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Women in combat: Your take
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The right to die for your country
I was first involved with the military in 1976 when I joined Navy ROTC. I received a Marine scholarship and went through jump school and navy dive school. It proved horrible during active duty. Many men hated me just due to my devices. At TBS I worked with very weak leaders who went to infantry or other combat fields closed to me as a woman. Just before resigning my regular commission for a reserve commission I was told by my commanding officer, "you have no right to die for your country." I stayed in the reserves & went to Desert Storm (more of a horror story) and 3 trips to Iraq and ended with a combat action ribbon, but that's also, another story. I was told repeatedly, the American public would not stand for a woman to die in combat. I don't think people weigh a son or daughter any differently. We've often found ourselves in combat but at least now they will have the proper training. And finally, there will be equal physical standards. When I do an Ironman race, they don't change the course for the women. It's great to see. Wish I was starting my career, I know it would have been much different!
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