Women In Combat-Lowered Standards A Threat?
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Weights are getting heavier, not lighter so why would you lower the
requirement ?
requirement ?
I've never said that political correctness should drive anything. However, some people calling something political correctness should not prevent it being looked at. I wasn't Yank bashing. The American forces I worked with were far more accepting and forward-looking than many Brits I worked with. Conversely, the retired US military have always been far more entrenched in their views than most of the retired Brits I have met.
Thread Starter
Melm....
The article refers to some Women who disguised themselves as Men....which has changed somewhat in modern times.
But... a very good article on Women in the Russian Military over the years.
We had at least one Woman do that during our War Between the States.
Women have been combatants ever since there was War i guess....so that is not a new concept.
Russia's Great War and Revolution
The article refers to some Women who disguised themselves as Men....which has changed somewhat in modern times.
But... a very good article on Women in the Russian Military over the years.
We had at least one Woman do that during our War Between the States.
Women have been combatants ever since there was War i guess....so that is not a new concept.
Russia's Great War and Revolution
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Did anyone read the article? It says that in phase two, due to implemented in Jan 2014 will state that both male and females must carry out 3 pull ups to pass...
In the RM, it is 8 pullups for Potential RM Recruits and 16 for Potential (RM) Officer Recruits. That's before being allowed to go on with the recruitment process.
Is the article stating only three are required really correct?
In the RM, it is 8 pullups for Potential RM Recruits and 16 for Potential (RM) Officer Recruits. That's before being allowed to go on with the recruitment process.
Is the article stating only three are required really correct?
Thread Starter
Thread Starter
In my time in the Army as a Warrant Officer...."Whatever!" would have been closer to our response! 
That was long before the current "Hooah!" thing.
That was long before the current "Hooah!" thing.
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This week, to make us feel tougher, let's laugh at:
a) Arabs scared to jump out of a plane
b) President Obama's foreign-sounding name
c) Women
d) something else Fox New Channel recommends
(check one)
a) Arabs scared to jump out of a plane
b) President Obama's foreign-sounding name
c) Women
d) something else Fox New Channel recommends
(check one)
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The same line exists here as in the thread in Jetblast.....and we know which side you trod on.
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SASless
cheers for the link to the USMC score sheet. Makes more sense though I'm still a little surprised that there is such a 'hoo haa' over standards dropping if 'only' three pull ups (which is what the report specifically relates to) is a qualifying score (I appreciate that if people got the minimum on every discipline then they wouldn't accrue enough points to pass the test).
Three seems awfully low and hardly worth bothering about... anyone, male or female, with a modicum of fitness should be able to do three IMHO, thus making that benchmark pointless.
Why bother including it at all?
And no, this is not a pi55ing competition between the USMC and RM, it is a genuine question/opinion.
cheers for the link to the USMC score sheet. Makes more sense though I'm still a little surprised that there is such a 'hoo haa' over standards dropping if 'only' three pull ups (which is what the report specifically relates to) is a qualifying score (I appreciate that if people got the minimum on every discipline then they wouldn't accrue enough points to pass the test).
Three seems awfully low and hardly worth bothering about... anyone, male or female, with a modicum of fitness should be able to do three IMHO, thus making that benchmark pointless.
Why bother including it at all?
And no, this is not a pi55ing competition between the USMC and RM, it is a genuine question/opinion.
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If physical fitness is the determinant for combat we should only recruit Ethiopians, Kenyans and Jamaicans................. they're the ones that win the Gold medals (oh yes - and Lance Armstrong of course)
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Being able to run is not, on it's own, a guide to the physical fitness required for infantry style combat.
Ethiopians and Kenyans might be able to run long distances quickly, but they wouldn't be able to do so with a pack on.
Hence why the USMC et al use a range of tests to determine combat fitness
Ethiopians and Kenyans might be able to run long distances quickly, but they wouldn't be able to do so with a pack on.
Hence why the USMC et al use a range of tests to determine combat fitness
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Though some US troops are resorting to the hoover to get passed fit
Troops Use Liposuction To Pass Body Fat Test
Troops Use Liposuction To Pass Body Fat Test
Thread Starter
Right after my Active Duty Service I joined the National Guard (TA to you Brits)....flying Hueys and Kiowa's. We had to do our Annual Flight Physicals at Fort Bragg with an Active Duty Army Flight Surgeon. This was when Jim Fixx and jogging was "In".
At one of these fun filled events....the "Jogger" Flight Surgeon (Real Army Type) looking down a very long nose suggested it would be a good thing if I took up jogging and suggested a couple of miles a day would do miracles for my general health and longevity.
He was more than a bit miffed when I told him I just could not possibly do that...no way....No Sir!
After he ranted on about the virtues of such a mobile lifestyle...he asked me why I could not do such.
He shut his festering Gob after I reminded him I would lose my current civilian employment as I was required to run Five Miles twice a day as I was in Police Training.
Jogging is one thing....but strap a 50 Pound Rucksack on your back and carry a Weapon....and it is an altogether different thing.
Besides....I thought we there to stand our ground and fight....not run.
At one of these fun filled events....the "Jogger" Flight Surgeon (Real Army Type) looking down a very long nose suggested it would be a good thing if I took up jogging and suggested a couple of miles a day would do miracles for my general health and longevity.
He was more than a bit miffed when I told him I just could not possibly do that...no way....No Sir!
After he ranted on about the virtues of such a mobile lifestyle...he asked me why I could not do such.
He shut his festering Gob after I reminded him I would lose my current civilian employment as I was required to run Five Miles twice a day as I was in Police Training.
Jogging is one thing....but strap a 50 Pound Rucksack on your back and carry a Weapon....and it is an altogether different thing.
Besides....I thought we there to stand our ground and fight....not run.
Hence why the USMC et al use a range of tests to determine combat fitness
Next day, my mate who is approx 5'8" and of medium size and build was on a 8-mile battle run. With 2 miles remaining, he found himself next to one of these muscle bound huge USMC chaps who was chinstrapped. The RM ended up carrying both weapons, his own webbing, the USMC chap's pack and pushing the USMC guyfrom behind to get him moving.
You are right that being a skinny good runner doesn't necessarily mean that you can cope with the extra weight that combat gear brings. On the other hand, being muscle bound while neglecting cardio doesn't necessarily mean that you can run long distances with the extra weight. A good balance between the two and a positive mental attitude goes a long way.
I'm off for a pie and a pint.
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Besides....I thought we there to stand our ground and fight....not run.
This went on all the way down the line until he reached a Viet Vet and asking again the "Soldier you have hoards of NVA enemy approaching your position and you have a stoppage what are your correct actions" he got the answer "Belt off, Pack off, and f*ck Off"
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First Cav guy I bet ya too!
Reputation garnered from their time in Korea.
From their Shoulder Patch....
The Horse they never rode.....the Line they never held.....and the color for the reason "Why"!
Reputation garnered from their time in Korea.
From their Shoulder Patch....
The Horse they never rode.....the Line they never held.....and the color for the reason "Why"!
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In the USMC anything less than a 1st class PFT is grounds for an automatic adverse Fitness report (unless you're a female...). A 270 PFT score is considered the minimum in an infantry, engineer or artillery Bn. Officers are expected to maintain a 290 PFT in those units. Only exceptions are recuperating form injury or illness.
Before being sent USMC Officer Candidate School a male has to do the run in under 19 minutes, 18 pull-ups and max sit-ups.
Most USMC units concentrate fore on humping (yomping) vice distance running (say over 3-5 miles). The MCCRES standard is 25 miles under eight hours with all gear for non-infantry and seven hours as a weapons company for infantry, these without females. The females do not carry packs, only 782 (LBE) and individual weapons (rifle or carbine), no flak vest and have eleven hours to do eighteen miles.
I've rarely seen a pack as light as fifty pounds, plus flak, etc.
In my experience with the RM they concentrate more on the running and at lighter weights while the USMC emphasizes only the three mile run and humping.
S/F, FOG
Before being sent USMC Officer Candidate School a male has to do the run in under 19 minutes, 18 pull-ups and max sit-ups.
Most USMC units concentrate fore on humping (yomping) vice distance running (say over 3-5 miles). The MCCRES standard is 25 miles under eight hours with all gear for non-infantry and seven hours as a weapons company for infantry, these without females. The females do not carry packs, only 782 (LBE) and individual weapons (rifle or carbine), no flak vest and have eleven hours to do eighteen miles.
I've rarely seen a pack as light as fifty pounds, plus flak, etc.
In my experience with the RM they concentrate more on the running and at lighter weights while the USMC emphasizes only the three mile run and humping.
S/F, FOG