Female
Soldiers in Combat Military Occupation Specialties
The research shows that the rise of industrialization and modernization had both positive and negative effects on various continents as well as nations. This excerpt explores the outcome that resulted due to the negative impacts of industrialization. Among the outcomes were the superiority disputes that triggered territorial arguments and resource control (Britt, W Thomas et al. 157-161). Countries and even continents were locked to war and faced each other on the battle fronts. Soon or latter they realized the need for mercenaries to watch over their coveted boundaries against their enemies. This gave rise to introduction of military system that was composed of trained men and women in various fields of armory to address the rising cases of insecurity. This saw nations wage wars against others and either win or lose to their rivals.
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Due to increased tasks within the forces, there was need for diversification of the field in terms of gender. This meant that women, who proved capable of serving courageously, were given a chance to join the rest of the male recruits. However, their introduction in the combats came with various challenges to both the females and the military at large. Some of the challenges that they faced as females were inadaptability to the hostile climates, poor emotional control and a scarce response to the critical situations that required accuracy and quick reactions. This meant that they had become liabilities in the military rather than being beneficial. From the past research it was found that the combat unit cohesion was at risk. The specialized units did not give back as much as they were expected due to the weakness introduced by the presence of female officers in these units. It is due to these observations that the concerned authorities decided to regulate promotion of females to higher ranks within the smaller units in 1994.
As per military record displayed in Pentagon in the United States of America in the past few wars their military had been engaged in, the highest number of casualties has been women. The recent statistics shows that in the recent ended Iraq war, more that 1444 female officers lost their lives, while in Afghanistan, it is estimated that 8600 were killed. This has been connected to rising suicide bombers, modernization of warfare and rising cases of snipers (ISBN users’ manual). Though these facts played a role, the main reason that can be attributed to the statistics of these casualties is that women were engaged in the specialized units which they had less exposure to and also were banned from.
Therefore, since the draw-down of the military forces in the United States, the Congress ought to reevaluate the permission given to female soldiers to take part in combat military occupational specialties; they will have to sustain the unit and the readiness of the whole unit. This will give women a chance to get engaged in frequent operations to gain experience. Engagement of the women officers in the battle front in the specialized unit is a clear indication that the military fraternity has realized the importance of women in these units (Britt, W Thomas et al. 157- 161). Moreover, the fact that women have not objected to the idea of being recruited into these units proves that they are willing and have capability to operate in these units. Another reason that should compel the Congress to reconsider allowing women in these units is that both men and women who qualify to join military undergo the same training; this means that they have managed to stand the rigorous training. Basing the argument on this foundation, it is evident that these women ought to be allowed to serve in the same units that military men serve.
In recent times, cases of military raping and other sexual related crimes have been reported in the areas where these units had undertaken their operations. In my point of view, these shameful acts are enough proof that the Congress ought to reevaluate the policy and reinstate the female soldiers in the military combat units. The issue of uniformed personnel harassing innocent citizens, whom they are meant to protect, through sex has to be addressed. The fact that women lose a lot of blood during menstrual period and time of delivery is clear that issues of seeing deathly explosions and blood in battle front are not enough reason to stop these officers from achieving their career dreams, since they have already enough experience in this. Moreover, the channel of justice sought by some of the female officers requesting that the courts of law intervene for their considerations in the specialized units shows that they are ready and willing to be part of the unit (Britt, W Thomas et al. 157-161) Therefore, the response does not require the high ranks to constitute commissions to investigate, as it is evident in its presentation. Instead, they need only to reconsider giving a pass to reintroduction of women into this field.
Ninety percent of the female participants in the survey, who are female soldiers, seem to concur with the idea that the Congress needs to reevaluate this discriminative policies. They continue to add that this is a breach of human rights where they have been discriminated according to gender parity. Their argument has been that the military community has not been exhaustive in development of leaders that are diverse in comparison to the entity that they protect. As per the contribution made by retired female soldiers, denying women post in army specialties and Marine Corps has demoralized the women are also served as barricade to their advancement and promotion. The statistics shows that 14% of the whole force comprises women in uniform. However, the number of female officers that holds higher ranks remains negligible compared to the male officers (Granados et al. 970). The point being conveyed by the group together with their supporters is that the female BEING has been denied a chance to realize her potential. According to Anu Bhagwati, a retired marine captain, the policy is nothing but a solid block wall to women’s advancement. She adds that it has no reflection of the much contributions and sacrifices made by women in the disciplinary forces, and it carries wrong presumptions of the modern warfare doctrine. The general feeling of the victims is that reevaluation of the policy would be like a sort of respect and fairness to the long-time oppressed group of people. Moreover, this would exercise democracy and respect of all human rights as per international agreement. They feel that this would be an act of appreciation of many services given by the female soldiers’ fraternity in securing the nations’ sovereignty. The gravity of the message conveyed by both current and retired women in the force is that women have equal rights as their male counterparts and they should be viewed as having the same capacity as men.
On the other hand, my fellow male soldiers that participated in the survey have mixed reactions. 20% of the participants still stand on the ground that women do not have a necessary competence to be included into these military specialties. Their argument is that women naturally lack physical capacity and are weak when it comes to handling of emotional restraints in the battlefield. With this assumption they feel that it would affect the readiness of the unit and cohesion of the members. Their observation is that the aspect portrays that the operation within the unit calls for people with willingness and physique. However, 80% percent of these participants feel that they have confidence in women. They are convinced that if they are properly trained like the male soldiers and given exposure, then there is no reason that can prevent them from taking the responsibilities in these units. The argument is that Congress should realize that its time they gave a ‘go’ permission for the women to lead units like armory, infantry and field artillery (Newby et al. 817). They added that the opposing policies act as an insult to women and have continuously destroyed the relationship between men and women in the force. Another group that contributed to the survey is the general public. 70% of the contributors felt that these polices have undermined the capability of the modern woman. They argue that time has gone when women were seen as household figures that could not handle manual or decisions tasks. They added that they should be given a chance and their failure judged from their performance. However, 18% of the male contributors think that reevaluation of this policies would be like committing a suicide by the military fraternity. They have based their argument on the fact that this would switch the attention of the males to pleasing the females in order to win their affection. Moreover, they added that if it must be done, then they should have their separate units comprising female soldiers only. Nonetheless, 12% have no clear ground on this issue. Their word is that they are comfortable with the current situation. They feel that any change makes no difference, since the superiority complex of the male species will never let women feel comfortable in these units. They will strive to cause discomfort to make women quit. On the contrary, by going with the majority stand, the argument still stands that the Congress must realize the need to reevaluate this policy. Majority seem to agree that in distribution of privileges there should be equality of gender.
The above arguments are what the public thinks about the issue. The research has enough convincing reasons regarding the matter with very minimal objection (Warner et al. 796). From a sober perspective, my view is that there are women out there, who are in position to face the rigors that are essential in the combat positions. For that reason, women should be given a chance to serve in these positions as long as they have shown the will and capability to stand the pressure. It is also evident from the past experience that even men suffer emotional restraints in the battle field and are even unable to stand the rigor; therefore, ban on women will be discriminative to women without an appropriate ground to stand on.
The willingness displayed, training provided and the cooperation accorded to the incoming female soldiers will determine the speed and readiness of the unit. If the three aspects are given proper consideration, then there will be no effect on the readiness of the unit. Therefore, there will be no observable deviation in terms of readiness. However, if they are neglected, then the unit should be ready to face the delays and slowness in terms of response to urgent crises. Therefore, it is proper to suggest that readiness is not only affected by the female soldiers but even by those males that are initially in the unit. Commitment to meet halfway by the two parties will ensure that the readiness is not affected in any way.
Those women yearning to join the military occupational specialties should be prepared to face male superiority complex challenge. Though the armed forces are well known for their respect to the authority, the male ego still creates conflicts as they resist female domination (Orvis, Karin et al. 143-157). In line with this, the females are likely to experience sexual harassment from the males. This is also driven by the ego in men to dominate the weak species. Generally, the superiority plays the main role in these chains of challenges. It has been found to create ideological difference on the determination of easier way of situational approach, which resulted in conflict. Therefore, MOS will not be exceptional in this case.
There is no doubt concerning why the female cannot perform as well as the male soldiers if they are given an equal training. Another aspect that eliminates the doubt is that their performance is said to be directly proportional to the group indictment. The social platform in this case plays a mighty role in boosting of the female officers’ morale. If the relationship is positive, then the expectation is that the performance will be even better than that of the male soldiers. The issue here is to give them the best they deserve for the fulfilled task and expect the best from them. The requirements in this case will be both training and the social aspect within the unit.
Though the female soldiers are likely to face sexual harassment, the degree is very minimal. This is because the ranks difference helps to cultivate respect between the officers. Hence this problem can be eliminated from the unit by allowing the females to hold recognizable rank within the unit. This will force the junior male officers to respect and also prevent sexual harassment.
If the readiness and cohesion of the unit is to be retained in the military, there is a need for the authority to change their perspective on women. They have to view them as people with equal capability and will to serve in these units (Orvis, Karin et al. 143-157). The adjustment that is important is to view women and men as people with equal strength and knowledge to manage any position in the military. The other adjustment that is essential is that both women and men deserve equal training. Men should not have their special training; they should have a common training instead. The aspect of promotion should be based on merit rather that gender (Johnson Brad et al. 311-315).
The cohesion of the unit is also dependent on the aspect of social interaction between the males and the females. If the males are willing to in co-operate the females in their unit, then the cohesion of the unit will not be affected. However, if they reject female companions, then the social aspect turns out to be sour and the cohesion may be affected depending on the reaction of the various members of the unit. From the statistical data, a majority of the male officers seem to be of the idea that females should be given a chance to join the units (Johnson Brad et al. 311-315). Therefore, the reality is that nothing much regarding the units is affected by the introduction of the females in the unit.
The cry from the interior and exterior of the armed forces is loud enough to be ignored by the law formulators. It is high time both moral sanity and harmonious relationship between the male and female officers were restored. The voice of women has not only been echoed in public but it has been also heard by the implementers such as courts of justice, which have seen the essence in it. Therefore, if the Congress appreciates the service and commitment of the female soldiers, they ought to show respect by granting them their will.
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