Meet the Women Who Survived Army’s Ranger School (Navy SEALs Are Next)

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

I once saw a documentary of women flying combat aircraft in the former USSR during WW2 and being snipers in the infantry.

Women actually served in all sorts of frontline roles in the USSR - as many as 800,000 served, 200,000 were decorated for their combat service, and 89 even received the highest military honour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet...n_World_War_II

There were a number of women-only combat units as well.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by CCIP

Women actually served in all sorts of frontline roles in the USSR - as many as 800,000 served, 200,000 were decorated for their combat service, and 89 even received the highest military honour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet...n_World_War_II

There were a number of women-only combat units as well.

That's quite an honor. I thought as much but wasn't sure. This shows the USSR were forward thinkers even then.This doesn't even get into women cosmonauts in Russia and women astronauts in the U.S. I don't know her name but there was a woman commander of a space shuttle mission right after the 2 year hiatus after the loss of the Columbia. There is of course Sally Ride and Judith Reznik who was tragically lost aboard the Challenger.


I'm getting off subject. All this history seems to show they have the right stuff.

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by CCIP

Women actually served in all sorts of frontline roles in the USSR - as many as 800,000 served, 200,000 were decorated for their combat service, and 89 even received the highest military honour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet...n_World_War_II

There were a number of women-only combat units as well.

I remember when I was in art school, I was reading William Craig's compelling narrative of Stalingrad, Enemy at the Gates. I decided my ink & brush assignment for that week was going to be a female Russian sniper. I recall my illustration instructor was somewhat befuddled by the subject matter.

[nohouan]

I think it's about damn time.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by CCIP

I suppose one simple answer to that is that serving in the army is nothing at all like playing football. In fact, there are many qualities that a good football player has which would probably be considered handicaps for a ranger. Good football players (and many other athletes) are almost inevitably huge guys; in many cases, guys who are huge and bulky are at a disadvantage in many military roles (and flat our rejected from others).

The intake requirements for Ranger School, assessed on the first 3 days (of 61) as per wikipedia:

Say again? Depends on the position, many are small, fast guys. Buy yes, I know it's not the same thing, you know what I mean.

More generally, I don't know why it's surprising that 2 women passed, against thousands of men who graduated Ranger school. It might be surprising if there was a high percentage of women, but honestly, two women with the right kind of build out of thousands of candidates shouldn't be surprising.

Seriously? Why am I (others as well) surprised women can pass Ranger training? That really needs no explanation, right? Maybe some women can pass the standard, these two certainly seem to have what it takes, but of course, it is very unusual. I know a few women, don't you? I cannot say I've come acress any that seem to be cut out for this kind of thing. In school, 14-year-old boys can earn the highest award on the government’s physical fitness test by doing 10 pull-ups or chin-ups: for 14-year-old girls, it’s 2.

Again, I salute these women for their achievement, but you expect it is a normal course of events?

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Good. Now we can combine the DNA sequences of two qualified Rangers and start breeding those super soldiers we've always wanted/dreaded.

At least these ladies shaved their heads like the men. They look like soldiers.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ending_strip_4



I've read that Maj. Jim Hathaway, the No. 2 officer in the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade overseeing Ranger School has taken to FB to set the record straight, these women earned their tab same as the men.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/1...pull-ups/?_r=0

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

At least these ladies shaved their heads like the men. They look like soldiers.

Wimmen with shaved heads. Even aliens with acid for blood don't want to tangle with their knack for survival.

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Wimmen with shaved heads. Even aliens with acid for blood don't want to tangle with their knack for survival.

Australian road gangs don't want to mess with them either

[MaDef]

As long as the military doesn't lower their training standards just to accommodate women or to be seen as being politically correct, I have no problem with women serving in combat (or the special forces).

having said that, I think the Pentagon needs to get ahead of the curve and address issues specific to having integrated units to avoid degrading moral and discipline in the units. For example: the sexual harassment case on the U.S.S. Wyoming (SSBN 742).