Women in the Military - A Christian POV

[ChristNcharge]

     I would like to ask for discussion about an issue I have some experience with – women in the military.  Should women be allowed to serve in the military?  What types of occupations should they be limited to or SHOULD they be limited at all?  Currently, women are not allowed to serve in (or command) units designated as “combat arms,” – infantry, artillery, Anglico, Para-rescue, LRS/Rangers, and all the Special Operations units.  Is this fair?  If a fully integrated military is allowed, should women also be eligible for the draft when they turn 18 as all men are?  Also, in the event that a woman in the military becomes pregnant (a blessing in itself!) – and according to the policies of all 3 military departments (Army, Air Force, Navy/Marines) – she would be immediately removed from anywhere near the combat zone… would that fact be grounds to require females to take mandatory birth control if they were serving in a “combat arms” unit?  How would all of these questions be dealt from a Christian point of view… and what relevant parts of Scripture can you point me to for this topic?  I look forward to any and all comments or questions!  

May the Peace of Christ be with you.

Jaime

[BlackmanX]

Women  want  equal  rights,  right  ?  


Ok  by  me.  They  should  be  in  the   military  and  share  the  same  rights,  responsibilities  and risks  as  men  (  capture  in  battle, death,  maiming,  torture).   If  they (women)  want   TRUE  equality,  they  have to take  the same  risks  that  men  take.  They  CANNOT  be  entitled  to  ANY   special   treatment  under  any  Circumstances.  At  all.


A   woman  coming   into  the  armed   forces  should  be  treated  the way a  man  is.   Exactly  the  way  a  man  is  treated.   Same  rights.  Same  responsibilities.  A  man takes  pain  and  abuse without  whining,  and she  has  to do the same.  The  moment  she  cannot  do the  job  or demands  special treatment,  she's  out  of  there.


Those   should  be  the  rules.

peace.

[Luke O]

Yeah true, women want it 50-50...gotta take the rough with the smooth.

[ChristNcharge]

     If a man wants to avoid combat, or avoid being deployed… what can he do?  I am sure most of us have read, heard stories, watched a movie, or witnessed first-hand - a situation where a soldier intentionally wounds himself (sometime gravely) … in an attempt to escape the stress of a combat zone.  This indicates that soldiers/sailors/marines in  forward-areas, would be willing to do harm to themselves to avoid combat… but is that all?  Could they fake injuries or complain of ailments that are non-existent, or more truthfully... do they?  Men do not have an easy time avoiding combat, that is certain… why else would they do themselves bodily harm?
     Women on the other hand, have only to get pregnant.  If pregnant, they will immediately be evacuated to the rear (in most cases, Germany or the U.S.) and have the option to separate from the military with an honorable discharge – without completing the obligation they enlisted for.
     Some have proposed that the push for equality and to have women allowed to be in combat roles require a number of things.  I’ll provide a short list.
     1. Women should be required to register with “selective service” – women should be eligible for the “draft.”
          Do you think America (in general) would support the idea of sending their daughters, as well as their sons, off to war if the draft came back?
     2. Women in forward deployed areas should be required to take birth control, to protect the fact that pregnancies result in a serious loss to forward deployed personnel.
          Do you think that it would be morally correct to deny women the right to procreate – simply because of their choice of occupation?
     3. Women should be required to sign a temporary agreement that they will take the responsibility to avoid pregnancy if deployed to a forward area.  If they fail to live up to the agreement, they should be criminally prosecuted.  This policy would be similar to the current policy of prosecuting any soldier who is proved to have intentionally injured themselves to avoid combat.
          This is similar to the birth control “requirement” suggestion.  Again, a question of morality – criminally prosecute our daughters and sisters for bringing new life into the world?

     These are a few of the suggestions that have been circulated widely within the military community.  As Christians, what positions can we support in regards to this issue – in good faith?  Comments?

May the Peace of Christ be with you.

Jaime

[WolfBrother]

Currently, women are not allowed to serve in (or command) units designated as “combat arms,” – infantry, artillery, Anglico, Para-rescue, LRS/Rangers, and all the Special Operations units.  Is this fair?

What is Anglico?

Insofar as  LRS, Rangers, Para-rescue, and all the Special Ops units are concerned - the average man isn't allowed to serve either.  It takes above average mental and physical ability to do that type of work.

Is this fair?  
MY OPINION - Fairness has nothing to do with it.
Having seen what that type of service can do to people - it is not something I want a Woman to experience.  
I do not believe we should put women in positions where they can wind up in a body bag labeled: unidentified female - body parts missing.