"This is the smoke screen to cover Hillarys performance yesterday. Note how all the lame stream media are leading with this and not talking about the sham they pulled yesterday"
Grimmjak
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Women in all branches of the military soon will have unprecedented opportunities to serve on the front lines of the nation's wars.
Leon Panetta, in one of his last acts as President Obama's defense secretary, is preparing to announce the policy change Thursday, which would open hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after more than a decade at war, the Pentagon confirmed.
The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule banning women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units. Panetta's decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women.
"This policy change will initiate a process whereby the services will develop plans to implement this decision, which was made by the secretary of defense upon the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," a senior defense official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Some front-line military roles may open to women as soon as this year. Assessments for others, such as special operations forces, including Navy SEALS and the Army's Delta Force, may take longer.
A defense official told the Associated Press that the military chiefs must report back to Panetta with their initial implementation plans by May 15.
Panetta's move expands the Pentagon's action nearly a year ago to open about 14,500 combat positions to women, nearly all of them in the Army. This decision could open more than 230,000 jobs, many in Army and Marine infantry units, to women.
Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., said he supports Panetta's decision.
"The fact is that American women are already serving in harm's way today all over the world and in every branch of our armed forces," he said in a statement. "Many have made the ultimate sacrifice, and our nation owes them a deep debt of gratitude."
The senator also urged the military, and particularly elite special forces units, to ensure they maintain their "rigorous physical standards."
In recent years the necessities of war propelled women into jobs as medics, military police and intelligence officers that were sometimes attached -- but not formally assigned -- to units on the front lines.
Women make up 14 percent of the 1.4 million active military personnel.
Panetta is preparing to step down as Obama begins his second term, with former Sen. Charles Hagel nominated to take Panetta's place.
Fox News' Justin Fishel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Replies
Distract, distort, divide, destroy.
Do not remember the Benghazi 4 who were murdered.
Not not remember no budget, a spending habit, debt, high unemployment, largest food stamp population ever, highest gas prices ever, etc.
Yes, Twana, put the spotlight somewhere else and not on my failures.
Leon Panetta; one of the four great criminals left UN-hung...as are the remaining 3 of the Benghazi Massacre.
That's un hanged. We don't know of Panetta is hung or not!
It may have worked for a few; but the majority saw it for what it was...pure BS..
I noticed that many of the attacks on embassies were done on BILL CLINTON'S WATCH.. and Hillary sanctimoniously USED them in her monologue...
OK folks, here is my take:
I am a retired (26 years) enlisted and Officer, Infantry soldier.
I have 15 months in combat, I was consider a Div asset and as a result got shuffled from unit to unit, most of the time with D Co 1/12 Infantry1st Cav, I also spent time with White Horse Div US Republic of Korea Rangers, 173'd Airbone, Big Red One, 5th Mech, Army Republic Vietnam, from Bong Song to the DMZ, Vietnam, 67-68, of that 15 mo I spent about 3 week in the rear sleeping in a tent the rest of time if rained I was wet, if the sun was out I was hot.
Just trying to give you some insight that I was not back in the rear with flushin crappers and AC, I was a COMBAT SOLDIER SOLDER.
I am opposed to women in Infantry units for 2 reasons:
1) Physical ability: They think they are tough, try this: Rucksack, 82 lbs, plus weapon, basic load, canteen x2 and other assorted Load Bearing Equipment. This brings the LOAD to about 110 lbs FOR TRAINING PURPOSES! We do a training march on Wed with everything but the rucksack, Sat we do full gear, 15 MILES, 3 hours cross country, that is the training standard in Infantry units that were straight leg.
Now, the COMBAT load: Toss all the junk we trained with, don't need it, don't use it. Every swingin Richard carries a cross load. This means I carry 82 mm mortar rds, belts of MG, claymores, double my basic load, flares, trip mines and enough stuff to start a war with, est weight is about 150 lbs, we will hump up to 25 km per day sometimes slashing our way thru the jungle and over the mountains.
I will wear thru a set of ruck shoulder straps every 30 days, boots every 90, worn completely out.
I will arrive in country in fighting trim, 6'2, 205, I will leave country for R&R about 8 mo later, I will step off the plane and my wife will not know who I am, I weigh 141 lbs and I have been eating 7-10,000 cal per day.
2) Command and Control: Gonna put this in the words of my friend way back when he was the Company Commander of a MP company when mass women began coming into the Army:
Chuck, have not seen you about 6 since you took command of the MP company (Ft Hood Tx). Tell me, whats it like to command and mixed unit of men and women?
"Don, you put two women together in a car on patrol and they will fight, put a man and a woman in a car on patrol and they will f***!" (that is a quote)
Now project that into a combat situation where we are out on patrol for days and even a week or more (depends upon how much if any chit you run into).
I have never been in a corp environment that was not a Peyton Place. Now we are a lot of men and only a few women 24 hrs a day in a combat enviro and you imagine the emotions, jealousy, and the raging hormones of a but of under 25 yr olds.
We have enough command and control issues with Gays, minorities, drug users etc etc. A large majority of our time is personnel issues where they are discriminated against, treated badly by some Sgt or Officer and the personal issues they have at home and in their lives is mind numbing.
One of my very best friends was a Senior military Officer, he was a Doctor and a high position in the Army, we were very close. The truth about women in the military is at best UGLY. The Army glosses over the issues and problems and buries news stories if at all possible. More senior officers in command positions have been brought down by a woman in their command than you can imagine, the problems in a combat zone are so bad it would make a great book full of sex, jealousy, fallen women, men, abortions, you dream it and it happens. My buddy the Doc, knew, the stories he told me...and its ALL CLASSIFIED INFO.
That said, sit back and watch this nightmare unfold and you will only see and hear the tip of the iceberg...sadly.
Same place , same time . Bong Song to Dak To . I'm in agreement but this experiment will continue until it fails . One of my best friends was a carrier pilot and test pilot and he flat told me women don't belong flying fighter jets as they can't take the G forces that are demanded in a dog fight . Has something to do with the fluid surrounding the brain , not as much as a man . He was also a flight instructor so he should know . Just saying .
I've had a lot of women work for me and all were great (but one) but I have misgivings on a combat roll .
I have been in the infantry most of my life. Believe me there are a few things yo mention here. there has not been a infantry war since Viey Nam. rideing in some sort of vehicle is NOT being the infantry. Getting on line and sweeping through area in the sand is not possible in the jungle or in the mountains. Threre are days, weeks and longer you will do with out resupply of water or food, no sleep, bathing, constant fear, guts dealth and blood surounds you, low or no ammo, no communcation. batteries don't last or work in areas sheilded etc. Its phyical exhausting, and so mentally draining that you want quit, you cant. When they say that women and men are the same they blowing smoke up the hinds ends of women. There are differences, these differences will show up when the blood starts flowing, I read one article that both sexes are tested the same they are NOT. And lastly, Those women who think they would be equal to men in combat are not only sexest they are simply nuts
I was a Marine for 25 years.Any unit I was in that had women assigned was a nightmare. They couldn't carry the heavy loads required to do the job. If I had to counsel one of the little darlings,my office door had to be open and I had othe senior NCO's present so no claims could be made of sexual harassment.
I wasn't always a office pogue,I spent a year and a half in Vietnam in Armor. There are things that I do NOT want my daughters or granddaughters to see or experience It's been over forty years since I came out of that shit hole and it's still on my mind every day.
You can also bet that none of the politicians children will be involved in this goat f-ck.
I consider myself an enlightened woman who did jobs that were purely for men. I used to think that IF a woman can do the job, then let her have it. However as I age, I realized that it isn't that simple. It is one thing to pilot an aircraft, and one thing to be in combat. I do not think women belong there due to their physical capabilites or lack of them. There is no way that they can carry the weight required to even pass boot camp. Sorry ladies you just don't belong there and Panetta is an idiot to even suggest it, and the military leaders should nix this idea immediately.
Interesting how they fired Mattis from CENTCOM and two days after Panetta comes out with this.