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Female Soldiers Sue Over Combat Ban

With 130 women killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, combat roles evolving

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted May 24, 2012 10:42 AM CDT

(Newser) – Two female army reservists filed suit against the US military yesterday, claiming the policy preventing women from serving in combat is unconstitutional, reports Reuters. Being banned from combat "solely on the basis of sex" violates their Fifth Amendment rights and "restricts their current and future earnings, their potential for promotion and advancement, and their future retirement benefits," wrote Command Sergeant Major Jane Baldwin and Colonel Ellen Haring in their lawsuit.

The Pentagon announced a new policy in February that opened up 14,000 positions to women, but still keeps them from frontline combat in infantry, armor, and special-operations units. Woman now make up 14.5% of active-duty military personnel. Despite being barred from combat, more than 130 women have been killed and 800 wounded in fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The linear battlefield no longer exists," Baldwin and Haring said.
In a May 9, 2012 photo, Capt. Sara Rodriguez of the 101st Airborne Division walks through the woods during the expert field medical badge testing at Fort Campbell, Ky.
In a May 9, 2012 photo, Capt. Sara Rodriguez of the 101st Airborne Division walks through the woods during the expert field medical badge testing at Fort Campbell, Ky.   (AP Photo/Kristin M. Hall)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 80 comments
MissBrat
May 25, 2012 2:25 PM CDT
The only reason I see for complaining about this is…. We see Mother, sister, daughter, wife.  I do not wish to kill people or be in combat. But what about the women, who hunt, fish, ride Harleys, and have more one night stands than most men?  Women use to be someone who was respected with no exceptions. But also was told she could not vote, or have a mind of her own. Was not allowed to choose her choice of heath care, also was ok to beat a wife because she was “property”.  This was still happing in the 1950 not that long ago.   We still view each other in different lights. If a man does not work HARDER than his wife/girlfriend he is a loser, if a man does not want to fight he is a coward.  If a women wishes to try combat, why not? If a man wants to be Mr. Mom and stay home take care of the kid’s/ house, why not?
slammer
May 25, 2012 12:56 PM CDT
ANY WOMEN WHO WANTS TO GO INTO COMBAT GET SHOT AT OR KILLED IF SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO IS SICK SICK SICK! EVEN IF SHE THINKS SHE IS AN AMAZON! SICK! THESE SICK WOMEN WOULD BE A DANGER TO ANYONE IN COMBAT! IF THEY HAVE A DEATH WISH THEY SHOULD JUST STAY HOME AND JUMP IN FRONT OF A BUS! PS I SURE AS HECK WOULD NOT WANT TO MEET ONE OF THEM! YIKE!
XYandZ
May 24, 2012 10:54 PM CDT
Let them in. If their in the US Chairforce all they got to do is push buttons. If they are in the Army/Marines shooting women,children and old people shouldn't be any harder for a woman as it is for a man
US

 
military • Pentagon • women's rights • US military • lawsuit • women in the military • unconstitutional • women in combat • workplace sexism

 
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