re: Active Marines - Have Women in the Infantry Had a Negative Impact on the USMC?

My observation isn’t contemporary as I never saw a BAM deployed in Nam, or know much about the present initiatives.

I’m sure there are females who can run 3 miles in jungle boots in 18 minutes, or stay with the platoon up and down Mount Mofo. Physically, the issue is upper body strength and stamina.

I’ve know one woman in my life who might be able to keep up on that front, a butch lesbian 6’ tall and a very fit 160 pounds. That’s it, one. The average female doesn’t have that physical attribute.

Mentally, the first time an AK 7.62 wizzes 2” by your ear coming from an invisible jungle is when your entire perspective on life and survival dramatically changes. I never got used to it but my bond to my fellow grunts allowed me to press ahead. I don’t believe the average woman is mentally prepared for that.

The only approach that makes sense is to have women subject to the same physical training demands as males. Lowering standards won’t help when the shite hits the fan.

Women have their useful place in the military. Infantry units are not one of them.