The women in the US armed forces

The US armed Forces are the 2nd largest military in the world with 1 400 000 people on active duty, split into five departments: the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force and the Coast Guard. The majority of the military is used to be made up of men, though women have also been involved for a long time in the safety of their country. Today, they are present in each department and they represent 15% of the American strength. However women have been prohibited from some active combat roles. Moreover many American citizens and servicemen are still dubious about a female presence in the Armed Forces which are supposed to defend the country. In the US, these differences have led to wonder how women are an advantage or a disadvantage for the Armed Forces. Through examples of men and women on active duty, physical, psychological and tactical concerns will be developed.

Some of the most obvious reasons which explain the low number of servicewomen are physical. Though some women are as strong as servicemen, most of them do not have the physical attributes to be efficient for combat roles. There are even more physical concerns if it comes to entering women in a nuclear submarine crew. Doses of radiation from nuclear submarine reactors can result in infertility, since women do not continually produce eggs as men do with sperm. The Center for Military Readiness stated that “Female soldiers are, on average, shorter and smaller than men, with 45-50% less upper body strength and 25-30% less aerobic capacity, which is essential for endurance.” That is why women are more often appointed to a post, on which physical strength is not necessary. However, their contribution is very important. They may not fight in front lines but they are in charge of technical, medical or administrative duties.

Psychological concerns are another important part of the debate. Romantic relationships between men and women from the same unit are