The ACLU is suing the Defense Department to put an end to the ban on women in combat. Comments from Facebook:

As an infantryman in the Army, the ban on women in combat has nothing to do with thinking men are better than women. It has everything to do with team building. An infantryman's job is to directly engage the enemy. It requires being able to trust those with you. The one factor that makes it a bad idea for the infantry is the fact that women get pregnant. If that happens, she can't deploy or gets sent back home from a deployment. That puts you short a person. Even if you get a replacement, you still don't know that person. The replacement has to earn the trust already built among all the other team members.

Josh Schwarzott

While we're at it, let's hold women to the same physical standard and have them register for the draft. That should eliminate all arguments about discrimination.

Jeff Morris

I agree. Most strong women expect this. ... I did my time in the Marine Corps and then moved to three war zones, living outside the military.

I know about stress, and I can personally tell you there were many men smaller than me in the Corps who couldn't match me physically. There are females in all branches who are physically capable of doing the same things as men. Why would you want to hold someone back who is qualified?

Jane Schlotterbeck

Women shouldn't be in combat. I am a tough woman, but I know if I were in flack and in full gear and carrying a weapon, I would be greatly inhibited. This isn't about "equal rights"; it is about physical characteristics. Women's bodies have not evolved for the strengths needed in an infantry unit. Being bull-headed about that doesn't change a thing.

To be honest, I am not concerned with women disrupting the scheme of things because of the absurd notion men and women can't control themselves around each other. I am concerned that when my husband is deployed, some woman will not be able to properly back him up because she is physically incapable of doing the job regardless of how badly she wants to.

Jessica Kelly Smith

I believe some women, not all but some, are more than capable. I currently teach women self-defense with and without firearms. I'm constantly impressed.

Jason Ajlan


In combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan covering approximately 10 years:

283,000 female servicemembers have been deployed.

More than 800 have been wounded.

More than 130 have died.

Source Congressional Research Service

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