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| House
Bill Would Restrict Role of Women in Combat |
Posted:
05.23.05 | |
| Congress
debated the role of female soldiers in combat zones last week, resulting in legislation
that would allow women to continue serving in Army units supporting ground fighting
forces but would require the Pentagon to get congressional approval for future
changes. Printer-friendly versions: PDF | |
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| Representative John McHugh,
a Republican from New York, originally proposed an amendment that would have barred
women from jobs that provide supply, logistical and other support to frontline
troops, which could have affected about 22,000 positions open to women in "forward
support companies." "We want women to serve everywhere, except
in ground combat," he told The New York Times.  A
compromise amendment finally made it into the bill that authorizes next year's
$441.6 billion Defense Department budget. It would require the military to get
congressional approval before it makes changes that put women in new direct combat
roles.
The full House and Senate must still approve the measure before
President Bush can sign it into law. | |
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| Women
in the U.S. military | |
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| The
debate over women in combat intensified following what was generally seen as the
positive performance of women in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In 1994
what was known as "the risk rule" was rescinded and women, formerly
excluded from any job that directly exposed them to hostile fire or capture, were
able to work some 80 percent of all jobs in the military, even in support units
alongside combat units.  Women
cannot serve in armor, Special Forces, field artillery and combat engineer units,
but they can fly attack helicopters and attack aircraft that provide close air
support for them.
Women can serve in "forward support companies,"
(FSCs) which provide supplies, maintenance services and medical support to ground
combat units. And they can serve in transportation companies that do not have
specific fighting responsibilities but that, in places like Iraq or Afghanistan,
have routinely come under enemy fire as they perform their missions. More
than 9,000 women are presently serving in Iraq. They make up 14.6 percent of the
active Army, 12.8 percent of the Army National Guard and 23.5 percent of the Army
Reserves. Of the 32 women soldier deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan 22 were
hostile. They included military police officers, a supply specialist, truck drivers,
a food service operator and a lawyer. | |
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| Supporters
vs. critics of the amendment | |
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|  Supporters
of the amendment say that the military is not clear on its women in combat policies
and that the uncertainty puts women in situations that are too risky.
"The
Army is confused. They're all over the place on this one," Republican Representative
Duncan Hunter from California told CNN. Some Democrats voiced opposition
to the amendment, saying it is offensive to the military service of women. "I
think we are all wincing. This degrades the service of our women," Democratic
Representative Ellen Tauscher of California told Reuters. | |
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| Global
perspective | |
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| The
debate over women in combat positions in the military is not unique to the United
States. Israel requires all Jewish women (and men) to serve in the military,
although combat positions are voluntary. Arab Israelis may volunteer but are not
obligated. Germany, Canada, Denmark and Norway also allow women to serve
in combat units in various capacities. --
Annie Schleicher, Online NewsHour | |
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This [teen] is an immigrant from Mexico, and he works long hours at a local farm milking dairy cows, five hours per milking, twice a day.
