Women have fought for years for equality.
Let's say the Draft was reinstated.
Do you believe women should be allowed to serve alongside their male counterparts, in the name of equal rights?

Absolutely. A woman can die for her country, just as a man can. Both considered heroes. It's time to move out of the mind set it's a mans world.

Ummm..... Can kick some a$$, but would prefer to stay home.....lol....

I worked along side a lot of women in the army. I agree with equal rights. But i don't believe it will ever be 100% equal.

Last I heard, only men can register for Selective Service by the time they are 18 years of age.
Why do you suppose they exclude you women?

I think it is a society thing. No one wants to see their mother, daughter, sister...etc... in harms way

I don't much agree with the Gloria Steinam type of extreme. However, I have to agree with a lot of women. The male section of society has done a good job of keeping the woman in her place.

I think its because most conscripts are sent to combat units, where 75-80% of the casualties occur.
Women can not serve in combat MOS's. (Infantry, Armor, etc.) Therefore the need to draft women is not a necessary thing.

If the Womens Rights Advocates were to reorganize, I feel they could get that reversed. Unless, they know where to draw the line at equality.

For every Combat soldier in the US Army there are approx. 10 support personnel.
In the Infantry we called them Rear Echelon.
They called us Front line Units, or just line companies!

For example, In Iraq there were approx. 180,000 troops. Of those only about 18,000 were actually Combat troops.

A citizen should have no gender in the eyes of the law, I believe. At least in general. ;-)

A citizen should have no gender in the eyes of the law, I believe. At least in general. ;-)

I think women over 18 should bear an equal burden in this.

Iraq has no clear battle lines and women are serving in a variety of positions. Do you think that experience might start to change US military rules about women in combat and as a result the rules about selective service registration?

If you've never served then obviously you have no idea.
The lines are not as blurred as you would believe sitting within the confines of a safe environment reading about it or watching TV.
Living life in a combat unit is extremely hard and rigorous. Maybe 1 out of 1000 women could physically handle it, only about 60 % of men can make it through Infantry School, and the dangers are multiplied ten-fold over other MOS's.
There is no equal burden.
The only necessity for reinstating the draft would be for war. In the case of war the need would be for replacements. The bulk of replacements are needed for combat units.

While I am not currently serving family and friends currently serving in Iraq tell me the lines are not so clear now as in past conflicts.

Although Iraq is an Occupational effort, your friends and family do not seem to be in a Regular Army Line Company.

I haven't served, so of course, like you said, I don't have much experience to back up my argument on this.

Perhaps you're right, but just because many women are out of shape doesn't mean that is how nature made them. I wouldn't discount women so quickly.

The Israelis seem to have no problem with women in combat. Nor do Canadian Forces. I suppose if women were in the draft it just means that some (like the men) would find that they have what it takes while others would find that they don't. They would take their chances like any other trooper.


And some lead their troops.

The Chinese military utilized women in Viet Nam.
Seems the ego of the American male won't allow him to view women as capable or willing.

I am a proud US Air Force vet. When I was in basic training we were sent to a briefing in which we were told about various job opportunities. One of which was ParaRescue. I raised my hand and asked the instructor, "How do I apply sir?" I was informed that being female I couldn't. I was madder than a wet hornet. How dare someone tell me I couldn't serve my country in this capacity simply because I was female. I think it's a load of sh*t that a female isn't allowed to any job within the military that a male does simply because of her gender. If physically capable of doing it we should be able to do it. I see absolutely nothing wrong with women being included in the Selective Service registration. If I had been required to register I would have done it gladly with no b*tching.

I would have proudly served in ParaRescue if I had been allowed. I would have done the job just as well as any man. I may have lost my life in doing so but I can guarantee my family would have been proud and wouldn't have made an issue of the fact that I was female and shouldn't have been in the job.

The military needs to come out of the Dark Ages were equality is concerned. If a woman is capable and willing to do the job whatever it is, then let her do it!