A Nation’s Best Defense
...ly have to go as far as the APFT (Army physical fitness test) to realize that the Army and the Army’s medical staff do not see it that way. In 1995, the United States Army revised its fitness evaluation policy to encompass both men and women, and as they did this they did not realize what they were sacrificing. For a male between the ages of 17-21, he must do at least forty-two push-ups, fifty-three sit-ups, and run two miles in 15:54 or less to pass the APFT. A female of the same age group on the other hand, only needs to do nineteen push-ups, fifty-three sit-ups, and run two miles in 18:54 or less to pass (http://www.benning.army. mil/usapfs/Research/1995APFTUpdateSurvey.htm). Although sit-up requirements are the same, push-up and the two-mile run are clearly much easier for a female than for males. In a place where a leader is expected to be the best both mentally and physically, it is hard for a young private to respect his leader when he can out perform her in any event. Another issue with women participation in combat arms is the fact that sexual harassment cases are a common problem. In 1988, the DOD (Department of Defense) did a survey of men and women in the military and found that 51.8 % of men and 74.6% of women reported either experiencing or knowing of sexual harassment (www.Screwschool.com/term/rac1.htm). When there is (for the most part) unity among the male soldiers, then what is the logic in throwing this balance out of whack? When your job is so important that it holds the life of another in your hands, you cannot afford to be faced with a controversial issue such as sexual harassment. The army is supposed to be fully united. Conflicts such as these put rifts between comrades, and compromise the safety of these men. Another important point is that most men feel a need to defend a woman in distress. In the middle of a firefight, a leader cannot neglect his duties just to protect one person when it could result in the lives of other soldiers. However, most men have been brought up to believe that women are fragile and need their protection. Inviting women to join the army has forced men to change a lot of these views, but the m...