Also dont give me the lower standards bullshit. This doesnt happen here.
Are you sure? This article in a regional Dutch newspaper suggest otherwise, and I've heard the same from a Dutch veteran.
This is the cancer that is the root of the different standards discussion. It is false.
Yes entry standards are different for women. ENTRY STANDARDS. These are designed to test on medical basis the amount of physical stress your body is capable of handling. It is to test if your body is suitable for the job. In training there are also numerous PE tests and yes theyre mostly different for women. But in the end, all that counts is the actual fucking combat training. So if the task entail hoisting a 45kg backback upon your skeleton and go for a stroll thats 30 clicks long, youre gonna fucking do it. And if you cant physically do that? You get a period of time to imrpove yourself but if you keep failing physical standards, you are done. This usually sorts itself out by those folks getting injuries.
I had a girl in my squad who washed out of officer training because she couldnt keep up and got injuries. She was too short and had to force steps too large for her. Result: injured legs, exit academy. This is none different for combat training.
If the woman meets the requirements and passes training succesfully, why should I have any less respect for than anyone else? Also women proved themselves useful in peacekeeping operations already, their way of thinking is different and sometimes better suited for peacekeeping operations.
I have gone to almost literal shits with my fellow female cadets and I can tell from experience, they are not different in attitude than men. Some of them are whiney bitches, some of them are tougher than most of the men in the platoon. It happens.
The moment these girls prove themselves by passing training they deserve to be respected. They accomplished more than most civilians ever will.
Added risk for memtal problems and injuries? A non-argument to me. In my future job, my life expectancy against a conventional enemy is 6 seconds. It is a risk I am willing to take, and so is the risk of injury, death or mental problems. Just because on average women are more susceptible doesnr mean they should be excluded for serving.