Women in Combat? Why?

How is it funny? Men and women are built differently. Why aren't there women in the NFL,NBA,MLB,NHL, MLS, etc.

Nothing in the military is as physically demanding as Infantry.

 

This sums up exactly what the reasonable and experienced of us in this thread have concluded.

 

It's important to remember also, that even though DoD policy precludes women
from being assigned to ground combat/infantry units, women have for years served in combat situations
where they're just as vulnerable.

and by the numbers...

Women represent 14% of the active duty force, 17.5% of the
reserve component, and 20% of new military recruits. They work in 90%
of all military career fields.

1.8 million troops have been deployed in OEF (Afghanistan) and OIF (Iraq);
200,000 of whom were women.

They should all be commended for their service, and my hope is that no one is saying otherwise.

 

There is the infamous story of Sun Tzu and the king's concubines which lead the King of Wu to hire Sun Tzu as the commanding general of his army in ancient China. This should add some flair and interest to this thread. After some "training", it seems these women were turning into soldiers which could be efficient for his army:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5jLYgc4nBs"]The Art of War PART 1 - YouTube[/ame]


http://www.scienceofstrategy.com/main/content/sun-tzus-life

I know I have learned a great deal from and have a deep respect for Sun Tzu's book, "The Art of War."

 

Ancient Chinese Infantry and modern day Infantry are VASTLY different with VASTLY different requirements.

 

Art of War reads like vague aphorisms which are applicable to conflict as a whole.

I certainly don't believe it's intent is literal; much of Sun Tzu's actual life is purely
mythos.

 

The enemy commanding general of the NVA, Giap, was a student of Sun Tzu's teachings. It was how Sun Tzu and his book came to our attention in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Not much is known of Sun Tzu's life, but what is certain, "Art of War" is unquestionably a masterpiece and does contain the keys to success and victory.

I like how this particular video highlights the 3 main key principles of the book:

1) Know yourself and know your enemy
2) Avoid what is strong, attack what is weak
3) Win without fighting

The book is Taoist literature, so many military historians who know little of Taoism mistakenly believe that the book was written and put together by many people. However, Taoism is a holistic philosophy and students of Taoism can write a book, which might seem was compiled by many people when it was in fact compiled by one person. Of course, over time, some have added to Sun Tzu's work. One particular Asian warrior added to Sun Tzu's book by writing "he who wishes to fight must first count the cost." But I think most of the book was written by one person with a few other aspects added into it over time by others. Good book.

 

The NVA/Viet Cong lost close to a million troops...
680.000 men, plus 251,000 Viet Cong


They outlasted America and the S. Vietnamese by attrition and a total lack
of respect for life.

A military defeat by all accounts, but a political victory in the final analysis.

N. Vietnam never won a major battle...

 

That's why America's enemies have attacked its military through its civilian leadership.

 

As Herk said before, it's a bunch of true, yet highly vague, truisms about war. Experts on Tzu are hardly experts on wafare, but experts on warfare are definitely aware of Tzu, or at least understand the importance of his writings.

 

General Norman Swartzkopf ("Stormin Normin") is an admirer of Sun Tzu's book and put into practice much of it's teachings during Desert Storm. Some of the other Nam vets have written books which illustrate how Sun Tzu's principles apply today on the modern battlefield. One author has written a book entitled "Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare" but I have not read this book yet (my priority is to read Sun Tzu and the Art of Business given that I am now a business owner). I read several other books written by Nam vets when I myself was serving and as it turned out, the authors of those books illustrated some of Sun Tzu's principles and how his principles are applied on today's battlefield. It's a book, whose principles stand the test of time.

 

Once again, the ego of an infantryman. I am quite sure that any seal would be glad to argue what is physically demanding with ANY infantryman. And SEALS are NOT infantry.

 

I'm not dismissing Sun Tzu's "Art of War" as valueless, it's certainly acknowledged by
most, if not all military leaders..and by the way, regarding Schwarzkopf, it was
Antoine-Henri Jomini's "The Art of War", which was the foundation of his military
prowess...

A different book entirely.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Art-War-Antoine-Henri-Jomini/dp/0978653637"]Amazon.com: The Art of War (9780978653637): Antoine Henri De Jomini, G. H. Mendell, W. P. Craighill, Horace E. Cocroft: Books[/ame]

 

They are the high speed low drag Navy's version of Infantry, use Infantry tactics, Infantry weapons, etc etc. Yes, they are not 11B or 0311, but they ARE in fact a very highly trained TYPE of Infantry.

 

thread is way over , please continue in another thread. subby