{"id":17297,"date":"2013-01-24T07:24:41","date_gmt":"2013-01-24T12:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/?p=17297"},"modified":"2013-01-24T07:24:41","modified_gmt":"2013-01-24T12:24:41","slug":"a-word-from-someone-who-understands-the-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/?p=17297","title":{"rendered":"A Word From Someone Who Understands The Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ky Hunter served in the Marine Corps<\/a>. She was a Cobra pilot during the Iraq<\/a> War. When I first met her a number of years ago, I asked her how that was possible since as far as I knew women were not in combat. She answered, “I wasn’t in combat, I was a few hundred feet up and a few hundred feet back.” I loved her answer, and I respect her views on the subject. She posted the following on her blog, welcometokylandblogspot.com<\/a> yesterday:<\/p>\n

Those Who Should, Will<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n
Secretary Panetta lifted the ban on women on combat roles. \u00a0The Washington Post <\/i><\/a>calls this a “watershed policy change that was informed by women\u2019s valor in Iraq and Afghanistan<\/a> and that removes the remaining barrier to a fully inclusive military.”<\/strong><\/div>\n
Given my time spent as an AH-1W<\/a> pilot in the Marine Corps, my phone, email,\u00a0Facebook, twitter, etc has been bombarded with questions about how I feel about this. \u00a0So rather than answer everyone individually, below, I wrap up all question and give my response.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
First, a disclaimer. \u00a0I am no longer in the Marine Corps. \u00a0The views, idea, feeling, rants, offensive comments, off color remarks, or general pissyness are mine and mine alone. \u00a0They do not reflect the the views of the Corps, or University of Denver<\/a>. \u00a0So, with that aside, here I go.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
Historically, the central question of the women in combat<\/a> debate has been \u201care women physically capable of performing the duties required for combat?\u201d This question is quickly and easily answered.\u00a0 Objectively, women are increasingly proving themselves as physically capable as men.\u00a0 In both endurance events and tests of strength-to-weight, women are evening the playing field and living up to what has been thought of as \u201cmens standards.\u201d\u00a0 Women have also proven themselves tactically as capable as men in all objectively measurable fields.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
If these objective standards \u2013 how fast one can run, how much one can lift, how well one can shoot \u2013 were the only indicators of success in combat there would be no argument or debate; those meeting the standard would be inarguably successful.\u00a0 However, success in combat units is determined by more than just objective abilities, and thus the debate deepens. It is universally accepted that the safety and success of our military units is paramount.\u00a0 It is for this reason that I believe the debate needs to shift away from \u201care women capable\u201d of serving to \u201care women a value added\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 This changes the argument from \u201ccan or cannot\u201d to \u201cshould or should not\u201d; a question that needs to be addressed top-down rather than bottom-up.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
Throughout the last decade-plus of the United States<\/a>\u2019 involvement in the conflicts encompassing the Global War on Terror<\/a>, there is no arguing that women have found themselves \u201cin combat situations.\u201d\u00a0 In these situations, women have shown valor, strength, leadership, fortitude, and upheld the values of honor, courage and commitment.\u00a0 Many have given the ultimate sacrifice, and each and every one of them deserves a place in history and our hearts as a true hero.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
But being \u201cin combat situations\u201d is not the same as being a \u201ccombatant.\u201d\u00a0 Combatants are offensive.\u00a0 Their mission is to close with and destroy the enemy.\u00a0 They seek engagement.\u00a0 Their primary purpose is to assert superiority over an enemy force.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
Having the technical and tactical skill to react properly when coming under fire during the performance of primary duties \u2013 whether it be an ambushed logistics patrol, FET team patrol, or MP checkpoint attack \u2013 provides a foundation of knowledge and experience necessary for the argument supporting a woman\u2019s ability to be in combat.\u00a0 However, mastery of this baseline alone does not necessarily equate to success of a woman in the role of a combatant.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
Successful combat units are a product of the intangible \u2013 the fabled esprit de corps<\/i> \u2013 as much as technical and tactical proficiency.\u00a0 This elusive intangible cannot be \u201ctrained in\u201d to a recruit.\u00a0 It cannot be taught in infantry school.\u00a0 No amount of extra pushups, remedial weapons training or nights in the field ensure that it exists.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
Women are just as capable as men of developing the necessary esprit de corps.<\/i> \u00a0But it cannot be forced.\u00a0 I hope that in implementing these changes, no arbitrary timelines are put in place.\u00a0 If it takes 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years or 2 decades for the right women to come into combat roles, so be it.\u00a0 The US military is an all-volunteer force, and to respect that tradition, combat roles must be volunteer.\u00a0 Quota systems will only set the work of every woman who has served back, by making light of the sacrifices involved in paving the paths they did.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
I have the upmost trust that the DoD<\/a> will set standards appropriately.\u00a0 And I sincerely hope that the civilian oversight and general population will let this change grow organically and fruitfully, while respecting the grave responsibility for life given to each member of the US military.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n

I can say from experience that the road for these women will not be easy.\u00a0 I have chronicled much of my coming to grips with what my experience and service mean.\u00a0 But I know that I, and all my sisters in arms, are more than capable to serve in all roles necessary for defense of this great nation.\u00a0 Yet it will not be easy.\u00a0 And hopefully the public will understand that in such a situation we all must be patient for the women who should emerge to lead our sons and daughters in arms, and not force them in their time.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ky, thank you for your service, and thank you for your words of wisdom.<\/p>\n

\"Enhanced<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ky Hunter served in the Marine Corps. She was a Cobra pilot during the Iraq War. When I first met her a number of years ago, I asked her how that was possible since as far as I knew women … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[832,876,523,285,524,4863,1134,4864],"class_list":["post-17297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-afghanistan","tag-iraq","tag-marine","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-marine-corps","tag-university-of-denver","tag-washington-post","tag-women-in-the-military"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17297"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17300,"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17297\/revisions\/17300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rightwinggranny.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}