GCT 2010 Volume: 1 Issue: 2 (August)

 
With the current asymmetrical conflict in Iraq, more women find themselves in combat than in any other war to date. Based on my own observations, having served there twice, women are in many positions that make a mother, lawmaker and commander equally nervous based upon current law, expectations and military doctrine. We are having a useless debate woman are already doing the very things we are afraid to ask of them.

There are women who meet the physical requirements, who are interested in the positions from which they are currently excluded, and who are already being put in harm’s way. All military personnel receive basic combat training; however, some women are now being allowed training that was once reserved only for men. The countersniper training is now available to women who are serving as security positions. Women are being trained as counter-snipers due to the rising number of hostile countries that use women as snipers.

Because the situation in Iraq is considered a peacekeeping operation, the use of military police (MP) to conduct operations is commonplace. The MPs in Iraq are now performing the same duties that all-male combat units are performing. The major difference between the infantrymen and the MP units is that the MP units tend to have a larger amount of women. These women are already putting their lives on the line every time they perform a routine patrol through Iraq. The Iraq war has seen the most servicewomen casualties and injuries, with 35 dead and 271 wounded.

Looking back on my own experiences, there are and were women in whose hands I placed my life without hesitation. The same can be said for some of the men I served with as well. The fact is that doctrine and training needs to catch up with the reality of the conflicts we currently find ourselves in. Please come chat with me at the Miltary Vehicles conference in Detroit from August 10-13, or let’s go to Comerica Park during the evenings on those same days.

All the best.

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