Updated: Women in Combat Spells Trouble? What do we learn from the Israelis?

Linda Chavez  "One study of a brigade operating in Iraq in 2007 showed that women sustained more casualties than their male counterparts and suffered more illnesses. Female soldiers experienced three times the evacuation rate of male soldiers. And of those evacuated for medical reasons, a shocking 74 percent were for pregnancy-related issues.
"The high rate of pregnancy among female soldiers is one of the best-kept secrets in the military."....
.... "And, of course, many of the pregnancies among deployed females involved sexual activity between soldiers in the field -- which brings up one of the chief objections to women serving in combat roles." 

And, I might add, openly gay partners. A combat unit was preserved as a non-sexual environment for unit cohesion and that is no longer the case thanks to the ultra-PC Democrat Party and Obama.

The Israeli Defense Force is often cited as the prime example of women integrated with women in combat. We will continue to draw on the IDF's 17 years of experience with this for understanding, beginning here:
IDF Background Information   "From the late 1990s onwards, they are moving back into combat positions, including flight school. The first female fighter pilot graduated in 2001. Before women were re-absorbed into combat units, there used to be a womens'(sp) corps which provides professional support and backup that was created as a parallel administrative system to the command system."

Women in combat roles: Is it possible?  "While Israel’s model may not be appropriate for the US, a measured time-phased approach to integrating women into combat roles will better serve the military.
"As a combat veteran, I have served with female soldiers and civilians that shared some of the same burdens as men.  Specifically in 2004, my unit was situated near a Civil Affairs unit that included several females.  While their unit was not intended to close with and engage the enemy, they patrolled the same streets in Iraq as every other unit.  Also, the .50 caliber gunner was a female soldier who proved her mettle on several occasions."....
"Ultimately this culture change should be paced to ensure the military, not an agenda, is served first."
 (Emphasis added because it is at this point that I expect the worst from this inept PC/Democrat administration.TD)
Timothy Zlatich  is a retired US Army Special Forces and Intelligence officer
with a keen eye for political-military issues related to National Security. 

UPDATE: IDF Women on Facebook   "In Israel all citizens are required to serve in the military. The Israel Defense Forces, the IDF, drafts all Women for at least 2 years. IDF Women serve in various units including on the frontlines. "This fan page is administered by over 50 IDF Women. Personal contact is prohibited for security considerations."

We look forward to hearing from members of the IDF who can share their experiences with us, both pro and con on this subject as long as they offer respectful and reasoned opinions. TD

Photo:IDF Women of Israel

 Women in IDF Combat Units  "Presently, female soldiers are trained and responsible for the many of the same duties as their male counterparts. Those recruited for combat units have to serve for 30 months instead of the current mandatory period for women of 21 months."

The State of Israel is the only country in the world that requires women to serve in the armed forces  "92% of positions in the IDF are available for female soldiers. Today women make up 33% of the IDF, and eight times as many women are serving as military reserves. Female officers with the rank of Colonel has grown by 100% since 1999 and with the rank of Lt. Col. grew by 70% in the past decade."
What are the 8% of positions that women do not serve in and why? Will those be off limits to US women in a society where feminism PC is as radical and unyielding as here in the US?

Women soldiers raped by captors   "According to Bragg, Lynch’s medical records indicate she was anally raped."

“The records do not tell whether her captors assaulted her almost lifeless,  broken body after she was lifted from the wreckage, or if they assaulted her  and then broke her bones into splinters until she was almost dead,” the Daily News quotes from the book."

In cases like this, who would the soldiers sue for damages: the military or NOW?

NOW wants NO restrictions on women in combat with no thought whatever for the needs of the military. They say:

"Despite recent advances for women, both the Army and the Marines continue to exclude women from infantry, armor and field artillery units, and thus block women from advancing along the three main routes to those branches' senior leadership. The military's policy of restricting women's participation in direct combat units denies women significant opportunities for job advancement. Most three-star and four-star positions require combat experience; at the end of FY 1993, there were 114 three-star and four-star admirals and generals in the four combined services. None were women. Further, contrary to the proposed reservation, women cannot volunteer for military service without restriction, as women are precluded from certain designated combat positions."

Fully expect the PC Democrats to go along with this because ideology trumps wisdom and intelligence. 

antimisandry.com