Different Standards In The U.S. Military example essay topic

1,006 words
Women in the Military Gun shots go over head. Bang, boom, run, run, run, hurry, go, boom, is all that can be heard. It's completely dark outside. You can barely see ten feet in front of your face. All that can be seen is outlined figures of individuals running every which way. Shouting is coming from every direction.

What should you do? Every second you think leaves your body vulnerable. You are in the middle of a high intensity fire fight. All of sudden you feel a little weak in the knees. You are still standing up, but you cannot walk even one step.

You feel faint, almost a sick type of feeling. You look down and you notice blood coming from your body. Then it becomes apparent... you have been shot. You fall to the ground; everything is in slow motion and you yell as loud as possible for help. Medevac is on the way but you have to be carried a half a mile away from the conflict for them to pick you up. Can the individuals on your team carry your body all that way.

After all they are tired as it is. What if the only person that could be counted on is a woman who is not able to lift you... then what? Because women do not go through the same physical standards as men, they should not be allowed to serve in the United States Military. Now I don't want to sound like a woman basher. I believe women are capable of doing the same roles as men do. They need to undergo the basic training standards as men though.

Here are a few interesting facts about basic training physical test standards in the United States Marine Corps for men and women. The Marine Corps has the hardest physical standards among all the branches in the military. Men have to run a three mile course in twenty-six minutes. Women have to run the exact same three mile course, but they are allowed an additional six minutes to do it in. They have to do run in a maximum time of thirty-two minutes. Does this seem right?

This is not all. Men also have to complete three pull-ups before going to the next test; women, only one. Men have to do fifty push-ups and sixty-five sit-ups each in a time of two minutes. Not women. They only have to do thirty push-ups and only a pathetic fifty sit-ups in that same amount of time. (Collins, p 23) What is this telling the women of our military?

We, speaking in the sense of the nation, are saying, 'Women, you are not equal to men so we will expect less from you. We know that you are weaker than men, so we will demand less and lower our standards just for you. You cannot possibly live up to the men's performance level so we won't even make you try. We will give you your own standards to live by. ' 'Women, we all should feel outraged and completely angered by these physical standards.

These standards are unacceptable to anyone, men and us women alike. ' (Brown, p 36) Back to the introduction though, men have to learn how carry a 190 pound dummy around to simulate a wounded solider. Women have to learn on only a 145 pound dummy. If they only learn how to carry 145 pound body around, what happens when a 185 pound solider becomes incapacitated on the battlefield and is bleeding to death. Apparently women will have to find a 'big, strong, muscle-man' to carry him for them while they watch. That is only if he survives the wait.

Why should the bare minimum standard be different for men and women? Most men are physically stronger than women; it is in the way we " re built. But to say a woman cannot do three pull-ups is unacceptable. If men cannot complete these standards, they are dropped, done, out of basic training.

This should be the same for women also. These should be the expectations of the military and no less. The United States military is not some compromising unit. They are trained to be the most effective and efficient at all times. This is not a place to try some trial and error game just to suit the 'fancy' of some feminists and bleeding-heart liberals. These women want equality, but only when it is to their advantage.

They demand to have the right to serve in the military, but it is okay if women are expected to do less if they are allowed to do the same jobs as men are. They demand the right to serve in the military, but it is okay to them if they don't have to register for the draft. It is completely sickening. On a lighter note, women have better qualities also. They understand and take in languages much better than men do. Also, women who fly planes can withstand greater 'G' forces then men do.

Some of the best male pilots can handle 'G's' of 9.5. Women on the hand can take 'G's' in excess of 10.5 to 11. That is huge difference in a 'dog-fight. ' (Wekesser, p 16-18) To conclude, the different standards in the United States Military are a disgrace to women and the military. They should be equal; completely on level ground.

Here is a quotation from a woman in the military right now. 'Women can be stronger than men. If they have the drive, perseverance, and determination, they will be able to overcome and out-perform anyone. '.