The Reality That Awaits Women in Combat

Link to full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323539804578260132111473150.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

By Ryan Smith, The Wall Street Journal

America has been creeping closer and closer to allowing women in combat, so Wednesday’s news that the decision has now been made is not a surprise. It appears that female soldiers will be allowed on the battlefield but not in the infantry. Yet it is a distinction without much difference: Infantry units serve side-by-side in combat with artillery, engineers, drivers, medics and others who will likely now include women. The Pentagon would do well to consider realities of life in combat as it pushes to mix men and women on the battlefield.

Many articles have been written regarding the relative strength of women and the possible effects on morale of introducing women into all-male units. Less attention has been paid to another aspect: the absolutely dreadful conditions under which grunts live during war.

Read the full article here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323539804578260132111473150.html?mod=googlenews_wsj