Women on the front line...
Big story in the news that the MOD is looking at allowing women to serve in The Royal Armoured Corps and Infantry. There seems to be a lot of confusion out there with the term 'Front line', women have been serving 'alongside' these arms on the front line for years as medics, REME technicians, Royal Artillery and Engineers etc BUT not in the RAC or Infantry, I'd be interested to hear people's views on the subject. For me there is no ***ist issue, in my opinion a female is not built to carry 60+ pounds of equipment into contact and then close with and kill the enemy at close quarters which is a requirement in a teeth arm unit, there is also the proven theory that men find themselves drawn to protect women over their male colleagues (Israeli army has had issues with this for years) this is a very dangerous scenario. I'm opposed to this change, but remain very proud of the many women I have worked alongside on operations and have seen the great work they do in other areas with my own eyes.
re: Women on the front line...
A couple of questions:
1) When you say front line and close quarters, do you mean shooting a gun from about 50 yards from the enemy? I see no reason why a woman can't do that. Or are we talking closer than that?
2) Aren't we pulling out of Afghanistan anyway, what front line will we actually have left?
re: Women on the front line...
Quote:
Originally Posted by chiswickmart
A couple of questions:
1) When you say front line and close quarters, do you mean shooting a gun from about 50 yards from the enemy? I see no reason why a woman can't do that. Or are we talking closer than that?
2) Aren't we pulling out of Afghanistan anyway, what front line will we actually have left?
1) Part of the infantrys and in many cases the RAC's job is to close with and destroy the enemy, for example when clearing an objective the tanks of the RAC would provide support to the infantry as they go onto the objective, clearing trenches etc, this brings soldiers face to face with the enemy, in Iraq in 2004 the PWRR fixed and used bayonets to fight off an insurgent onslaught during the Battle of Danny Boy, this is close quarters not 'shooting from 50m away.
2) After Afghanistan there will be other operations, Ukraine? Iran? Syria? Who knows, but just because there is no current theatre of operations doesn't mean you just
re: Women on the front line...
Quote:
Originally Posted by PonyFiddlerReturns
Thoughts?
Not on the frontline in close quarter operations..
My first thoughts are - not strong enough physically; remain to be convinced of their psychological suitability; too distracting (in many ways); they don't need to be there; political correctness gone mad;...
/canofworms
re: Women on the front line...
Yesterday on radio 4 a female Brigadier who is apparently the highest ranking female in the British Army claimed that women should be able to serve in infantry regiments.However she said she didn't envisage many would do it and that standards shouldn't be dropped. The Falklands scenario was given when men were carrying 120 LB rucsacs. The female Brigadier stated a lot of weight lifting relies on technique and not brute strength. Personally I disagree with her and would not feel confident with women in infantry positions. My wife is an ex Israeli army officer and has spoken about what Fiddler refers to re protecting women in frontline positions so for once I agree with what the learned window licker says!
re: Women on the front line...
Quote:
Originally Posted by PapaLazarou
Thoughts?
Not on the frontline in close quarter operations..
My first thoughts are - not strong enough physically; remain to be convinced of their psychological suitability; too distracting (in many ways); they don't need to be there; political correctness gone mad;...
/canofworms[/quote] This is the thing Papa, this political correctness has gone to far in many walks of life but this absolutely takes the p*ss in the fact that it could actually put lives at risk unnecessarily. Political correctness shouldn't get in the way of basic facts. The amount of equipment carried by a counter IED patrol team member is astronomical, there is no way IMO that a woman would be able to carry it and do her job effectively, women simply aren't built that way. Secondly, it cannot be underestimated how much controlled aggression is required to use a bayonet on somebody, again women j
re: Women on the front line...
Quote:
Originally Posted by simondenmead
Yesterday on radio 4 a female Brigadier who is apparently the highest ranking female in the British Army claimed that women should be able to serve in infantry regiments.However she said she didn't envisage many would do it and that standards shouldn't be dropped. The Falklands scenario was given when men were carrying 120 LB rucsacs. The female Brigadier stated a lot of weight lifting relies on technique and not brute strength. Personally I disagree with her and would not feel confident with women in infantry positions. My wife is an ex Israeli army officer and has spoken about what Fiddler refers to re protecting women in frontline positions so for once I agree with what the learned window licker says!
This is not the first time you've agreed with me you dribbling sp@stic!!
re: Women on the front line...
Quote:
Originally Posted by PonyFiddlerReturns
Thoughts?
Not on the frontline in close quarter operations..
My first thoughts are - not strong enough physically; remain to be convinced of their psychological suitability; too distracting (in many ways); they don't need to be there; political correctness gone mad;...
/canofworms[/quote] This is the thing Papa, this political correctness has gone to far in many walks of life but this absolutely takes the p*ss in the fact that it could actually put lives at risk unnecessarily. Political correctness shouldn't get in the way of basic facts. The amount of equipment carried by a counter IED patrol team member is astronomical, there is no way IMO that a woman would be able to carry it and do her job effectively, women simply aren't built that way. Secondly, it cannot be underestimated how much controlled aggression
re: Women on the front line...
Quote:
Originally Posted by simondenmead
Thoughts?
Not on the frontline in close quarter operations..
My first thoughts are - not strong enough physically; remain to be convinced of their psychological suitability; too distracting (in many ways); they don't need to be there; political correctness gone mad;...
/canofworms[/quote] This is the thing Papa, this political correctness has gone to far in many walks of life but this absolutely takes the p*ss in the fact that it could actually put lives at risk unnecessarily. Political correctness shouldn't get in the way of basic facts. The amount of equipment carried by a counter IED patrol team member is astronomical, there is no way IMO that a woman would be able to carry it and do her job effectively, women simply aren't built that way. Secondly, it canno
re: Women on the front line...
Did they not have all women tank crews at Kursk?
