And why would that be?
Women breaking barriers in Navy, not SEALs yet
- Thread starter EnglishLady
- Start date
And why would that be?
You think I have a lack of understanding of modern combat. You're wrong. But she's not a Navy SEAL, so I guess it doesn't matter. You guys keep on laughing.
EnglishLady
Veteran Expediter
I certainly have not been laughing - I think any woman in ANY of the Services be they Military or Police or whatever are outstanding and have a lot of courage.
As for the women in the SEALS I do see that one day - until today I did not know that the UK had women in any of our special forces.
I guess it was the 98 pound weakling could do it all statement that led me to say that. Hand to hand is still a very big part of modern combat, my nephew is a few stories about that. So does everyone in that bunch that hunted with us last year.
The 75-100lbs of gear would be hard on a 98 pound weakling too. Would not want to see a 98 pound weakling lugging around a 50CAL all day either.
Guess it just matters what KIND of combat. There have been few changes in close quarters combat since WWII.
Not really laughing, just have NO idea where you are coming from.
Well, for one, SEAL teams generally don't carry 75-100 pounds of equipment. Sometimes they do, sometimes it's a lot more, but not generally. They sure train that way, tho. There was a recently discussed incident where a SEAL recon team didn't even have any rope with them on a mission in the Afghan mountains to tie up a couple of goat herders. SEAL teams usually plan very carefully and take only what is necessary in order to keep themselves light, quick and mobile.
The one girl I know has been in the military for 8 yeas and is an electronics weapons specialist (a joystick chick she calls herself) and does close combat tactical support for a variety of missions, including some Special Forces. She's not in the infantry, but she's not in a comfy control room somewhere, either. She's been wounded twice, once by shrapnel and once by a bullet. She likely couldn't bench press you, but she'd do OK for herself, of that I have no doubt. She clearly isn't suited to be Marine or Army infantry, because like you say of the equipment, but there are a lot of combat roles to be played today that no longer require Conan the Barbarian to fulfill.
The one girl I know has been in the military for 8 yeas and is an electronics weapons specialist (a joystick chick she calls herself) and does close combat tactical support for a variety of missions, including some Special Forces. She's not in the infantry, but she's not in a comfy control room somewhere, either. She's been wounded twice, once by shrapnel and once by a bullet. She likely couldn't bench press you, but she'd do OK for herself, of that I have no doubt. She clearly isn't suited to be Marine or Army infantry, because like you say of the equipment, but there are a lot of combat roles to be played today that no longer require Conan the Barbarian to fulfill.
SEALS would not carry the heavy gear on a mission like they just pulled off. They do train for it and do carry it on some longer term missions.
The thing is, in the Army, EVERYONE is infantry first and their MOS second.
I was only 125lbs (no one would believe that now) when I went in. I had problems at that weight. I was too light. I did gain weight in basic, not enough though. Had I been infantry I would have had to do a LOT of weight training to be able to handle the load.
It does boil down to strength and stamina. I was required to be able to pick up a wounded comrade and carry him out.
The physical requirements to get out of basic when I was in were higher than they are now, but lower than when my dad went through in WWII.
We need to get them higher again. While you are correct, not everyone has to be Conan, most need to be close. It still, on many occasions, boils down to a battle of two. Him against me. Up close and personal. That is not likely to change as long as we have ground troops.