Brian Nguyen

Period 4
3/16/17

War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Yet humans are quite good at it.

Absurdly good at it. Typically men fight wars but women can dish out just as much

damage as a man can do. You would think that the amount of women that actually

fought on the front-line of battles are minimal, but there are examples such as The

Amazonians in the Mediterranean and Shield Maidens in the Scandinavian Peninsula,

although their existence is in question, those legends have to come from somewhere.

There are confirmed cases throughout history where women have led armies and

fought all over the world. In China there were female generals who have commanded

legions of soldiers.

During the Chinese occupation of Vietnam, the Trung Sisters with the help of

several others drove them out of Vietnam. Joan of Arc in France, although dying young,

she fought against the British in The Hundred Years War. There are many more

examples of women fighting that I dont have time to list off but I can completely

understand why I men wouldnt want women to fight. It is so simple that it could be

overlooked. Its not because of politics, not because men are superior to women, but

rather because its primal.

Women ensure the survival of tribes and group. If all the women die in a tribe or

group then they would cease to exist. Its as simple as that Im not putting gender into

this what so ever. I dont care if you identify as whatever, because in the end women

make more people for war.

 Brian Nguyen
Period 4
3/16/17

So why in the last century womens combat roles were limited? Because killing

got a whole lot easier. With the advancement of firearms, chemical, biological, and

nuclear warfare, women in a way have to pump out more soldiers for the grinder. In both

World Wars, women had to stay at home and work the munition and vehicle factories for

the soldiers on the front line. There were some women who served as medics in triages.

There were women in combat but only in Russia and that was very limited due to the

fact that they were seen as weak and barely saw action. As again during World War II

the Soviets had three snipers who struck fear in the Nazi soldiers in which two were

women. Women in the Soviet Union enlisted to become sniper and were deployed in

numerous battlefields throughout the eastern front.

There are of course people against women serving infantry. Which makes why

people address their concern. These people are not just your normal everyday citizen

that has no knowledge of the world of war. Former S.A.S. commander Colonel TIm

Collins said that, The infantry is no place for a woman, and to permit them to serve in

close combat roles is a pure politically correct extravagance. In the same article

Hannah Bryce Royal Institute of International Affairs said they would be more

operationally effective and more reflective society. FIrst off both of them are right and

wrong. Collins is right about how it's about political correctness. Women want the same

opportunity as men to serve their country on the frontlines with their brothers and

sisters. Bryce is wrong because they wouldnt be more effective, if you looked at it from

a biological standpoint and human history. Men are stronger, they have denser bones,

more muscle mass, and a better cardiovascular system, all very necessary serving as
 Brian Nguyen
Period 4
3/16/17

infantry. Collins surely hasnt served alongside women and Bryce wasnt an

infantrymen. The right answer lies with our Secretary of Defense Former General

James Mad Dog Mattis.

Mattis was in charge of a division of 23,000 marines during the Iraq conflict

where hundreds of women served alongside the other marines on the frontlines.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand asked Mattis Do you believe that openly serving

homosexuals along with women in combat units is undermining our force? his reply to

this was Frankly, Senator, Ive never cared much about two consenting adults and who

they go to bed with.. Mattis stated Senator my belief is that we have to stay focussed

on a military that is so lethal that on the battlefield it will be the enemies longest and

their worst day when they run into that force...Senator my concern is the readiness of

the force to fight and to make certain that it is at the top of its game so we go up against

an enemy the criteria for everything we do and the military up until that point when we

put our young men and women across the line of departure is that they will be at their

most lethal stance thats my obligation as I move into my job..

Political correctness doesnt have a place in the military. Our military in the

strongest military in the world because of the standards that everyone in the military

must exceed or meet those standards. The standards that are in place should never go

down and the only place to go is up. So in the end do women deserve to be in the

military? Who ever you are and you want in the military, no one should stop you as long

you can meet the standards.

Brian Nguyen
Period 4
3/16/17