Women May Possibly Join Infantry Units By 2016

[ChillDoubt]

No, no, no, no, no! It's a total recipe for disaster. We've been through this before and it would IMHO be detrimental.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30539111

This(and similar incidents) has been discussed at length previously on AB, I'll post links as I'm unsure the 'Related Threads' thingy will work:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1210131-3.html

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1353548-2.html

[Sqad]

Chilli.....I am lead to believe that "infantry Units" exclude the "Para's and the Marines" in this case.

[jim360]

Yes you're right, you didn't mention a ratio of 6:1 and I misread that. Still, it doesn't follow that units will always follow the ratio of men to women who pass training. There will be variations around that, from units with no women to perhaps even all-female units.

In the end it's about who is capable. The rest will sort itself out with time. Like all other previously male-dominated institutions, once women joined there was a teething period and then no-one cared any more. I don't see any reason for the front-line to be different.

[woofgang]

I tried to read this thread seriously but gave up at "alpha males at their physical peak"

[Sqad]

\\\\\ "alpha males at their physical peak"\\\\

Defn....Males with testosterone surging through their veins who would sg@g anything, anytime and anywhere.

Not that uncommon i am told.

[jim360]

Under such circumstances women are in no more danger than a nearby squirrel, and possibly rather less!

[woofgang]

so are they not already errrm "using" each other if that is the case Sqad?

[Sqad]

jim/woofgang..........ah! I see your point.

"Anything" is defined as any human female.

[sandyRoe]

Could they always be depended on to pull the trigger?
I'm thinking of an incident here in Belfast. The army had intelligence that an attack was going to be carried out against civilians in the Ardoyne area. It duly happened and a man walking along the street was shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle.
An army unit, a man and a woman, chased the bike in their car and crashed into it. The driver jumped out and shot one of the two killers. The woman soldier drew her gun but for some reason didn't fire.

[jim360]

Men don't always fire either.

[Svejk]

Phil Hammond said they would 'water down' the physical requirements needed to serve on the front line. I doubt they can operate a two-tier system so it looks like a lowering of standards all around. Still, maybe that's considered a price worth paying to satisfy the 'whims' of what I suspect is a handful of women.

[jackthehat]

Mrs JtH was unable to serve in N.I. - She underwent 'the course' but was deemed too violent.....LoL

She was more than capable of dealing with any Squaddie who hadn't got his mind on his 'task' and I think that still holds true today....

[Sqad]

\\\An army unit, a man and a woman, chased the bike in their car and crashed into it. The driver jumped out and shot one of the two killers. The woman soldier drew her gun but for some reason didn't fire.\\\

Apparently she caught the barrel of her gun in her knickers.

[Old_Geezer]

I can't see any big issues. Regardless of gender each will know the risks, and know the indignities. Sheer muscle strength would be a disadvantage but the aim is not to let the enemy get that close. I am unconvinced one gender should be sheltered from such an awful situation whilst the other is expected to get on with it.

[SirOracle]

Been there , done it , got the T shirt....NO NO NO.

For once I agree with ChillDoubt.

[Peter Pedant]

The Russians had women in the Red Army that liberated er Berlin in 1945 and I dont recall that there were complaints that they were too girlie

[Peter Pedant]

N I again

the big success - the Four Square Laundry .... it was a laundry that collected er laundry from republican areas and generated valuable intelligence

that had women in it - yeah ?

having only men built like brick ***- houses might have stood out....

[Peter Pedant]

// Apparently she caught the barrel of her gun in her knickers.//

and was lucky to get away with shooting herself in the .... foot

why do people have to trivialise important questions and serious answers ?

[Baldric]

//Mr Fallon has ordered an 18-month review of training procedures and the physical demands of fighting to ensure the change can be made without damaging female soldiers' health.//

I hope in effect that doesn't mean a 'dumbing down' of standards. When I applied to join the RM's, many years ago now, I was a very strong, fit Lad and I had to work *** hard to achieve my aim I can assure you!

[corylus]

Presumably these recruits to the Infantry will be the ones who've been training with their trolleys in supermarkets for years. 'First to the Check Out Wins' will be on their cap badges.