A recent critique on how the Marine Corps is preparing women to break a glass barrier to combat roles is “crazy,” according to a general and Iraq War veteran who commands one of the largest formations of Marines in the Pacific. A decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has produced a modern military cadre seasoned by combat. The ambiguous front lines of these conflicts often have forced women into combat positions despite regulations against their holding such jobs. The military, as a result, has been experimenting with how to change these restrictions formally. The Marine Corps results so far have been mixed: 53 of the 173 women who have entered the enlisted infantry school have graduated, while roughly 3,600 men pass through that course each year on average. And so far, no female officers have emerged from the grueling Infantry Officer Course, considered one of the toughest in the military. Fifteen female Marines have tried, but only one has made it past the first day.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:15:31 +0000
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