40 Rounds! This simple slogan was a charge that was unique to my basic training unit (Bravo Company 3-13th Infantry Battalion) and was used for any number of reasons. Whether it be showing one’s motivation, confirming an understanding of an assigned task, thanking a Drill Sergeant for answering a question, or sarcastically spouting the line to show your anger at your fellow soldier’s incompetency, this slogan was encouraged by our Drill Sergeants, both female and male. As can be seen by just observing basic training units, Noncommissioned and Commissioned Officers, regardless of gender, make excellent leaders, whether it be in small unit or large unit settings. However, these training exercises are just that, training, and as we all know the
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With females being integrated into combat arms positions this obligation may also suffer due to issues within the units and amongst individual soldiers that may arise. One such issue is the increase in cases having to do with the Sexual Harassment/Assault Retention and Prevention (or SHARP) program within the Army. While this may seem like an extreme thing to say it is logically accurate, because, as one increases the number of females within these formerly largely male dominated units, the odds of a SHARP violations will automatically rise as well. By opening up this possibility for sexual harassment or assault, one will be endangering the safety, both mentally and physically for soldiers of either gender. While this does not mean that female leaders would be ineffective at resolving these issues, as can be proven by the way that female leaders in support units resolve these issues, it does mean that more SHARP cases would be rising army wide. Aside from this, safety of both female leaders and junior enlisted could also be endangered by interacting with captors. For better or worse, in war, members of one side will get captured and prisoners of war are inevitable. While we would prefer most people to treat captives with dignity as outlined in the Geneva Accords this will never be a guarantee. Unfortunately, with women prisoners, this may also bring up …show more content…
While one could scope out any number of problems with integrating women into combat arms, one of the biggest would be the draft. As of current times, although the military is all voluntary, male citizens of voting age are required, by law, to register for the draft; this is done in the preparation for a need for a large flux of people into the military, especially combat arms positions, if the United States were to go to war on a large scale. As women are added to combat units, this raises the question of whether or not women should also be added to the draft. If this change in draft registration were to occur, two more issues would arise. The first of these issues would be if women were to be drafted and assigned to combat arms units would the army have to lower its standards? Certainly being a woman does not mean that one is automatically unable to complete the duties of males, just look at the fact that multiple women have completed Army Ranger school, however it can be understood that those women who are able to meet the standards of combat arms units are much less than those of men. Therefore, with a large influx of females into the army, if they were assigned to combat arms units, the odds of more women being recycled due to failure to
With females being integrated into combat arms positions this obligation may also suffer due to issues within the units and amongst individual soldiers that may arise. One such issue is the increase in cases having to do with the Sexual Harassment/Assault Retention and Prevention (or SHARP) program within the Army. While this may seem like an extreme thing to say it is logically accurate, because, as one increases the number of females within these formerly largely male dominated units, the odds of a SHARP violations will automatically rise as well. By opening up this possibility for sexual harassment or assault, one will be endangering the safety, both mentally and physically for soldiers of either gender. While this does not mean that female leaders would be ineffective at resolving these issues, as can be proven by the way that female leaders in support units resolve these issues, it does mean that more SHARP cases would be rising army wide. Aside from this, safety of both female leaders and junior enlisted could also be endangered by interacting with captors. For better or worse, in war, members of one side will get captured and prisoners of war are inevitable. While we would prefer most people to treat captives with dignity as outlined in the Geneva Accords this will never be a guarantee. Unfortunately, with women prisoners, this may also bring up …show more content…
While one could scope out any number of problems with integrating women into combat arms, one of the biggest would be the draft. As of current times, although the military is all voluntary, male citizens of voting age are required, by law, to register for the draft; this is done in the preparation for a need for a large flux of people into the military, especially combat arms positions, if the United States were to go to war on a large scale. As women are added to combat units, this raises the question of whether or not women should also be added to the draft. If this change in draft registration were to occur, two more issues would arise. The first of these issues would be if women were to be drafted and assigned to combat arms units would the army have to lower its standards? Certainly being a woman does not mean that one is automatically unable to complete the duties of males, just look at the fact that multiple women have completed Army Ranger school, however it can be understood that those women who are able to meet the standards of combat arms units are much less than those of men. Therefore, with a large influx of females into the army, if they were assigned to combat arms units, the odds of more women being recycled due to failure to