Women in Combat Arms... Where do we begin?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:20:52 -0400

After being enlisted for 7 years in a support battalion I decided to take the leap and become an officer. During my two years at ROTC the argument on whether women should be in combat came up every week. I, am no where close to the woman who should be in a combat MOS- No thanks. Don't even want to try.

Now, the Army is placing women in combat roles upon commissioning and women in combat are becoming more prominent. Awesome, right?? Good for them?

But, I currently work for the summer at an ROTC Battalion assisting the recruiter and I work with a very conservative CPT who finds every way to make it sound like 'Women joining combat is asking a woman to be raped, whether in combat roles or within the unit.' -Ummm... WTH.

I also, as an M-Day soldier serve as the ONLY female within the HHB 1/194 Field Artillery as the BN S1. So, wow look where I ended up? A female within an all male BATTALION. Yep, all by myself. We have an FSC that is attached to us, but I do not, hardly ever work with the females in that company since I am BN staff.

While at dinner we came across the discussion of sexual harassment and how I need to be assertive since I am the lone ranger of the BN, and I need to 'ACCEPT' that males are pigs and I am going to be harassed.

I am beyond floored.

I have been in the Army almost 10 years, and I have never heard such crap. How does it make sense that just because you are the Field Artillery that it is ok to be disrespectful to female officers, or females in general? How, and why should I just brush sexist and inappropriate comments off? I shouldn't.

I was the only female in my section for a very long time before deciding to commission. But I am far from being a push over, and think that even if you are a male, you should grow up. Accept the fact that women, are in the military and making their way to combat roles, or being assigned to combat arms battalions.

I think this is ridiculous, and am struggling with how to answer these fellow officers without being my overbearing self. I do not take sexual harassment lightly, nor should anyone - male or female, enlisted officer. Whatever your rank, I don't care. Its no joke.

Floored... Ending rant... Thoughts?