Re:The US Marines tested all-male squads against mixed-gende...
by simonh on Friday September 11, 2015 @04:52AM
(#10202652)
>Even in Israel, I don't think ground fighting forces are composed of women.
Women have certainly served in combat roles, and been involved in action including lethal shooting, since 2000 (1). For example the Caracal combat batallion is 70% women(2), at least several of which are known to have been involved in firefights (clarification - killed people). There is also currently a sniper team lead by a woman officer and there is a female combat battalion commander.
Edit: The calculation for Israel is different. They are a small country and need conscription in order to maintain a viable combat force. They have a stark choice. Include women in combat roles, or increase the service term for men, or reduce the size of their combat force. But the fact is they have shown that women are perfectly capable of being operationally effective.
Women have certainly served in combat roles, and been involved in action including lethal shooting, since 2000 (1). For example the Caracal combat batallion is 70% women(2), at least several of which are known to have been involved in firefights (clarification - killed people). There is also currently a sniper team lead by a woman officer and there is a female combat battalion commander.
Edit: The calculation for Israel is different. They are a small country and need conscription in order to maintain a viable combat force. They have a stark choice. Include women in combat roles, or increase the service term for men, or reduce the size of their combat force. But the fact is they have shown that women are perfectly capable of being operationally effective.
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_Israel_Defense_Fo...
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracal_Battalion