Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!lll-winken!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!tridom!atssc!fang!att!cbnewsc!cbnews!cbnews!military From: madmax@gargoyle.uchicago.edu (Max Abramowitz) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Combat MOS for Women ? Message-ID: <1991Jun27.021708.5253@cbnews.cb.att.com> Date: 27 Jun 91 02:17:08 GMT References: <1991Jun20.021602.2623@cbnews.cb.att.com> <1991Jun22.042038.3864@cbnews.cb.att.com> <1991Jun23.231250.11314@cbnews.cb.att.com> <1991Jun25.024836.27951@cbnews.cb.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.cb.att.com (william.a.thacker) Organization: University of Chicago Lines: 47 Approved: military@att.att.com From: madmax@gargoyle.uchicago.edu (Max Abramowitz) In <1991Jun25.024836.27951@cbnews.cb.att.com> psg@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Paul S Galvanek) writes: >From: "Paul S Galvanek" >>Not only is this perception wrong, but once again this is not relevant >>While the physical aspect of being a soldier is important, the mental >>aspect is by far, much more important. There is no evidence that shows >>that some women can not meet the mental and physical requirements >>which the United States Armed Forces have determined are necessary to >>serve in combat roles. >>max abramowitz >Actually Max it is your perception that is very, very wrong. You determine >physical adequacy as being the number of mile a person can hike compared to >another. That simply doesn't reflect in any way the realities of battle. You misunderstood what I was trying to point out. I did not say ALL women can meet SOME of the physical requirements, I said SOME women can meet ALL of the physical requirements. As to the mental aspect. Maybe it would be clearer if I put this way. Two men in a combat situation. One is in top physical shape, the other can meet all the requirements, but not much more. However, it is not unlikely for the man in excellent physical shape to freeze when bullets start to fly over head. While I have never been in combat nor for that fact in the military from what I have read and from those I have known who have, it seems to me that in an actual combat situation ones ability to deal with stress is far more important than ones physical condition. I do understand what you are saying. Personally, if I went into combat, I would be very unhappy if I was doubting the ability of any other member (male or female) of my group or squad. Also, I while I think that women should be allowed to serve in combat positions, I am not so certain that women should serve in all combat positions. I have fewer reservations with women flying combat missions in the Air Force than I would women serving in the infantry. However, believe what you want, but I think that an outright condemnation of women serving in any combat positions is wrong. max abramowitz madmax@gargoyle.uchicago.edu