Marine Corps to Open Infantry Officer Course to Women
WASHINGTON -- The Marine Corps will soon allow women to attend its school for infantry officers, as part of a larger effort to determine how to expand the role of women in the Corps.Gen. Joseph Dunford, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, told the Marine Corps Times on Wednesday that the service is in the process of soliciting volunteers to attend the Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Va.All Marine infantry officers attend the 10-week course after completing The Basic School. Dunford and other Marine officials have not said what the next steps will be for women who volunteer to attend the school.
Here is the link to the rest of the story
http://www.military.com/news/article...ESRC=marine.nl
I'm wondering what the practical application of this is. I mean, I can't be the only one thinking it's a little odd for women to be in a leadership position for a role they still aren't allowed to perform? Or does this mean these officers will officially be Combat Arms?
Probably part of a bigger plan, women enlisted being in combat roles. Like the Lioness program. Those women have done a exceptional job and give credit to the name, Marines.
Not sure what to think of this. I remember practicing being ambushed with the Army Engineers and some little dude could'nt pull me out when I got wounded. How will this work with women?
Big change is coming. DADT shows us it is. It also show incremental adjustments work. We have been aorund for a long time and we are stubborn but the Corps will bend before it ever breaks. I see this as a logical step to assess a woman's ability to perform as a leader under stress in a controlled environment. It will give our leaders the ammunition to go forth and make the best decision for the service and have it backed up with facts.Originally Posted by Hollis
If I may make a prediction, I expect women to have similiar attrition for ability as men, and slightly higher for physical reasons. That is to say I think women Marines are perfectly capable of leading in combat.
Times have changed a lot since I have been in (1966) and so have the attitudes of women. I look at the overall picture as what was in the past and what the future is. Lots of countries like Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Sweden as countries that allow women in "close combat roles. Russia especially considering they had some of the best female snipers and combat pilots in WWII. And all you have to do is look at the Asian countries & see the women in infantry roles and don't forget in our time how Charlie used women Vietnam. Hell I lost a high school buddy to a female sniper. OH, BTW the CG of the MCRD down at Parris Island is a woman. BGen Loretta 'Lori' Reynolds.
One aspect which is true, those with the most medals generally win promotions and best jobs. Those medals are from combat command. Part of a person resume is their duty stations and job. In the Old Corps a Marine was expected to have combat experience.
That is an interesting point that I never considered...
That was one of the argument for letting women into VMI and the military academies. Example in the Navy only academy graduates will command a ship of the line. (something like that)
I remember seeing a photo not that long ago of a young female Marine (corporal I believe) and the "rack of six" ribbons that she was wearing. One was a Purple Heart and the other a Combat Action Ribbon. Plus don't forget there have been at least two women that have been awarded Silver Stars for combat action. One in Iraq (Sgt Leigh Ann Hester) the other in Afghanistan (SPC Monica Brown) plus a slew of them have been awarded Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars. They are ready to take a combat/infantry command.
As a Marine infantryman all I can say is times are changing first DADT now this
.I'm not even going to complain any more till it directly effects me.
One thing I would like to see and not being an insult to my male counterparts on here but I would love to see some input from women on this. Either current or former members of the military, doesn't matter which branch. So if anyone knows of some ladies that will like to reply to this please let them know. I just don't want it to be like a news station that had a discussion on womens health issues and all the members on the panel were men. Something just didn't seem right about that
WT46, I would direct your attention to the Marine Corps Times. They have run numerous good articles on the subject with input from female Marines.
One might even say, they have been ready for a long time.
The Marine Corps times new issue has females doing grunt training as the cover.The Sgt.Maj of the Marine Corps talked to us and told us they are studies being conducted but combat arms Mos's are opening up for females.So females in a line company are still a ways off imo.
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