Women in Combat

shogun
Tue, 17 May 2005 01:18:29 +0000

Gee, I guess everybody knows that in today’s army, the more you can benchpress the better fighter and combat leader you’ll be. (Only one problem–Somebody forgot to tell some of the women serving in combat in Iraq)

Col Gregor is entitled to his opinion, even one given 15 years ago. It does not however refute the fact that TODAY women already serve in combat zones, under fire, and competently. One in seven soldiers in Iraq is a woman—

" Female American troops in Iraq have killed Iraqis with bombs and bullets. They have won medals for valor and Purple Hearts for combat wounds. They have been captured as prisoners of war, killed by enemy fire and buried as heroes in Arlington National Cemetery.

American women have participated more extensively in combat in Iraq than in any previous war in U.S. history.

They have taken roles nearly inconceivable just a decade or two ago — flying fighter jets and attack helicopters, patrolling streets armed with machine guns and commanding units of mostly male soldiers. Seven have been killed in combat…But the conflict in Iraq, like other modern wars, has blurred the line between combat and non-combat units.

Women can serve as military police, which patrol Iraqi cities and often have been involved in fighting with Iraqi insurgents. Supply convoys and troop transports often include female soldiers and have been the targets of repeated attacks by anti-U.S. forces.

• Army Pvt. Teresa Broadwell, 20, won a Bronze Star for valor for laying down machine-gun fire while her military police unit was under attack in Karbala in October."

Gee I wonder if the male members of Pvt Broadwell’s MP unit were glad she was there on that day with them or not???

Her story–(not bad for someone who wouldn’t have met the “army’s physical standards for a male soldier” )