Women in the military

Schuultz · February 6, 2011, 9:03pm

Yes, gumalangi, women look purty in uniforms. But soldiers aren’t supposed to be eye candy, they’re supposed to be professionals doing a job - and I find some of the stuff leccy recounted pretty disturbing. If a truck driver is not able to change tires, she’s not qualified for the job. If a pioneer/sapper can’t clear mines/build bridges, they’re not qualified to be pioneers. The fact that they’re still allowed to pretend to be such is a travesty.

gumalangi · February 7, 2011, 11:45am

It is true,… why have a dog if cant bark,. but like dogs,. is it a guard dog,. or just pet dog,…they serve purposes,. like truck driver,. if the truck is well maintained,. i do not think changing tire would be necessary,… as we noted many bus driver are ladies… but they cant change they punctured tires, but yet they performed quite well.

Rising_Sun · February 7, 2011, 2:03pm

leccy:

Having only left the forces in 2007 I saw alot of females taking up roles traditionally held by males only. In most cases I had no problem with them as long as they fitness requirements were the same between the two sexes.

Unfortunately the females had lower fitness requirements than the males to do the same job (even basic fitness tests) and recieved the same pay.

I lost count of the times when I would be approached (and was even reported once for refusing to help 'read do the job) to change a truck tyre as the female drivers could not (yet they are fully capable of doing the job, hmm what happens when they are not just base ratting but actually out on their own).

In my own Corps they made alot about the fact that females could now become Sappers, but they did not have to do Minewarfare or Bridging (too dangerous or too heavy for them) yet they got the same qualifications and pay.

I know quite a few females who can do those jobs and in some cases much better than some of the blokes I worked with (seen many a bloke struggle to lift bridging panels).

I am all for equality as long as it is for both sexes if females wish to do combat roles, mechanic, drivers etc etc then fine but they should do and pass the same fitness tests and do the same training as the lads doing those jobs, they should not keep doing the ‘flutter eyelashes bit’ at the nearest bloke to get them to do the heavy stuff.

I couldn’t agree more!

The job determines the requirements, not the person in the job.

In my day I lugged the usual load plus an M60 and necessary accessories. I don’t think the blokes my M60 was supposed to support would have been favourably impressed if I’d informed them that the total weight was a bit beyond me so I was ditching the M60.

I don’t care if they’re female or male, but if they can’t do the job then they shouldn’t be in it. And the job requirements shouldn’t be gender based, but derived solely from the needs of the service.

Rising_Sun · February 7, 2011, 2:06pm

Maybe not, but Indonesia’s not very far from where I am and, in light of gumalangi’s photos, I’m starting to think a trip north to cement defence relations with Australia mightn’t be a bad thing.

tankgeezer · February 7, 2011, 3:37pm

RS*,an exemplary citizen,always has the good of his Nation at heart.

pdf27 · February 7, 2011, 5:31pm

Hate to say it mate, but if you went they’d probably declare war!

Rising_Sun · February 7, 2011, 8:59pm

I wouldn’t mind being attacked by a brigade or two of those sheilas.

Iron_Yeoman · February 7, 2011, 10:28pm

RS* i’ll take the hit and provide your flank support, I could probably only manage a battalion of those ‘sheilas’ before battle fatigue set in.

tankgeezer · February 7, 2011, 11:06pm

Tactical oysters…

Iron_Yeoman · February 7, 2011, 11:42pm

Hello 0 this is IY send viagra replen over.

Rising_Sun · February 7, 2011, 11:55pm

You’ll be able to do more.

I’m looking at a long campaign.

gumalangi · February 8, 2011, 1:04am

You should RS,. you should :D…

glad to be around again

Cheers
G

gumalangi · February 8, 2011, 1:13am

are you all gonna sheila these too?

Strategic Army Reserve (Kostrad)

Special Army Unit (Kopassus)

leccy · February 8, 2011, 4:28pm

Lol unfortunately tyres get punctured, tracks get thrown, basic requirements for drivers are ability to secure their load and maintenance of their own vehicles, does not matter when they have to change a tyre or wheel they still have to do it in the military sometime. With females being deployed more and more on ops this sort of thing comes up more and more.

Years ago females got less pay for being drivers etc as they did not do the full range of jobs, they were restricted from some jobs as they were deemed unsuitable for them (due to strength or physique) now due to equal opportunity and sex discrimination they can now get the same pay but not have the same ability (same goes for some blokes) as someone else who can do the job. In my Corps they got the same wages and qualification but were exempt some jobs.

British Army Basic Fitness Requirements (and this is Equal is it)
Basic training tests

muscogeemike · February 9, 2011, 4:30am

As I said I think women make fine soldiers in selected positions, but, as others point out, not all positions.

As long as they can’t be drafted and sent into combat and men can (as far as I know at 18 males in the US are still required to register for the draft) they are not equal.

I did not hesitate to express this opinion and it hurt my Army career. NCO Evaluation reports in the 1970’s had spaces for “supports equal opportunities”, meaning minorities and women, and I was downgraded on occasion.

Iron_Yeoman · February 9, 2011, 8:52am

PC nonsense isn’t new then.