America’s present position on the issue is good, but it could be better. The Department of Defense recently removed its “substantial risk” clause from its definition of what exactly combat was– just because a woman will be at risk of capture does not mean she can not fill a position. As a result today in the Air Force 99.7percent of positions are open to women as are 91 percent of positions in the Navy are open. However, things are nowhere near equal. Secretary of Defense William Cohen decided that training had to be segregated in light of the continuing sexual allegations against high ranking army commanders. The service academies have had to lower their physical standards for women, which they say is necessary in order to get any decent percentage of women cadets or midshipmen. One of the places where the most stark contrast between what is expected of men and of women upon entrance can be found on the Air Force Academy’s website. Their Candidate Fitness Test Preparation Guidelines (http://www.usafa.af.mil/rr/cft.htm) has a list of what men and women should do in training to prepare for the physical exam to be admitted into the Academy.
It would seem that the best man for the job could always, theoretically, be a woman. However, do not make the standards any easier for women as this will just make things worse when it comes to adjustment for men and women. More than that, though, women should neither be given an unfair advantage nor disadvantage when it comes to the military because gunfire doesn’t discriminate. Neither should the Armed Forces.