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My opinion here is a very firm "NO" if that means putting women in battle. If, by drafting women, there is a guarantee that they will work in posisions to help and support the war, fine. Just don't put them in a combat M.O.S. It's not that I don't think they could perform well. Trust me, I know women who'd I'd choose to fight with over some men I know. I have no doubt they could do the job. Putting women in a posision to fight in a war would put additional lives at risk. That may not make sense, but as a vetran of the U. S. Army, and someone who worked in a combat position (tank crewman), let me explain it so it does.

As a soldier in the middle of a battle, I have dug myself a fox hole and am currently safe from harm as long as I stay in my hole. I hear a gunshot and a man's voice yelling, "I've been hit. Help me!" Some may think this sounds selfish or wrong, but I'm safe. I'm not risking getting shot as well to save a man who may already be dead. After all, I don't know where he's shot. It may be fatal regaurdless of my actions. Furthermore, how do I know he's an ally and has really been shot? May be it's the enemy trying to trick me into showing myself. How do I know? Bottom line; I'm staying put.

Now, let's say I'm in the same, safe hole and I hear a woman screaming for help. Now, there is no thinking. I'm getting out of that hole to try and save her. I will leave my hole and risk getting shot trying to find and save the woman I heard screaming. I am a man. My instinct is to protect women. It's not sexist. It's not thinking I are better and stronger. It's just how I am. I can't speak for other men, but I'm guessing most feel the same way.

When I was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, we had a debate on this subject. There was a panel of female soldiers. Some for, some against, some enlisted, some officers. Some of the women insisted that they could fight just as well as any man. There was no argument over that at all. The overall opinion from the audience is men will risk their lives to save a woman. Therefore, women should not be allowed in combat. I agree with that opinion. To this day I would still take risks to help a woman that I may not take to help a man. For example; a woman with a flat tire on the side of the highway. There is a real risk of being hit by a car being on the side of the highway. I've seen many videos from police cameras of cars being hit on the side of the road. I will stop to help a woman. Probably not for a man. Sorry if that sounds wrong, but I think most men would agree with me.

Putting women in combat will only put more lives at risk. Enough men die in wars. Why add another element to put them at further risk? If women were drafted and put into support positions, I'd be all for it. Just don't put their lives at risk, and risks the lives of men at the same time.

Learn more about this author, Joseph Hiller.
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