Posted on Sep 16, 2015
What's wrong with men and women soldiers sleeping and training together?
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Special Operations
Special Operations
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 9
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Simple answer. We as Americans are overly prudish, and make a big deal about gender and sex, even when there is no need to make a big deal about gender and sex. It's a societal issue, not necessarily a problem, just an issue.
Most of us live in households where men & women share bathrooms. Not a big deal. It's never been a big deal. However for whatever reason, public restrooms must be segregated. That reason is actually a pragmatic "space saving one." You can fit 2 urinals in the same space as a single stall, which reduces bathroom congestion. As anyone who has ever been to a concert can tell you, men move through the lines faster...
Now bunking together, as in sharing living spaces. We segregate, because from the age of 12+ humans like most mammals or hormonal creatures, and we have a societal taboo regarding sex. A lot of that has relaxed in the last 100 years, especially since the 70s, but we still have some really weird ideas, and the idea of a male and a female sleeping in the same room even if they aren't attracted to each other seems "wrong." Even though they are adults in every conceivable way.
Now, the real way to just handle this is to realize that the military quartering practice is outdated. Putting people in squad-bays or berthing though pragmatic because of space requirements, is really nothing more than treating our people than livestock. Seriously. Even the 2-3 person room concept (again practical & pragmatic) is just an inexpensive alternative to treating them the way they should be treated because we don't want to spend what they're worth, and don't have the space.
So, back to the original question. What's wrong with berthing together. In and of itself. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The safest place a member of the opposite sex (in America) can be is surrounded by 3-12 other Americans. That isn't going to affect bad decisions, but bad decisions happen in corn fields too.
Most of us live in households where men & women share bathrooms. Not a big deal. It's never been a big deal. However for whatever reason, public restrooms must be segregated. That reason is actually a pragmatic "space saving one." You can fit 2 urinals in the same space as a single stall, which reduces bathroom congestion. As anyone who has ever been to a concert can tell you, men move through the lines faster...
Now bunking together, as in sharing living spaces. We segregate, because from the age of 12+ humans like most mammals or hormonal creatures, and we have a societal taboo regarding sex. A lot of that has relaxed in the last 100 years, especially since the 70s, but we still have some really weird ideas, and the idea of a male and a female sleeping in the same room even if they aren't attracted to each other seems "wrong." Even though they are adults in every conceivable way.
Now, the real way to just handle this is to realize that the military quartering practice is outdated. Putting people in squad-bays or berthing though pragmatic because of space requirements, is really nothing more than treating our people than livestock. Seriously. Even the 2-3 person room concept (again practical & pragmatic) is just an inexpensive alternative to treating them the way they should be treated because we don't want to spend what they're worth, and don't have the space.
So, back to the original question. What's wrong with berthing together. In and of itself. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The safest place a member of the opposite sex (in America) can be is surrounded by 3-12 other Americans. That isn't going to affect bad decisions, but bad decisions happen in corn fields too.
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SN Greg Wright
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS I was going to comment, but you said it better than I would have.
PO1 Kenneth Cardwell ^^^ what he said.
PO1 Kenneth Cardwell ^^^ what he said.
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Plenty of cases in my career of males and females sleeping in same tent/hangar/whatever without issue. When we served with the NORDPOL Bde in Bosnia, it was joint bathrooms and showers as well. Just took a little adjustment.
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On it's face, nothing.
Then human nature happens...
The relationships that ensue are a surefire way to breed discord and screw up cohesion in a unit.
I give it a week, and you will have your answers, PO1 Kenneth Cardwell
Then human nature happens...
The relationships that ensue are a surefire way to breed discord and screw up cohesion in a unit.
I give it a week, and you will have your answers, PO1 Kenneth Cardwell
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