Andrea Villanueva, mathematics junior and ROTC Navy cadet was planning on going into Navy aviation, but after U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s recently announced lift on the 1994 ban that prohibits women from serving in combat, her future might lie on the front lines.
“If I were to get the opportunity to be a Marine again, I would,” Villanueva said. “The ones on the front lines are the ones that mainly see everything, and I’d like to be able to be able to play a role there.”
Panetta announced the decision Thursday, saying the ban’s lift will open thousands of positions for women who want to serve on the front lines. Despite the lift, fitness standards will not be lowered, and Panetta said the changes should go into effect by January 2016.
Villanueva said this is a great opportunity for females in the Armed Forces.
Rachel Salpietra, mass communication junior and ROTC Air Force cadet plans to work in intelligence, but she said women do have the potential to serve on the front lines.
“I’ve met women who definitely have the ability to meet male standards,” she said. “If they can meet the standards, why not, but they shouldn’t be lowering standards either.”
Salpietra said ROTC members currently have to take physical fitness assessments that include push-ups, sit-ups, running and waist measurements, but male and female standards are different.
“Females are genetically different than males, and that could hinder performances,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva said some men still might believe women should not be in certain communities.
For instance, she said someone working with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal has to dispose of bombs in stressful situations, and those in charge of the unit have to gain respect, regardless of gender.
Military science instructor Reginald Brown said women might or might not meet the qualifications for combat, but the opportunity still exists.
“Women can go anywhere in any profession. In my opinion, in the Army, we were simply saying this doesn’t make sense,” Brown said. “Philosophically, this is saying, ‘Hey, humans can serve in the Army.’”
Guy St. Amant, history junior and former infantryman in the Marine Corps said the proportion of women who will not be able to meet the standards will be more than the proportion of males who will not qualify.
“If they can’t meet the qualification, they can’t fill the position. Just as men won’t be able to if they can’t,” Brown said.
As for more females signing up for Armed Forces, St. Amant and Salpietra said no great change will occur.
The decision to allow women on the front lines is also a cause of concern for some given the physicality and the potential for sexual harassment, according to St. Amant.
“The gear and weapons we carry are extremely heavy,” he said. “There are going to be scenarios that if they have to pick up that heavy weapon in a combat situation, will they be able to pick it up and carry it on in the fight?”
St. Amant also said females in combat will mean different living quarters, which could cause a potential rift between the males and females and running the risk of sexual harassment.
Israel and other countries have women in combat in their services, thus the United States will have to adapt similarly to make the changes work, said St. Amant.
“It’s a positive thing as a whole,” Villanueva said. “We need to keep a positive outlook because that’s the life we’re living.”
“If I were to get the opportunity to be in a Marine again, I would. The ones on the front lines are the ones that mainly see everything and I’d like to be able to be able to play a role there.”
