Women in Combat branches

vampsoul

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Women are allowed in some combat branches, such as Field Artillery, just not direct combat MOS's. How does this limit their opportunities to progress and move up in their career if they are in such a branch?
 
I honestly think that it doesn't affect anything. I mean, we have female generals, don't we?
 
I honestly think that it doesn't affect anything. I mean, we have female generals, don't we?

I didn't mean in general. I meant, do women in branches such as field artillery have a harder time advancing in those branches if several of the most important roles in that branch are off limits to them? I mean, there has to be a reason why so many more women branch intel than artillery.
 
I didn't mean in general. I meant, do women in branches such as field artillery have a harder time advancing in those branches if several of the most important roles in that branch are off limits to them? I mean, there has to be a reason why so many more women branch intel than artillery.

Pretty sure in field artillery women aren't allowed to advance past the rank of major... which is strikingly archaic, but odds are in years (and wars) to come that will all change.
 
This goes back a few years (2004) but I don't think it's changed.
Here is the deal:

1. Females are not allowed to branch Infantry or Armor
2. Aviation: Females may fly any Army helocopter. There are some restrictions on operational flying positions
3. Air Defense Artilery:

Air Defense Artillery is broken down into Division-level units that include Stinger and Avenger units (small surface to air missiles) and Corps-and-Above units that utilize Patriot missiles (large surface to air missiles). Females in Patriot units may serve as Platoon Leaders through Brigade Commander and all levels of staff. Females can serve as Avenger Platoon Leaders in SHORAD Battalions that are part of a Mechanized Division (Fort Hood and Korea).

4. Field Artilery:

It is important for all female officers considering the Field Artillery as their branch of choice to fully understand the implications of the current DOD policy excluding females from service in MLRS and Cannon units based on the collocation exclusion criteria. This policy limits the opportunities for female officers to gain credible Field Artillery leadership experiences and tactical and technical training proficiency. This policy places an additional burden on female Field Artillery officers to remain competitive with their male peers.
Currently female officers cannot be assigned to Field Artillery tactical battalions (TOE units - cannon or rocket). Therefore, female officers are excluded from many of the primary leadership positions (platoon leader, fire direction officer, and fire support officer) that are the foundations of experience in building a successful Field Artillery career. Female officers will routinely be assigned to the Field Artillery Training Center (Basic Training or Advanced individual Training units) or other TDA assignments at Fort Sill (1-78 FA or 2-2 FA - training support units), or at Brigade or higher levels (HHB DIVARTY, HHB FA BDE, HHB Corps Artillery). Females are limited to commands outside the tactical Field Artillery battalions. Therefore, female captains must seek battery commands at Brigade level or higher (usually headquarters type batteries) or in training center batteries. At the Major level, a female officer can become an executive officer or S3 of a training battalion but would lack the TOE experience to perform duties as a S3 or XO at a brigade level TOE unit.

5. Engineers:
There are 5 basic types of Engineer units: Combat, Construction, Topographic, Bridge, and Dive. Females may serve in each of these units in the positions listed below:
(1) Combat: Females may serve in the Headquarters Company as the support platoon leader, company executive officer, Company Commander and various other staff positions.
(2) Construction: Females may serve in all positions.
(3) Topographic: Females may serve in all positions.
(4) Bridge (both fixed and floating): Females may serve in all positions.​
(5) Dive (underwater salvage and demolition): Females may serve in all positions. Specialized training is required.
 
it will change....it's only a matter of time.

I second that. After all, the Navy is allowing women on submarines now...Special Forces (Rangers/SEALS/PARARESCUE) will probably be the only all-male outfit in the military before long
 
Women are allowed in some combat branches, such as Field Artillery, just not direct combat MOS's. How does this limit their opportunities to progress and move up in their career if they are in such a branch?

It makes it harder to advance because combat branches generally promote faster than non-combat. Of course males also fill the roles women do and are able to advance as well but women aren't allowed in the "faster" lane of combat arms. Its only a matter of time until they are further integrated. I am pretty sure they will be allowed in more and more fields as time goes by.
 
I second that. After all, the Navy is allowing women on submarines now...Special Forces (Rangers/SEALS/PARARESCUE) will probably be the only all-male outfit in the military before long

Correct me if I'm wrong....Rangers are not Special Forces...while they may be a component of the Army's command within the U.S. Special Operations Command.

The Special Forces tab is above the Ranger tab.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong....Rangers are not Special Forces...while they may be a component of the Army's command within the U.S. Special Operations Command.

The Special Forces tab is above the Ranger tab.

Maybe she just meant the "hardcore" units?

And yes, they are separate.
 
Sorry my bad. I meant Special Operations

And I'm not a she, btw.

I'm a guy

:thumb:
 
Actually, according to a book I have on our Nations special forces and some online sources, the rangers are part part of the Army's special operations command, so they are included in Special Operations.
 
Actually, according to a book I have on our Nations special forces and some online sources, the rangers are part part of the Army's special operations command, so they are included in Special Operations.

Yes, but Special Ops and Special Forces are not the same thing.
 
Actually, according to a book I have on our Nations special forces and some online sources, the rangers are part part of the Army's special operations command, so they are included in Special Operations.

Special Forces and Special Operations are not one in the same.
 
After all, the Navy is allowing women on submarines now...Special Forces (Rangers/SEALS/PARARESCUE) will probably be the only all-male outfit in the military before long

Being a sub officer doesn't require you to carry over 100 pounds up steep mountains in Afghanistan, or carry a 200 pound man who was injured on the battlefield to safety.
 
Being a sub officer doesn't require you to carry over 100 pounds up steep mountains in Afghanistan, or carry a 200 pound man who was injured on the battlefield to safety.

This is NOT the reason women are excluded. Neither is necessary to be an Armor or FA officers. When was the last account you read about a 140 lb Infantry Ranger carrying his 200 lb battle buddy to safety?
 
This is NOT the reason women are excluded. Neither is necessary to be an Armor or FA officers. When was the last account you read about a 140 lb Infantry Ranger carrying his 200 lb battle buddy to safety?

Calm down JAM. It may not be THE reason, but it probably is ONE of the reasons. What would you say the reason is then? Because the military is discriminatory? :rolleyes:
 
There are actual fitness tests, and they must pass them to graduate. It doesn't matter if a 140lb man has carried a 200 lb man up a steep hill, the point is the military wants to make sure that they can if the situation is required.

When Bullet jumped with the 82nd, he was required to pass their requirements, and that included carrying a 70lb ruck while running in a limited amount of time.

I am sure the way to get around this is the same as the AF did to get around the reqs for water survival regarding women pilots. They are required to perform at a lower rate.

Don't even get me started on my opinion regarding that issue.
 
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