What's wrong with men and women soldiers sleeping and training together?

2015-09-16T06:58:54-04:00

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 16 at 2015 7:21 AM

2015-09-16T07:21:50-04:00

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Now, the real way to just handle this is to realize that the military quartering practice is outdated.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.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2015 9:23 AM

2015-09-16T09:23:47-04:00

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

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 16 at 2015 10:05 AM

2015-09-16T10:05:21-04:00

Seems to be the direction we are going so I suppose we may as well adjust and live with the consequences.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 16 at 2015 10:24 AM

2015-09-16T10:24:11-04:00

This all depends on the circumstances. Two Soldiers not in a supervisor-subordinate relationship I have no problem with. People will be people and we just need to accept that. What I have an issue with is when someone in the chain of command or supervisory chain sleeps with their subordinates. This is wrong and my personal opinion is they should be drummed out of the service for it. I have seen too many NCOs get demoted for this reason. I think that was far too lenient in my humble opinion.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2015 3:16 PM

2015-09-16T15:16:11-04:00

PO1-Well, putting myself "in those shoes", I know that if my twenty two year old self had been sharing a stateroom with a young female officer, I can GUARANTEE you what would be on my mind NON-STOP...it's a distraction, one that cannot be "removed" by training, and changing attitudes. That said, I did have a female peer living just one hatch down the last year of my last sea duty...amazing how much 1/8th of inch of steel plate does to encourage boundaries.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 16 at 2015 3:39 PM

2015-09-16T15:39:05-04:00

The issue is that I wouldn't want my daughter bunking/rooming with a bunch of horny 18-20 year old men and I don't think most other parents would either. Don't we have enough SHARP issues today? That is all I hear about on this site is how bad sexual assault, rape and harassment are. Is rooming/bunking together going to increase or decrease SHARP issues? We cannot manage SHARP today and now we want to start rooming men and women together, brilliant!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2015 5:10 PM

2015-09-16T17:10:58-04:00

Quick answer is relationships. Have you ever had to deal with a fight between couples? now move the situation in to a combat area. Just as you have to deal with someone getting hurt deployed now you also run the risk of someone getting pregnant or an STD running around the unit. when you pack a bunch of hormonally charged people in to a small area nature takes over. How many from your high school had children while in school?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2015 12:19 PM

2015-09-17T12:19:38-04:00

I have no problems with Male and Female folks train together. We all have to work together so training together to get the mission done is only logical. HOWEVER, having them sleep in the same tent or barracks room, or wherever, can create ALL kinds of problems down the road that a Leader just does not need. Granted, there are situations that may dictate otherwise, but let us be logical and minimize this as much as possible. I am certainly not saying that all male and female personnel would have issues, but there would be enough that would. On top of the fact that, while not everyone would partake, there is always going to be at least a few Janes and Joes that would not be able to keep their pants on. Granted, if they want to get horizontal, it is going to happen anyway. BUT, again, why harbor that environment? As a society, I find we are still too adolescent in mentality when it comes to members of the opposite gender. When that becomes a thing of the past, then sure let us berth together to save space and money.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2015 12:55 PM

2015-09-17T12:55:51-04:00

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.