Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Women Sue Pentagon for Right to Fight in Combat

It's the second suit this year

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 27, 2012 6:58 PM CST

(AP) – Four female service members filed a lawsuit today challenging the Pentagon's ban on women serving in combat, hoping the move will add pressure to drop the policy just as officials are gauging the effect that lifting the prohibition will have on morale. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, is the second one this year over the 1994 rule that bars women from being assigned to ground combat units.

"I'm trying to get rid of the ban with a sharp poke," said Army Staff Sgt. Jennifer Hunt, who was among the plaintiffs in the latest lawsuit and was injured in 2007 when her Humvee ran over an improvised explosive device in Iraq. Hunt and the other three women said the policy unfairly blocks them from promotions and other advancements open to men in combat. A Pentagon spokesman said the Defense Department was making strides, noting that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has opened about 14,500 combat positions to women. "Not enough," said the ACLU lawyer handling the case.

Plaintiff Zoe Bedell, who is a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps reserves.
Plaintiff Zoe Bedell, who is a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps reserves.   (Ben Margot)
Plaintiff Colleen Farrell, a U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant and one of the plaintiffs.
Plaintiff Colleen Farrell, a U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant and one of the plaintiffs.   (Ben Margot)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
6%
9%
5%
35%
6%
39%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 101 comments
right2dave
Nov 29, 2012 5:06 PM CST
If women want to kill that bad. Give them guns and let them at it.
YetAnotherCollegeKid
Nov 28, 2012 7:38 PM CST
Women are physically weaker; that's a simple fact, the discussion of which is not welcome in social conversation. But war isn't a social enterprise. There are a thousand and one jobs that a woman can do near the front lines just as well as a man, and probably many they can do better. Manpacking gear and weapons isn't one of them. They are ideal as aircraft pilots (or anything on an aircraft, actually), tank gunners, drivers and mechanics and  and... hell, the list just goes on and on. Pretty much any position that lets a woman use machinery to compensate for the inherent strength disadvantage is fair game, as are all positions that require use of the mind rather than the body (include leadership positions above pretty much the squad level), and all positions that have a limited enough physical component that the strength disadvantage doesn't matter. Just don't strap a hundred pounds of gear to a hundred pound woman and expect her to be able to run as fast or as far as a man can, because it's not going to happen.
homer57
Nov 28, 2012 6:07 PM CST
Was it Forest Gump that said: Stupid is as Stupid does?  These woman have to have their heads so far up the back door chute they can't see the colon for the brown dirt!  They desire to get themselves blown up and killed with RPG's etc so....put em on the front line and promote em!  Some people are so thick!  Who in the H E Double Hockey sticks would voluteer to go into battle w/bullets and missles flying and all that!  What idiots!!!  You job, is NOT to lead but to be in service related tasks!  that is how and why you are made!!  There is a PHYSICAL differance...I have seen what women do in the military!  it usually takes two woman to do what one man will and can do!! (in Physical matters)  i have seen how the P.R.T are rigged downward for the ladies and the time requirements are degraded for the same!!  I will NOT debate you on this: I have been there and done THAT so..keep you rhetoric to yourself!!!

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

US

 
Pentagon • women's rights • US military • women in the military • women in combat • Jennifer Hunt

 
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne