I've had female enlisted and female officers while deployed as a combat engineer. Of the dozens I've worked with, only one, a Lt, ever earned my personal respect. The rest of them either had glaring inadequacies or were a net-negative on the unit and the position they filled. For the Lt. that I greatly respect, she did her job, didn't whore around, could keep up physically, and put her nose to the grindstone and worked hard. She didn't expect special treatment, she didn't flirt, she just worked hard and did her job...something I expect of every marine. The rest of
them either whored around, didn't carry their weight, created social situation nightmares, and/or were malingers.
I've also worked with females in different MOSs that were not so physically demanding or field related. They have been good, bad, or marginal just like their male counterparts. I don't have a problem with women in the military but I do think people need to recognize that the ground pounders are a different sort with an atmosphere that is very stark and uncompromising. You either have it or don't. The primitive requirements of a ground pounder and the realities of these jobs don't allow room for an atmosphere of compromise. I just don't see women in the combat arms as a net positive. I have nothing against women it's just about who and what gets the job done and it can't be about anything else in that line of work.
Wouldn't want to leave this post completely cereal, Mmmkay.
IOC Class Graduation photos.