For the first time ever, the US Marine Corps is allowing women to train as infantry combat officers. It's a move that could open the door for women to fight on the front lines.
Not everyone is on board with this move. One Marine Corps captain warns that women are too weak for the battlefield and putting them on the front lines could damage our military. And, she's a woman, who served in combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
This morning on "Early Start," Captain Katie Petronio talks with Ashleigh Banfield about her experience on the battlefield and why she doesn't think women should be in the infantry.
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BLUF: There is no tactical or military necessity to have women serving in the Ground Combat Element. There is no shortage of male volunteers serving in combat arms billets. It should be about combat effectiveness and winning the next fight, not about womens' rights.
To quote Gen Barrow, our 27th CMC, and decorated combat veteran, in speaking to the Senate about his combat service with 1st MARDIV in Korea fighting a tactical withdrawal against 8 Chinese Divisions from the Chosin Reservoir, "Supposed we had 15-20% women? My supposing dare say I wouldn't be here. I guess Kim Il-Sung would be taking care of my bones along with everybody else's in North Korea." See the link to General Barrow's SASC testimony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy–whDNNKk
I'm curious if Captain Petronio has been tested for lupus? The reddened cheeks, muscle atrophy...
she is right 100%
It's funny....all of these women veterans complaining yet I have never seen one woman Marine be able to complete the Marne Corps PFT without failing.....with the male standards. Yup, that's right. They have a lower standard due to the simple fact there are biological/physiological differences between genders. In combat the enemy does not care that you are male or female. In combat if you have to hump 10 miles with 100 lbs in "x" amount of time in order to secure a specific objective the enemy or mother nature does not care. If females can not on a regular continuous basis be held to the same PHYSICAL standards as men they do not belong in what is by any standard, the very best, and very worse of what humanity is.......the Infantry Marine or the Infantry Soldier. God Bless ALL United States warriors.
First of all, in most cases muscle atrophy is caused by not using your muscles enough. So instead of wasting away at her desk in Iraq/Afghanistan, how about she goes to the gym every once in awhile like the rest of us did. So this "muscle atrophy" argument is irrelevant.
Second of all, she sounds like a weak Captain. Weak for putting herself on CNN in uniform to show off her 3 ribbon rack and weak for degrading her own gender on tv. While she may not have been able to hack it, there are plenty of us that can and did serve combat roles during the deployment. If I have to put my life at risk doing the same job as a grunt anyway, I want the MOS and pride to go with it.
I hope she gets reprimanded for the BS. Capt Petronio, I have to say you are an idiot and your face annoys me. And I'm sorry, did they say she wrote something? Would this something happen to be for sale? If it is, I dub her a money-grubber.
MEN in the infantry don't have the nice gyms you pogs (person other then grunts) have in iraq and afghanistan and what she is talking about is how we infantrymen many times waste away from lack of sleep water food and constant physical strain she to me and mind u i am an infantramn serving 2 tours to iraq like a exceptional female mariine as she has one of the tougher female MOS there are for you ladies also keep in mind in the infantry unlike the pog units just because you complete infantry training doesnt mean once you get to the fleet marine force it gets easier in fact it gets harder for us in the infantry field or even those DIRECTLYin an infantry unit for example a field radio operator or Motor T but who is actually in the infantry unit not an attachment for us boot camp and going to the gym on the pog bases is the easy part if women in the military want equality they should start with being able to first successfully complete a physical fitness test on the male standard
Capt. Katie Petronio has a lot of courage
Her military career is over.
Finally a woman who is comfortable with the truth. Than you for seeing what every guy in the infantry and special operations has seen for years. Before sending women into combat with men we need to take gender seperation out of sports and let women play men. At least there will not be lives at risk. The military is no place for social justice, how selfish can women/people be? Is getting people killed worth it to you?
I agree with you totally, M'aam (not to offend that Senator bimbo from Cali). Although it is the system we live under (and the best in the world), the problem will always be that civilians can not operate a military and be effective. This has become more evident with the "new american" leadership which "loathes" the military or, in the current case, our country. Changing the tests for training will never translate into effective battle readiness. But, of course, the last three years have made all this a mute point as we are no longer a factor in the world, rather a "perception". BUT IT'S FAIR!!!!
Give me a break.. You should be ashamed of yourself to put all military women in the same category. I am sure there are plenty of women willing to train and fight hard on the front lines right beside the men. Why don't we start with asking for volunteers rather than banning all women?? I think that would be a great diservice to this country to not allow those who are willing to risk it all on the front lines go ahead and do so.
M'am, thanks for putting the Marine Corps first – that has been my biggest problem with the whole push to put females in the infantry. It doesn't put the Marine Corps first. Thanks for your service.
Number one: I'm surprised she's allowed to go on the air in uniform and give such an opinion. I have a hard time believing she actually cleared that with Public Affairs and her chain of command. More likely she's planning on getting out of the Corps and is happy to sacrifice her career on national TV.
Number two: The video cut off right as she was finally making a good point. Women have gender specific medical issues that so far the Marine infantry hasn't had to deal with. They use Navy corpsmen who are specially trained to take care of Marines - specifically, males. The new training and resources they will need to take care of the very few females who might be in the platoon is probably not worth whatever benefit they hope to gain.
Common sense over PC??? MAN, only in the army...
I think the Israeli army might want to hear this opinion since they have had women in combat roles for decades. The Russian women were of the most combat worthy personell in WW2, deadly snipers and fierce fighters
It is not a job for all women just like all males in the military can't make it as a SEAL, RECON, or Ranger.
Finally, one who's been there so has both the credibility, and honesty, to admit it.
She is so wrong it's not funny. There are women who are capable of serving in the infantry and plenty of men who are not, as well. Either way, women will keep making strides to show we are equal in the military.
ha equal so do u do the same fitness test as your brethren? can you carry 120 pounds for 16 hours without slowing down or stopping? can can you then get 4 hours of sleep and do it again? can you take the fact that when you get to the infantry unit your ordered to that the first thing your nco says to you is stfu u boot ass bitch no ull cry sexual harrassment or say i cant hump(excuse me hike i wouldnt want to offend u ms) today sorry i have cramps or its not fair that i have to do pull ups im a girl its not fair that i have to run that fast im a girl guess what sweetheart we dont care and neither will the enemy
If she really did anything than she would be able to support that women should be given the chance to be on the front lines. As much as everyone hates it. We are able to do it. I loved my time on the ground out in Fallujah and Al Asad with my MP unit and there was not one thing I couldnt do that was required. Show some support for your fellow Women
Marines. Even if you are a Captain with your ac desk job
once again you sound dumb are you actually comparing MP (military police) work at al asad AIR base an air force base to going into the worst spots in afghanistan or iraq as an infantrymen you know what if they do allow female marines to join infantry units i especially hope you go:)
Good on her, way to speak up. And to finally hear something from someone who has the experience to speak on.
First off, why is this Marine in uniform?
Second, it is correct that we are not all created equal; this is exactly why we shouldn't bar all women from the infantry based on the sole aspect of their gender- they are not all the same just because they are women. Not all women are cut out for the infantry, neither are all men cut out for the infantry.
This Marine's physical problems might be personal (genetics, choices, past injuries) but they certainly might be attributable to a lack of women specific medical knowledge and properly sized gear. Her physical problems should be brought to light so they can be studied, addressed, and ultimately benefit women- not so they can be used as an excuse to continue to deny women the opportunity to serve to their fullest potential.
Perhaps the Captain should visit the VA and take a minute to see how physically challenged men become due to their time in service.
We have lowered the bar for firefighters and cops and the military over the years all in the name of gender equality. Now they want to lower it some more. Some woman can do it, but most cannot. It is simply genetics and is in no way bigotted.
The bottom line is men and woman are NOT equal. We both do thinks better and worse than the other gender.
This notion of "equality" is slowly destroying us. We need to wake up and realize we are all different and not equal on every level.
Has Ashleigh Banfield ever been near combat? Has she ever trained for combat? Does she have any concept of the rigors of combat? And what about the rules that the military will come up with? How long will the rules last in combat?
Thanks Capt. Petronio for setting us back once again! You have managed to prove the axiom that "women are their own worst enemy". From a woman and military veteran.
As far as I'm concerned, it should be a high standard that needs to be met, and anybody that signs-up and can meet that standard should be selected: man, woman, straight, gay, don't care.