Women in Combat
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By Anu Bhagwati
Anu is a former Marine Corps Captain and SWAN’s first Executive Director.
Dear Friends of SWAN,
Yesterday, SWAN was honored to participate in a historic Congressional panel as part of a series of presentations hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Women in the Military. Launched by Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), the newly-formed Caucus has devoted its attention to two issues of highest priority to SWAN: revoking the Combat Exclusion Policy, and ending Military Sexual Violence.
The briefing on Women in Combat was attended by five Congresswomen who sit on the House Armed Services Committee, along with an overflow audience of press and staff. Opening remarks were given by Rep Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Chair of the Women in the Military Caucus, Rep Susan Davis (D-CA), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Rep Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Rep Madeline Bordallo (D-GU), and Rep Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI). The panel, made up of former Marine infantry Captain Greg Jacob from SWAN, retired Navy Captain Lory Manning from the Women’s Research and Education Institute (WREI), and former DACOWITS chair Holly Hemphill from the National Women’s Law Center, gave a riveting and eye-opening presentation on the issue of women serving in combat.
Greg, SWAN’s Policy Director and a combat veteran, deconstructed 5 of the most common myths perpetuated by those who support the ban on women in combat. As Greg noted during his talk, “The question is not whether women serving should be accommodated at the expense of military readiness, but how much military readiness can be sacrificed to reinforce an archaic system that excludes available personnel who are not only as capable of doing the job as men, but might also do it better.”
The day after the briefing, Greg’s comments were echoed by the top commander of U.S. Special Operations Command who says he thinks it’s time for women to go into combat as Navy SEALs. A Navy SEAL himself, Adm. Eric T. Olson said at the opening session of the 2011 Aspen Security Forum that he would like to see female SEALs in combat roles, saying, “As soon as policy permits it, we’ll be ready to go down that road.”
SWAN will continue to partner with the Congressional Caucus on Women in the Military and Pentagon leaders as they work to overturn the institutional barriers that prevent our military from employing its most talented people. SWAN urges members of Congress to support our women warriors by making this issue their highest priority.
Women in Combat – Service Women’s Action Network
Rape, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the Military – Service Women’s Action Network
Rep. Sanchez Creates Congressional Caucus on Women in the Military
Activists, lawmakers renew push to end ban on women in combat roles – Washington Post
Special Ops Commander: Women Should Go into Combat as Seals – KGO Newstalk AM 810
