We were having an argument about this over lunch after reading an article in the Marine Corps times, so I might as well put in my two cents. I apologize before hand if I offend someone.
Before they let females into the infantry, they better make the PFT/CFT(Physical fitness test/Combat Fitness Test) standards equal. Us Grunts have to hump with a minimum load (roughly 80 pounds for a Rifleman, more for a Weapons Marine, not taking into account extra gear used during deployments like radios), there is no double standard in the infantry world, and before females can be allowed to go 03, they should have to prove that they can go toe-to-toe with males in POG (Personnel other than Gunt, or non Infantry) jobs. The average female, cannot hump the necessary equipment that a grunt needs to, for as long as a grunt needs to. sure, this is a blanket statement on my part, but there are more women who CANT than those who CAN. Their bodies just arent built the same, its scientific fact. to argue that they are physiologically (SP?) equal is idiocy. then theres the need for hygiene that females have that males DONT. In Afghanistan, we could go months without a shower because the only water we had was the water we drank.
Also Islamic militants rarely, if ever, surrender to female soldiers. In modern warfare where intelligence is perhaps more important than enemy casualties, every factor reducing combatants' willingness to fight is considered. Similarly, Iraqi and Afghani civilians are often not intimidated by female soldiers. However, in such environments, having female soldiers serving within a combat unit does have the advantage of allowing for searches on female civilians, and in some cases the female areas of segregated mosques, while causing less offense amongst the occupied population.
Don't get me wrong, there are tons of men in the infantry that honestly can't hack it either.
