US Women: Would you sign up for the selective service if required?

[das_nut]

With the changes to women in combat (and other) roles in the military, there's talk about expanding the selective service to include women.

So I'm curious: Would you sign up for it? Or would you ignore the requirement and be penalized?

 

[mlp]

If I were young enough, I would. The Vietnam war was during my lifetime. I was very opposed to it, and I wished that girls were subject to the draft so that I could make a statement by refusing to go. As it turned out, my age group was just young enough so that none of our guys ended up being drafted.

So, yes, I would sign up, and if we ended up in a war that I opposed, I would serve jail time. I'm still obstinate enough, even at my age (where I should probably know better) to make a statement of that kind.

 

[das_nut]

So, yes, I would sign up, and if we ended up in a war that I opposed, I would serve jail time. I'm still obstinate enough, even at my age (where I should probably know better) to make a statement of that kind.

Meh, the US military isn't into drafting people anymore. All you get nowadays is being banned from federal student loans and other benefits. So basically, you forgo a college education unless you can pay for it yourself.

 

[RabbitLuvr]

I turned 18 in 1993. I recall going to the post office to fill out a form for selective service. I believed it was largely symbolic, being female, but I still did it. I don't even remember what I was thinking that long ago, but I know I filled out a form upon turning 18.

I oppose war, but if men were to be drafted, I would think women should also be drafted.

 

[mlp]

Meh, the US military isn't into drafting people anymore. All you get nowadays is being banned from federal student loans and other benefits. So basically, you forgo a college education unless you can pay for it yourself.

I know that there has been no draft since 1973 (my class missed it by one year - we turned 18 in1974). I would have registered; I just would have refused to serve when drafted, back in the Vietnam era. Since then, there have been military actions in which I would have served, and there have been others with respect to which I would have refused to serve.

I have always thought that if men were subject to the draft, women should be also.

 

[ledboots]

An online survey of 53,000 marines showed that " About 17 percent of male Marine respondents and 4 percent of female respondents who planned to stay in the service or were undecided said they would likely leave if women move into combat positions. That number jumped to 22 percent for male Marines and 17 percent for female Marines if women are assigned involuntarily to those jobs, according to the survey."
http://news.yahoo.com/marine-survey-lists-concerns-women-combat-002047180.html

 

[Freesia]

I dont think anyone should be drafted, and at any rate I dont think that women should be drafted if they are pregnant or have young children.

 

[das_nut]

I dont think anyone should be drafted, and at any rate I dont think that women should be drafted if they are pregnant or have young children.

Why should the existence or lack of male identification restrict a new parent's ability to be drafted?

 

[ledboots]

Why should the existence or lack of male identification restrict a new parent's ability to be drafted?

Breastfeeding.

 

[das_nut]

Breastfeeding.

That assumes all parents have at least one partner that breastfeeds, which isn't even necessarily true for heteronormal couples.

 

[ledboots]

That assumes all parents have at least one partner that breastfeeds, which isn't even necessarily true for heteronormal couples.

Many women breastfeed, and it is undeniably the best food for infants. When I was a lactation consultant, I worked with a new mother in the military reserves who pumped her milk and Fed Exed it to her baby when she was called up. She, however, had willingly signed up for the military, so she didn't complain, but it was unbelievably emotional for her.

I personally think that taking a nursing infant from his unwilling mother's arms and replacing him with a gun is horrific.

Oh and no I would not sign up if I were of age

 

[ledboots]

What about the unequal physical capabilities of men and women? Pretending they don't exist doesn't help women.

Washington TimesMonday, July 30, 2012
To graduate from boot camp, soldiers must perform 35 pushups and 47 situps and run two miles in at least 16 minutes and 36 seconds — but that’s only for male soldiers. Female troops are required to do 13 pushups and 43 situps and run two miles in 19 minutes and 42 seconds.As the Army weighs integrating women into armor and infantry combat positions, the command in charge of soldier training is looking at requiring women to meet the same physical goals as men. If wartime studies over the past decade are a guide, the Army can expect an increase in injuries and attrition among female soldiers as they seek to match men in strength and endurance." http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2...rain-women-for-rigor-of-front-lines/?page=all

 

[kibbleforlola]

Yes, if there has to be a draft - women should be subject to it too. Although I really think that the draft should just be scrapped - we seem to be doing just fine with an all volunteer army.

That being said, I think it's great that women can now enter combat positions. Those that don't like it can pack up their sexist ******** and leave.

 

[yally]

Yes, if there has to be a draft - women should be subject to it too. Although I really think that the draft should just be scrapped - we seem to be doing just fine with an all volunteer army.

That being said, I think it's great that women can now inter combat positions. Those that don't like it can pack up their sexist ******** and leave.

But...but...how will they keep their lady parts clean?

What will happen when they get bored? They'll get pregnant that's what and have to give birth in a ditch!

(Not my ideas, but arguments I have read from lunatics)

I would not want to end up drafted but I doubt many men do either.

 

[ledboots]

The marines (with the most difficullt training programs) are now attemping to get women to do the same amount of pullups as men do. (Written in November)

"And although women are still prohibited from filling assignments whose primary mission is direct ground combat, officials made the historic move this past summer by enrolling two female Marines into the Corps’ Infantry Officer Course. Both ultimately washed out, and so far no volunteers have stepped forward for the course’s next iteration this winter.

Known to Marines as the PFT, the physical fitness test is one of two strength and endurance evaluations all personnel must pass each year. The other, called the Combat Fitness Test, features a host of drills Marines would be expected to perform on the battlefield.As part of the PFT, all Marines do sit-ups and conduct a timed three-mile run. Additionally, men have been required to do pull-ups while women, viewed institutionally as having less inherent upper-body strength, have been required to perform what’s called the flexed-arm hang, hoisting themselves over the pull-up bar and holding the position for up to 70 seconds. Marines are rated based on their overall performance on each section of the test, with 300 making a perfect score.During the coming year, as the service adjusts to the change, female Marines will have the option of doing pull-ups or the flexed-arm hang during their PFT, according to Amos’ message. But come 2014, women will be required to do at least three pull-ups to pass the PFT, with eight needed for a perfect score on that portion of the test. Men must do three pull-ups to pass, with 20 a perfect score."

..."That study of 318 female Marines found that, on average, they could perform 1.63 pull-ups. More than 21 percent performed at least three, and 37 percent performed at least three when lower-body movement — a banned practice frequently known as “kip” — was allowed." http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/mob...es-pullups-for-womens-fitness-test-pft-112712

Test: women, how many pullups can you do? Men?

I just tried and did zero, even with kipping. My 20-year old son does dozens; it is one of his things. My 24-year old daughter does 10 at last count with major kipping.

 

[yally]

I can do 0 pull ups but I can get very close. It's a New Years resolution of mine actually.

 

[yally]

I can do 0 pull ups but I can get very close. It's a New Years resolution of mine actually.

Also, while I'm not particularly strong, I'm stronger than about half of the men I know. They're all particularly pathetic and most men ARE stronger than me but why not take it by who can pass the fitness tests rather than who has a *****?

 

[mlp]

Also, while I'm not particularly strong, I'm stronger than about half of the men I know. They're all particularly pathetic and most men ARE stronger than me but why not take it by who can pass the fitness tests rather than who has a *****?

This.

 

[mlp]

An online survey of 53,000 marines showed that " About 17 percent of male Marine respondents and 4 percent of female respondents who planned to stay in the service or were undecided said they would likely leave if women move into combat positions. That number jumped to 22 percent for male Marines and 17 percent for female Marines if women are assigned involuntarily to those jobs, according to the survey."
http://news.yahoo.com/marine-survey-lists-concerns-women-combat-002047180.html

These sorts of polls were used to argue that black soldiers shouldn't serve with white soldiers, that gays shouldn't be allowed to serve at all, etc. In fact, if I remember correctly, the numbers were larger in those instances.

And yet the military has survived integration, has survived homosexuals coming out of the military closet.

 

[ledboots]

These sorts of polls were used to argue that black soldiers shouldn't serve with white soldiers, that gays shouldn't be allowed to serve at all, etc. In fact, if I remember correctly, the numbers were larger in those instances.

And yet the military has survived integration, has survived homosexuals coming out of the military closet.

But will it improve our fighting forces? Will having marines or soldiers in battle who are not as physically strong be a good thing? Women *are* as a whole smaller, and are not as physically strong, especially in the upper body. Will the women have to meet the same standards as the men?

In my home town years ago, we were very happy when they allowed female firefighters to join the force. For three years, no female could pass the grueling physical requirements (the same ones that had been in effect for years), especially carrying a 200 pound dummy out of a building. The Fire Department lowered the standards. Who would you want to rescue your disabled husband from a fire? Someone hired before the lowered standards, or after?