"My reference point is standard light infantry PT and weapons training. This includes the US army, USMC, royal marines, Bundeswehr, etc . Something tells me some of those women are not doing 10 pull ups, 50 push-ups, running 3 miles in under 23 minutes, or scoring 200/250 -Sharpshooter- whatever on their rifle qualification... "
Then you reference wrong.
Every one of these women have passed their PT test and qualified marksmen. We don't ask more of our troops. None are enlisted in the combat arms, much less light infantry, one-third of which hate trying to hold a zero with an M-68 sight on an M-4...
...and short of you being 35 or younger and fit as hell, you aren't going to punch 10 pull-ups, 50 push-ups, running 3 miles in under 23 minutes either as a mean average for your age.
You can sh!t on these ladies or the U.S. if you wish but it won't make a hill of beans difference. They'll fight, most of them, if called upon and do the best job they can as tracked vehicle mechanics, M.P.s, admin clerks, truck drivers and God knows everything else...except combat arms.
But then, who ever said that there's a front line anymore.
I find your expectations very unusual but then "
perfect" is the enemy of "
good enough". They're good enough.
Female M.P. Wins Silver Star For Bravery In Iraq-NYT
"Well, after my various dealing with the US government... maybe I am not so surprised..."
Yup. Still the richest. Still the strongest. And that STILL says everything I need to know about the rest of you. So slag away as if it'll make any difference anytime soon.
Thanks.
I think you are missing my point here. I am not "Shitting" on these ladies. I am sure they are good at whatever there specialization was. Their lack of physical fitness or proficiency on the one-way range says next to nothing about their bravery or willingness to close with and kill the enemy. However, they were attached to units doing offensive combat operations, going house to house. So, if you are attached to a "Light Infantry" unit, it would probably be wise to actually be proficient at the things light infantry does.
The policy of the US DOD is that women are not allowed to participate in "Combat operations" or "Combat Arms". Saying those things is all well and good, but it is stupid to say those things and then precede to throw women in with units which are guaranteed to see lots of combat, and require basic skills those women were not trained for.
That gets people killed.
Now, historically those unprepared for combat find a way to get out of the firing lanes, shoot back some, and generally keep themselves out of trouble, but what happens when you need to reach an objective quickly? What about when you need to climb a wall or cliff? What if the one unprepared for combat is the only person in position with a line of sight to take the shot that will save lives in his/her unit?
These things don't come up very often if you are in a logistics convoy, or protecting an ammo dump, but they sure as hell do come up when you are busting down doors looking for insurgents.
"Not my army or he wouldn't use light infantry, the fittest athletes in this world with a license to kill, as a benchmark for these women.."
You are correct, I have never been enlisted or commissioned in the US Army. But I could lie through my teeth about it, and you would probably never know, this is the Internet after all. I prefer my ideas to stand on their own merit or lack thereof. Now stop getting all defensive and post something without all of the ire please.
My argument is really with DOD policy, not with the PT and weapons standards of Track Mechanics, signals officers, admin clerks, or any of a million other MOS's....
Also, 10 pull ups and 23 minute three mile times in my opinion don't make you an athlete. They just mean you have time to hit the gym 3-4 times a week. At least in the 18-28 range, in your 30's and 40's, or for women, it takes a bit more dedication...