{"id":19417,"date":"2013-01-31T18:26:39","date_gmt":"2013-01-31T23:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/?p=19417"},"modified":"2013-01-31T18:26:39","modified_gmt":"2013-01-31T23:26:39","slug":"ban-on-women-in-combat-a-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/2013\/01\/ban-on-women-in-combat-a-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Ban on Women in Combat: A Response"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently had the opportunity to read Professor Mazzie\u2019s post<\/a> on the lifting of the ban on women serving in combat.\u00a0 As a military officer with over 20 years of service to include a recent overseas deployment to a combat zone, I thought that I would offer my personal observations and opinions related to this matter.<\/p>\n

First, while I personally have not served on the \u201cfront lines,\u201d I generally agree with the lifting of the ban.\u00a0 Since September 11, 2001, women have served alongside men in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other places around the world.\u00a0 The majority of women have served with great distinction and all of them who have served have made great sacrifices (let us also not forget about the sacrifices that their families have made).\u00a0 As Professor Mazzie notes, since September 11, 2001, 152 women have made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good of this country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a person who enlisted as a Private in 1992, I have seen how the military has grown, matured, and become more professional over the years, especially since the rapid deployment of service members over the last 11 years.\u00a0 Professor Mazzie entitles her post \u201cBan on Women in Combat Lifted: Is the Military Ready?\u201d\u00a0 For the reasons cited above, I do believe that the military is ready.\u00a0 If the military is not ready at this point in time, after 11 plus years of overseas operations in which women have played a key role in the success of these operations, I personally do not believe that the military will ever be ready.\u00a0 To put it simply, I believe that the timing is right and the lifting of the ban is the right thing to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n

All that being said, I do believe that some of the arguments made by\u00a0opponents of the lifting of the ban have some validity.\u00a0 Generally, I do not believe that these people are being sexist.\u00a0 Once again, relying on my personal knowledge and experience in a military environment, I believe that a couple of the arguments rise above the rest.\u00a0 First, \u201cabysmal and base\u201d living conditions do not accurately describe some of the living conditions that our service members have to endure.\u00a0 In a combat environment, our service members may go weeks, and maybe even months, without a shower.\u00a0 While I am not an expert in female personal hygiene requirements, I do believe that it is likely that males may be much better suited for these kind of conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another argument that has been made, but probably has not been eloquently explained, is what is commonly referred to as the \u201cunit cohesion\u201d argument.\u00a0 Let me be frank (and please keep in mind that I support the lifting of the ban and do not believe that segregating service members is the right thing to do).\u00a0 However, in my military experience, there is no question that it is easier to maintain a single-gender unit.\u00a0 Furthermore, a single-gender unit is also generally more drama free than a unit where males and females co-exist.\u00a0 There is little question that intimate relationships will form and exist in a coed unit.\u00a0 Oftentimes, these types of relationships have an effect on the professionalism and cohesiveness of the unit.\u00a0 As relationships form, animosity and tension grow among peers especially among those who miss their families.\u00a0 Additionally,\u00a0as relationships deteriorate, there are often splits within the unit.\u00a0 In an environment where service members\u2019 lives depend on each other\u2019s loyalty and commitment, the least little bit of a distraction could prove to be catastrophic.\u00a0 Lives could be lost.\u00a0 Personally, I believe that this concept is often underestimated by the population that has not served in these types of environments.\u00a0 Finally, the fact is that the military (at least through my own experience) has the most discipline problems in coed units.<\/p>\n

In summary, I do believe that the lifting of the ban is the right thing to do.\u00a0 However, there are some concerns that have to be well-thought-out and planned for.\u00a0 I would also reiterate that those that may be opposed to the lifting of the ban are generally not opposed to equal opportunity.\u00a0 It is more likely that there are legitimate concerns that are likely not adequately understood by the general public who have not served in a combat environment.\u00a0 For that reason, I would caution against the use of sarcasm and political rhetoric that is commonly used by proponents that argue for the advancement of equal opportunity.\u00a0 \u00a0Let us keep the dialog professional in nature.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I recently had the opportunity to read Professor Mazzie\u2019s post on the lifting of the ban on women serving in combat.\u00a0 As a military officer with over 20 years of service to include a recent overseas deployment to a combat zone, I thought that I would offer my personal observations and opinions related to this 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