties.
A Pentagon spokesman said yesterday: "The policy introduced in the U.S. in 1994
which prevented the deployment of women soldiers close to the front line no
longer has a basis in reality. There are no clearly-defined front lines any more.
"A high proportion of the 250 or so supply convoys which criss- cross Iraq's roads
every day come under attack. Many of the vehicles have females in their crews.
Bases supposedly behind the lines also come under regular mortar and rocket
attack.
He added: "It makes no sense to have to use male soldiers for tasks which could
be done easily by their female counterparts when we are short of troops trained
to close with and destroy the enemy."
The U.S. Army's high command hopes to be able to persuade Congress to lift
restrictions in time for the deployment of the 3rd Infantry Division to Iraq next
year.
pc in action
