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How do the pressures of combat affect women?

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    U.S. Marine Corps Captain Katie Petronio explains

  • Duration 4:10
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Wrist has mandated that all branches of the military review policies that restrict female members service for the Marine Corps that means integrating women into the infantry.

This summer several volunteers -- the first women to train for the infantry and we'll join their Brothers in arms this fall but.

Not everybody believes this latest step towards equal rights is a good idea including a female marine officer.

-- on the front lines -- now is captain Katie attorney good morning to you captain.

Good morning so before we talk about what may happen in the future.

Help me understand what women are allowed to do right now.

-- there's numerous support roles that women.

-- -- have right now there are certain restrictions also and that's what congress has had a mandating that we look into.

Fields like infantry or artillery or tanks are areas that females have not been allowed to participate and so there was this push in the last couple of years.

To let women do more to technically be on the so called front lines -- -- group -- Well there's really no Frontline anymore this is unconventional enemy.

Females -- definitely played -- strong role in combat operations in in a supporting capacity.

My specific.

Concern is opening up infantry for females.

Why.

It's definitely not -- cost.

The cost heavily outweighs the benefits it's not gonna help the individual and it's not gonna help the institution.

Where were fighting institution and combat readiness needs to be at the front and foremost.

I wouldn't make decisions like this and I don't think that this is this change is gonna benefit anybody.

But why not.

Why not.

For it there's that understanding or -- misconception outside the Marine -- that.

You know preventing women from taking on these -- possibly restricts our opportunity for promotion in the -- -- men and women are -- at the same rate.

I'm so.

The other question -- I present is longevity now we're talking about opening up opportunities for females.

But my concern that I've put up in my article is that there's he's gender specific matter Chris concerns that are gonna come.

With -- opening these -- I'm not so sure we've really thought about and on the backside of that there's going to be -- cost associated.

With these medical conditions and are -- ready to pay a price for that.

I guess that was my question about about why you think that it's a bad idea because you yourself.

I mean by -- -- -- very high achieving woman Natalie in life but in the military.

And what you point -- in this article is that you went through some of the rigorous training that the amended and what happened to you.

I -- faced a lot of weight loss muscle atrophy.

I also develop policies and ovarian syndrome which for me result an infertility.

It's.

It's -- type of combat environment these days -- variation strenuous and I was only doing a portion of water -- Brothers do.

I'm physically fit.

Definitely one of the top in that females up for physical fitness.

However right and degraded and of course I understand that every -- gonna break down a different rate.

But our male counterparts are breaking down also and I just think it's unnecessary risks that we could be taking on.

So let me understand this if in fact women are going to be on these so called front lines and -- say they don't really exist anymore but just for terminology on the front lines.

We'll be their own personal choice.

To be allowed to try it out or.

Will they just be commanded to do that even if they don't want to.

It'll be a blanket assignment so anyone any female who joined simmering court.

-- private that's analyst inside or as a -- Tenet as an officer can be told to serve as an -- and and she will have to serve in that capacity.

-- All right captain Katie -- -- US Marine Corps member of the US Marine Corps who has written article.

And -- imagine you've taken some heat for it for us standing up for what you believe -- but we appreciate you being our guest today thanks so much things that.

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