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Combat-Ready but Feelings First

Talyn

Talyn

Emissary
Founding Member
In the grand tradition of empires in decline, the latest outrage sweeping the ranks isn’t about losing wars or hemorrhaging recruitment numbers—it’s that women in combat roles might be asked to meet the same physical standards as men. Scandalous. What’s next—asking pilots to see straight or submariners to know how to swim?

Critics argue these standards are just about “brute strength,” as though dragging a bleeding squadmate from a burning MRAP is merely CrossFit cosplay. Others lament that standards hurt recruitment, raising the obvious question: why stop there? Why not lower the bar until everyone, regardless of age, condition, or ambition, can step over it? After all, if anyone can do anything, shouldn’t everyone be a Navy SEAL by lunchtime?

havokjournal.com

Combat-Ready but Feelings-First • The Havok Journal

by Tammy Pondsmith, Director of Tactical Sensitivity and Adaptive Warfighting Inclusion Metrics for Article 107 News In the grand tradition of empires in Combat-Ready but Feelings-First
havokjournal.com havokjournal.com

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Tammy Pondsmith once redefined asymmetric warfare by equipping battalions with emotional support lattes and redefining “fire superiority” as a group affirmation exercise.
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Talyn said:
In the grand tradition of empires in decline, the latest outrage sweeping the ranks isn’t about losing wars or hemorrhaging recruitment numbers—it’s that women in combat roles might be asked to meet the same physical standards as men. Scandalous. What’s next—asking pilots to see straight or submariners to know how to swim?

Critics argue these standards are just about “brute strength,” as though dragging a bleeding squadmate from a burning MRAP is merely CrossFit cosplay. Others lament that standards hurt recruitment, raising the obvious question: why stop there? Why not lower the bar until everyone, regardless of age, condition, or ambition, can step over it? After all, if anyone can do anything, shouldn’t everyone be a Navy SEAL by lunchtime?

havokjournal.com

Combat-Ready but Feelings-First • The Havok Journal

by Tammy Pondsmith, Director of Tactical Sensitivity and Adaptive Warfighting Inclusion Metrics for Article 107 News In the grand tradition of empires in Combat-Ready but Feelings-First
havokjournal.com havokjournal.com

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Tammy Pondsmith once redefined asymmetric warfare by equipping battalions with emotional support lattes and redefining “fire superiority” as a group affirmation exercise.
View attachment 96319
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Great piece. When I was in the Canadian military, there were slightly different criteria where fitness was concerned, but the difference wasn’t much. That being said, when I was training at my first unit (and I’m talking 1976 to 1980) I was expected to be able to do EVERYTHING the guys did. In fact, I was the sole female on my servicing crew and I worked nearly twice as hard as they did, not only to prove I could, but to gain their respect. When you are a member of a team, you don’t want to be known as a weak link.
Back then, we females saw that if you wanted to be in a male dominated position, you needed to prove you could do the job. Well, I gained their respect and eventually became what you guys might call a crew chief.
I have never expected any special treatment because of my gender.

I completely agree that if women want a role in combat, they MUST be able to do exactly what their male counterparts can to. We all know the physiological differences between the genders, and that is why historically it has been primarily the men who go to combat. Have a look through history though, at the female Viking warriors (shield maidens) and other cultures where women were trained to fight and defend their people.
Long story short, if women feel the need and draw to go to war with their male counterparts, they need to be able to pull their weight right along beside them.
 
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