Pollyana

MALE diggers have been told that female soldiers will be eligible to join them on the front-line in Afghanistan by next year.

The Army has pre-empted the Australian government's final decision on allowing women into combat roles and this week began briefing infantry soldiers that they will be joined in battle in 2012 by women who can pass the physical and team tests.
In the past, females have been given extra time to complete the tests, but the new tests will be done on equal terms with the men.
Despite the rising death toll in Afghanistan, the top brass strongly supports the government's push to open all combat roles to women, but the troops themselves have mixed views.

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What do people think about women being on the front-line - especially those of you who've been there yourselves?

quoll

There was a nice series of videos from women in the British Army on the frontline last year http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...line-home.html (the others link from it).

I think they are needed especially if they are engaged in the hearts and minds battle as well as the logistical one - they can work with the women whereas the men cant. I dont know whether UK restricts the sort of work they can do when they send women out or whether they are just part of the team.

scottishcelts

Woman have been stating their interest in working on the front line for donkey's years and I personally don't think there would be a problem, despite the pathetic excuses the military have given over the years. It's a choice thing.

Anyway, look at the likes of Samantha Carter - and she is one cool chick, who gives as good as she gets (and mostly better).

DeadVim

Yeh, send them all.

<ducks>

slapphead_otool

101st Brestfeeders Battalion to the front...

Send em all. Especially the ones with PMT.

Amazulu

I've posted about this before and am totally against it. Unit cohesion, camaraderie, morale, ie everything that matters, is going to be badly affected.

Australian soldiers are going to die unnecessarily because of this.

Deancm_MKII

I seriously doubt whether many (any) will be able to pass the physical requirements for an infantry soldier.

Deancm_MKII

Agree and I thought letting women on board war ships was a bad idea.

Amazulu

True. I was in my early '20s, fit as a fiddle, had really good upper body strength and I only just scraped through

slapphead_otool

There isnt a lot of Unit cohesion, camaraderie, moral etc left to affect.

OH&S and political correctness de-knackered the ADF long ago. Its a risk averse public service mentality these days.

slapphead_otool

They have dropped the requirements considerably in recent years, down to a point where my grandmother could pass.

Deancm_MKII

That's why I wouldn't rejoin.

Amazulu

I don't see the Australian army as a real military, fighting force except for the SAS and their commando battalions. They are more like a peace keeping force. They cannot even deploy their Blackhawk helicopters in Afghanistan as they are not combat ready (bought a cheap version). Where are their Tiger attack helicopters?

Deancm_MKII

It amazes me the thought that goes into decisions like that. Certain standards need to be kept because lives are on the line.

I can see it now, an infantrywoman carrying an injured male oppo and carrying her weapon and kit and his weapon and kit.

The ADF must be recruiting super-women...

Deancm_MKII

Agree, that's why I left.

They cost too much money for them to deploy only to be shot down.