Women on the front lines

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Wada are brilliant national security analyst KT McFarland thinks of this KG they they kind of bar on the front line.

I already did didn't you is this the right thing to do it.

Answer right things right handed it really just.

Formalized as something that has been happening really in the last fifteen years there is no Frontline -- -- when I've been in Shalala about Afghanistan there were attacks he stated that based she got a text if you went out on patrol there were tax a -- already there where minority.

Pilots when -- helicopter pilots when Mary sniper south.

I think what this says is that form alliances -- and why is that important.

Because it could get promotions in the military.

If you have combat assignments come bare walls.

It's like they checked the bomb actually were able to them perceive much more rapidly much more quickly at the -- -- Now why is that important.

I don't say I've been in -- -- of war and I think that to have another point of view is sometimes extremely important.

Yes that sounds like a very good point.

What about the what about those that did some of the arguments against -- metal -- one of our combat vets who have -- us all the time here.

Warning about the strength -- like your all the patrol.

With a small group there's a half dozen review of one of the one -- -- goes down injured the only person can carry you out of harm's way.

Is that person next -- if that person is a woman -- has a worry about the strength issues with our.

You know what I have to be able to -- but to pass to require physical fitness requirement is absolutely in my daughter was -- -- -- academy when she was first -- first year -- -- She had to run 5 miles every morning with all the guys and I said he didn't girls get different currencies -- running right into the issue rolled her eyes is that not.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- You have to have the same as a minimum physical requirements what I can -- one what I would.

What are the other issues that is always brought up by those who oppose this which is the distraction.

That again you have.

This group -- -- may be good group living at a Ford operating base and a dozen guys and then there's one woman in that.

The distraction -- mom -- which is not necessarily the woman's fault that the men are frequently stupid when therein when it.

Was Mecca of the and we have a Smart woman in America I'm Smart of them up -- Yeah I'm sure there probably -- problems and everything right but that doesn't have problems that are insurmountable problems you know -- anything.

Coed bathroom I mean that that kind of staff.

Please I think we've ruined him having as I said.

Women are already in these -- any second so prices.

And some roles women are even better than man statistically women are much better snipers.

Women are better helicopter -- in Afghanistan and Iraq we found that our men.

Would prefer to be -- helicopter that a woman was piloting why because she have less.

Accidentally is just totally you know so it's not all -- about her strength and modern militaries not just about how much weight you can bench pressed -- -- it's about a lot more.

Let's get an update up from the Pentagon on this -- Griffin is that for us that.

-- and so we have this announcement now I would just talking with cagey about it what is it.

Actually change.

Given the webinar as KT is said already over the front line.

Well the biggest thing that it changes his first of all there on the front lines but they aren't being recognized for being on the front lines and they are being promoted.

And you know -- is there any women sitting on that Joint Chiefs of Staff right now that's because they can't really be promoted without having officially served in combat so.

-- -- dancing around this in the last.

Ten years you've had more than 200000 women served.

In -- the wars in Afghanistan Iraq in the last ten years and they're saying look we want these.

These opportunities to officially be recognized for serving the way -- then serving in the last ten years.

What's going to happen there are.

230000.

Jobs that will now be open to women officially.

But there are real issues Jonathan and I I I actually I'm gonna take a little issue with my friend -- there because.

I did a story on.

The issue of women and brute strength and we went down to -- marine.

Infantry officers course which for the first time last.

Year opened -- -- up in this is a brutal ten week course.

That marine officers have to go through in order become officers within -- it in the infantry.

And this is a brutal ten -- -- -- Quantico and two women for the first time we're allowed to go through these were very physically fit women this is not a about putting twos that are women up to weren't capable -- these are very -- the most physically fit women that I've ever met.

And they were they eat one of them washed out after the first day.

And the second one had stress fractures after.

After a little over a week.

And they both a failed the course and were able to go through it.

When there there are real issues about the and we ended up interviewing and marine captain named -- attorney -- who wrote a very.

I you know -- tight end headline grabbing article in the Marine Corps times last year which she said get over -- we're not all equal.

And she had served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and she found.

That and she had been in some Frontline positions have been with those -- is who went around with the Marines and and that she had carried a weapon she had been in combat in terms of she'd been in firefight -- excuse me not officially combat.

And and she said that her body broke down at a faster rate than the men she had been an ice hockey player in college she was very very -- herself.

And she said that the hole after two deployments with such that she was very concerned about women.

Entering combat positions here's a sought a here here's a sound bite from a captain Katie -- turning out.

I found that I broke down.

And -- had muscle atrophy in weight loss at a much at a faster rate then and noticeable rate than my male Marines I found myself tripping.

Constantly in my legs buckling of falling during fire -- And then we also spoke this morning to the first female pilot of an F sixteen who flew the first combat missions.

Hurt.

Her name is -- -- Sally she is a fascinating woman and she argued.

Very staunchly that these combat roles need to be open to women and here's her argument.

The same arguments were being made back then.

That are being made now against you know this policy change that is happening.

In order to catch up with the reality on the battlefield.

And I know air combat is different from ground combat that they were making the same arguments that then that women.

Did not have the endurance -- the strength to be fighter pilots.

And I had just completed the Hawaii Iron Man triathlon.

-- military division and beating most of the military men and they're saying I just don't have the endurance to be a fighter pilot.

So I think Jonathan they're gonna have to look at some of the special operations units and some of those units.

That where physical strength is really an issue.

-- -- -- makes makes sense said thanks Jen and now but as you say.

It would be great I think to see some women among the joint chiefs that could be a real difference enough.

If there's not a -- KT a whirlwind for a better world thanks so much -- Thank you -- KT Adam -- couple of he was riding in Rangel says distraction issue as he -- -- cannot control themselves please.

I would always assume that they're on and -- -- -- control children off.

I mean I grow up -- but me no idea about I.

Thank you I don't know -- and I don't -- You're spending and I'm -- by having you know.

To homosexuals in combat or a military base in the -- -- well it can't control themselves great these are people who are fighting for -- -- -- an odd and hard to do best among the -- yes.

What about this one -- -- right sitting here.

How about the potential scenario of a woman soldier being captured by the Taliban -- -- public grant.

That's an interest.

That's a very harassing -- and being tortured and we've -- that we have that in the first Iraq War be where a woman pilot was down and and I I think that you can't.

Get away from -- on the other hand you have every strengths and weaknesses just like -- any kind of business environment some women I'd probably rather have a woman making certain decisions if if you know as I said that in and around Iraq and Afghanistan.

There were a man who -- prefer women.

Marine helicopter pilots because they had a much less lower crash rate is -- higher -- -- so.

Again there -- strikes -- -- -- just like there are with individuals but I don't think.

It's any reason to keep women out of the -- com there were all right okay now maybe a woman can't do what is -- can do well OK fine but there's -- -- Right yes it's not -- -- operations says there's there's space for old man happy when come -- -- --

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Women on the front lines

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