Women in Combat
...ar fight to gain the right to vote for women. In many the same ways these to women faced fear, segregation, and defeat as an American military person would. It wasn’t until 1920, when Congress passed the 19th amendment that gave women the right to vote was their dream finally obtained (Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership). Women contribute everyday in the military to help win our fights. In 1992 The Defense Authorization Act repealed the long-standing combat exclusion law for women pilots in the Navy and Air Force. In 1993 despite extreme opposition President Clinton signed the military bill ending combat exclusion for women on combatant ships. In 1994 Defense Secretary Aspin approved a new general policy to allow Army women to serve with some ground combat units during fighting. Since then women have piloted aircraft on Bombing missions in hostile areas, and also have flown helicopters transporting troops into “Combat” areas. Since 1973 the United States military has been an all-volunteer force (AFV). There are women everyday joining the ranks of the military not because they have to, but because the chose to. These very women are working in one of the most dangerous career fields the U. S. Military. They could have chosen to be College Students, Stay at home moms, a grocery clerk or some other kind of safer occupations. Instead they decided to become a veteran of military service. Some enlist as cooks, some as medics, some as clerks and even some as military police. Even though some of these occupations in the military sound safe and secure. There is a lot of danger involved if you are assigned to say the 101st Airborne Division as a cook or a supply clerk, or assigned as a military police officer assigned to the 10th Mountain Division. Both units that have been deployed recently if place like Afghanistan and Iraq. Every military occupation has it own unique dangers. A simple truck driver in the military who has to transport vehicle like the M1A1 Abrams tank could come under enemy fire while conducting a transport. A supply clerk escorting supplies to the front lines in combat could fall under attack. A military police team conducting a checkpoint whose only protection are their selves and their two teammates could fall under attack at a moments notice. Not to mention the military personnel who lost their lives at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Selflessly serving to protect and defend the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic. Military life is an inherent danger. When someone thinks about the word military the think war or conflict. With the situation of today’s world and the fact that we as Americans have become the worlds policing agency we face this battle everyday. In a combat zone the enemy does not car if you are male or female. The military uniform puts all people in danger. When the enemy is looking through the sights of his or her weapon of choice they don’t look to see it they are shooting at a male or female combatant. The look and see a military uniform and shoot to kill that military person. This is evident in the fact that women have died in all of our countries wars from hostile fire. Some historical records verify the fact that over sixty women were either wounded or killed at various battles during the Civil War. Twenty-two women died as a result of service in the Spanish American War. Several hundred women lost their lives in WWI. More than 400 military women lost their lives during World War II. Seven women died as a result of the Pentagon Attack in 2001. More than twenty women have been killed in Operations in Iraq. Equal opportunity for all should be granted. A woman in the military is not a new concept, only applying respect to women in the military is. In the military there is mandatory training on equal opportunity that soldiers have to go through twice a year. If soldiers need to be educated on equal opportunity there is s definite need to integrate the entire military force so that all is equal. Women in today’s society hold high positions in all facets of life, from Chairperson of a major corporation, U. S. Senator, to 4 star General in the military. All had to achieve high goals to get where they are today. Goals previously obtained by men. If they can earn the prestige and honor of serving in such high positions then equal treatment through all facets of life should be easily obtainable. Women have proven themselves in combat situations. Lt Col McSally, ranked as the top Air Force female pilot, was among the first women trained by the Air Force as a fighter pilot. During a 1995-96 tour of duty in Kuwait, she became the first woman in military history to fly a combat sortie in a fighter aircraft. She also flew more ...