We’ve done several pieces on women in Special Ops and it’s obviously still a hotbed for debate.  I like that the SOFREP community can hold a healthy debate and look at things objectively (for the most part).

In the past we’ve seen military capabilities come and go and get re-invented quite a few times (e.g. aerial combat and sniping to name two). The same can be said using women in combat throughout history.

I disagree with lowering standards or making exceptions for any race or sex in the Special Operations. In the beginning, let everyone in and keep the standards the same and only over time develop modified physical standards for females since their anatomy is clearly different. It’s the mental game that matters anyway.  This will prevent male counterparts from crying Bull Shit and also gives females a sense of pride for having made it with the same set of standards.  Cram them through and you do nobody any favors except maybe top ranking officials and officers that are more concerned with a too often seen non-exemplary punching of their tickets. And it creates all sorts of hidden and expensive consequences, low morale being a big one for both men and women.

I agree that having women integrated into male combat units will have its problems and ass grabbing is just the beginning. We should look to other Defense forces like the Israelis for positive examples of integration.

It’s important for the purposes of this debate (on women in combat units) to point out that women have had their rightful place as warriors throughout the history of warfare.

Here is snap shot of five women I list as an example, some famous and some not so famous.

Women in Combat

1. Joan of Arc

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