What's the difference between men and woman on the battlefield?

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Was talking about this with someone the other day. He argued that even though they don't have the same physicality as men, woman would be "smarter" which I think I could see how that could be true. During the heat of a firefight, I would expect them to not be as level headed as a man.

But I think there are probably certain areas where their physicality would come in handy.

But as a civilian, all I can do is speculate. Respect to all members of the US military 🇺🇸

[BCA6010]

Speaking from personal experience up through 2018:

The overwhelming majority of women currently in the military can't even make the minimal physical standards on the male scoring scale. Men barely passing the fitness test were ostracized as sh*tbags in the infantry, where scoring an average of 90% or higher across the board was the goal. The women who could make that first hurdle were very few and far between. When you got to physical events that weren't part of the fitness test, but still executed regularly, you run into even more problems: most women can barely carry a full grown man in optimal conditions... Now throw both her and the guy she's supposed to be carrying over the shoulders in 30-50lbs of kit. The number one thing that got women medically discharged from the military was a hip injury, which was almost always from rucking. Everyone has to ruck march, and in the infantry, our standard pace was double that of non-combat roles, which means you either had to maintain a very brisk walking pace for 12 miles, or expect to run large chunks of it (which is terrible for you). It is a common sight to see a platoon doing a ruck march and at least a few women have dropped their packs for someone else to have to carry in addition to their own.

Nobody is doing anyone a service by lowering the standards to accommodate more women to send to combat units. If you find that one in a couple hundred who can actually hold her own and is motivated to be there, then great, but reality is a cold b*tch that doesn't care about delusional old geezers making political moves.

[dynamicyandere]

If they can leverage technology like flying a fighter jet, piloting a drone, operating anti-aircraft missile launchers, etc.


Then there isn’t a difference. Women can be equally as competent in that regard because their physical differences are not limitations.


On the battlefield in person however…


Carrying a wounded soldier to safety, carrying heavy gear across the field, wrestling with an enemy male soldier, all those things are easier for men to do.


So, women shouldn’t be fighting in person on the frontlines. It’ll only create more liabilities. (e. g. Is this 120lb woman going to be able to drag this wounded 220 pound man to safety quickly enough, while they’re under machine gun fire?)


Women however, can totally be operating vehicles and doing things like air support, which is highly highly important for supporting ground troops.

[dynamicyandere]

Caveat: Women who can score as well on the physical fitness test as men can also fight on the front lines. Physical fitness tests aren’t lowered for women when it comes to becoming fighter-fighters (lives are at stake if they can’t carry people out of burning buildings) and neither should physical fitness requirements be lowered for women in the military (at least for ground troops on the front lines).

[Anonymous]

The way combat operations are planned and fought these days, absolutely nothing.

[Meropatrick]

I believe women dont belong in a battlefield. Its not a game. The toughest of men cry like babies in battlefields and crumble under that kind of stress. Add to the mix the enemys soldiers who didn't see or touch a woman in months or years. What would they do when they see a wounded woman in a battlefield.

Also soldiers can end up in situations that are so harsh physically even for a man. Let alone for a woman. Why hire a woman when you can hire a man when it comes to physical strength.

War doesn't understand equality its very harsh and people return broken from battlefields

Dont get me wrong Women are important in military but in things like collecting intelligence, as snipers, and as nurses.

[Berethor]

More cunning would be a better choice of words, the 'more deadly than the male' trope. :)

[DextroShade]

Putting women on the front lines of combat is insane. Picture the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan; now imagine putting some modern women in there, how do you think that would turn out?

[Anonymous]

Your friend is not so bright.