Women in Combat: How Far Have We Come?

by Elizabeth Dovell

Six months ago an "experimental" all-female engagement team was sent into Afghanistan's Helmand Province with the goal of winning the hearts and minds of the female population there. In an area restricted to men, Marja, Helmand Province is a key battleground area in the war in Afghanistan. The female U.S. troops arrived in the province with a mission to gather intelligence such as humanitarian need and other information. The female Marines found themselves facing unspeakable danger while at the same time violating the rules concerning women in open combat. Despite the hardship and danger these women experience on a daily basis, the team has not experienced any casualties.

The fact remains that women are barred from participating in certain branches of the military such as he Navy SEALS and the U.S. Army Rangers, mostly due to men’s physical superiority over women. That does not, however, make women any less valuable in other military branches. Individuals serving in the military should view their peers with respect and trust; after all, you're supposed to trust your fellows with your lives. A functioning squadron needs that group mentality and trust in order to function properly. Sadly, this has not always been the case. The past couple of decades have seen incidents that paint a disturbing picture for women in the military.

I hold those who serve in the U.S. military to a certains standard. While sexual assault is never acceptable on any grounds, by any individual serving in any professional field, the public is still shocked when, say, a politician is involved in a sexual scandal. It's a lesser-newsworthy event if a supermarket employee is accused of harassment. We hold certain positions in a higher moral regard: politicians, military folk, etc: we expect something from them. We expect our politicians and our soldiers to appropriately represent this country to the rest of the world. The Tailhook scandal of 1991 and the U.S. Air Force Academy of 1996 rocked the country and made us open our eyes to the fact that this country still has a long way to go in terms of respect and honor in the military. However, it is imperative to remember that these incidents absolutely do not reflect the majority of individuals who sacrifice so much to serve in this country's armed forces. That fact is why I am infuriated with the few who do participate in such vile behavior: not only are they morally bankrupt, but they reflect poorly on their fellows who are making such a colossal sacrifice and volunteering to put their lives on the line.

I was inspired to write a piece on women in the military after a recent publication in the New York Times. My overarching point is this: the more emphasis this country places on the value and necessity of female soldiers, the more respect they will gain from their male peers. While this will probably not eradicate the problem of sexual harassment and assault in the military, it is certainly a positive step that should be taken. Again, I must reiterate that the number of male soldiers who do participate in harassment may be in the minority; but that does not mean that the issue shouldn't be spotlighted for fear of belittling the commitment of the more ethical majority.

Women have indeed made great strides in the realm of career advancement- and not just in the military. In order for this trend to continue, and for women to experience the group cohesion that men enjoy simply for their gender (I'm excluding the discomfort many gay men most likely feel for be required to conceal their sexual identities- but that's another blog post for another time), it is imperative that the military continue to highlight the need for women to participate in missions such as this most recent one in Helmand Province. We must continue to show how much we value our female troops.