Armor yes, infantry no.

Women already have lowered standards to join the military and youll see in order to get more numbers of them in combat units they will lower the standards for them....it's a bad joke that will get men killed.... but we don't fight to win wars anymore sooo guess it doesn't matter ....

I agree with you Lois. This is strictly a political move. A feel-good mandate. I believe women do belong in the military doing many different jobs very capably but don't let women go into combat. It's just wrong.

As an Army veteran, I think adding possible romantic entanglements to a combat infantry unit could be disastrous.

Why not? Let them fight in real battle conditions where real bullets are fired, not the imaginary ones they fire upon their husbands, boyfriends, etc. The battles they conjure up with all of the above are usually the result of some hidden agenda or insecurity. I'll bet that whatever female officer who pushed this on her compatriots, will regret it when mms, sisiters, wives, aunts and nieces start dying and are flown back toi the USA in pine boxes. God knows I'd never let my daughters go to a starnge land and get killed or abused by the animals we fight.

Let's not return to sexism and ridiculous PMS jokes. We need only look at who's in jail for committing violent crimes to see that women are very good at managing their PMS but men obviously have lots of control issues on good days.

I am opposed to woman serving in combat. One can only imagine the ways a woman would be tortured and abused, both physically and sexually, if captured in one of those countries while fighting on the front lines. The thought of it makes my skin crawl.

There is a place in the Military for women....Direct Combat Units is not a good place for anyone male or female...Having served in two Wars Vietnam (No females Close to the fighting) Gulf War with females in direct supports units brought unique problems to the units...My personal thought this president is just pandering to the left wing of the democrate party...Just saying....

Israeli women serve. Raise the standards for all enlistees to those of the Marines and let it be gender neutral. Droves of male active duty personnel would fail to meet those basic requirements; uniforms now come in husky sizing. Women who qualify should be welcome. Regardless, a voluntary military means women serving in combat is a choice initiated by women. I remember when, prior to Title IX girls played basketball by Iowa-rules because boy's rules were beyond them. Are women created the same? Perhaps not, but those who are qualified and want to should be allowed to serve.

As long as the standards are EXACTLY the same for men and women. Only 3% of the active Israeli army is female so comparing us to them is not relevant. Combat and minimal standards for those in combat are not the place to play around. That is how people get killed.

if women can met the same standards as men then I hav eno problem. That said I don't wan tto be kiled while a woman who got in on a weaker standrd and can't carry me to safety drops me and gets us all killed. i think captured women can be used against us to mess with the people in this country that are already soft on war. Once women get captured and tortured by our enemies the country will be crying to pull out of said war. I think woman are equal to men in many instances but war isn't one. This will play into our enemies hands as another way to exploit the weakness of the American psyche. We can't seen to stomach what it takes to win a war. Thank God our GrandFATHERS could. This is a mistake. But, If they want to fight and can meet the mens standards then I don't wat to hear them complaiing when they are getting sexualy tortured by our enemies.

i am all for equal rights, but this just doesnt sit right for me.

If a woman meets the combat qualifications what difference does it make which reproductive organs she has? As long as she is brave enough and strong enough, and is willing to take the risks, then she should be allowed to do so. Women are already fighting and coming home in pine boxes or with missing limbs. This policy change simply reflects the reality of what is already happening.

I have no issues with woman doing the same things as men for the most part and this would be an exception. What will happen is our military power will go from #1 to #????. Woman are not physically made like men, when men have to carry 70-100lbs through the hot steamy desert some will not have the stamina. Some things they are better than men, others even, but war not.

Not to be graphic, but lets' face facts. What happens during war or when the troops on are on the move for days without stopping and woman have thier "Freind" Will the war/shooting stop so she can go to the womans room?

There are also many more issues. This is another social experiment. Another way for Obama's Administration to take us from #1 country in the world to 3rd world status.

Oh please. This is not the President's project. Read the article and the other comments. This originated with the Pentagon. President Obama does not want us to stop being "number one" whatever the hell that means, and accepting rather than pretending to accept the quality of women is a good thing that MANY people acknowledge. Your post is really pretty creepy, by the way.

Both men and women, have private toilet needs that tend to become more public, I'm sure, at the battle field. Menstruating is not like a sudden urge that you must run off and find a place to take care of it where no one can possibly see you. "Ooops, can't kill you right now! Got to go take care of my girly business! And NOBODY watch me!" I mean come on. That excuse is so 1950's.

And secondly, there are very big strong women and very small weak men. Yes, the spectrum leans toward more bigger men, but haven't you ever met a big strong woman? I'm not saying take away the training pack requirement, but if she can carry it, what difference does it make if she has to throw a few tampons in to hers?

http://www.businessinsider.com/integrating-women-in-marine-infantry-combat-units-is-marked-with-failure-2013-4

Just thought this was interesting.