"U.K. May Use Women in Military Combat Roles ..." Topic

…in 2016 After Review .

"The U.K. armed forces may deploy women in close combat roles as early as 2016 after a review dismissed some of the objections to the move.

The review, by the chief of the general staff, Nicholas Carter, found that the deployment of women would not affect cohesion among troops, one of the reasons combat units have remained male-only. It said there needs to be more research into the physiological effects of combat on women before a final decision is made on sending them to the front line.

"Roles in our armed forces should be determined by ability, not gender," Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said in an e-mailed statement. "I hope that, following further work on our training regimes and equipment, we can open up combat roles to women in 2016."…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

two senior female army officers were very quick in last nights news to say it not a good idea….

I agree …

Has the Geneva Convention in respect of arming women been changed?

So Vasquez, you ever been mistaken for a man?

LOL !!!!!

Mikasa – No, have you?

I'll be at home looking after kids ;)
Them army benefits are goo-ood.
Cynical cheers

"Has the Geneva Convention in respect of arming women been changed?"

I had no idea, can you provide details?

Yes, would like to hear about that too. First time I ve ever heard that GC would had some limitations towards females as armed combatants.

Yes … Interesting …

Yes, would like to hear about that too. First time I ve ever heard that GC would had some limitations towards females as armed combatants.

Well if I remember my training properly one of the limitations was that women would not be armed; just as with medics.

Given the number of countries who do use women, and have done for years, I don't think that was ever part of the Geneva Convention.

I can remember seeing Tunisian female soldiers back in 1985 when on holiday there.

Well all armies have females … and they are armed regardless of the MOS/job when on field ops, deployments, etc., like any other soldier. Whether truck drivers, clerks, mechanics, pilots, etc. … But very few armies especailly in the West, have females in Combat Arms like the Infantry, Tanks, etc. …

The only western army** I am willing to state for certain that has women in combat arms (infantry/armor/artillery) is Israel.

And they had some difficulties with integrated formations at the tactical level. There's something in the primordial instincts of males to rush to assist females in combat, even where a male unit in the same situation would have been left to fend for themselves.

It's my understanding that the Israelis segregate combat units at the company level, to minimize the disruptions caused by caveman instincts.

** I understand that several of the Scandahooligan navies allow women on subs, but they don't do 6-9 month deployments like the US does.

Good. About bloody time. Since the creation of the musket there's been no good reason to not allow women to fight. Actually, there's been no good reason to not allow women to fight ever. Just look at the Dahomey.

There is more to being a combat arms soldier than being able to load and fire a rifle …

Lion, the Danes have used fully integrated infantry for some time, including in combat, and report no problems – at least according to the BBC.

@Stu: Didn't know that, thanks!

And PMC317, there are lots of good reasons to not let women fight unless it's a war of extinction. I already mentioned one in my last post. Another is that the only time women fight, it's an enemy-for-life issue. Men are psychologically capable of declaring a truce and actually sharing a meal with their enemy. Women? Nope. Their very biochemistry doesn't work that way.

Ask any teacher (especially Junior High teachers): If two boys are fighting, wade in, pull them apart, send them to the principal's office. But if two girls are fighting (and I mean actually swinging at each other), if you value your life you will stand clear and send the survivor to the hospital. If you try to break it up you will have both of them attacking you.