Will infantry men accept women as peers?
In the coming years, lifting the ban on women in combat, announced Thursday by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, might prove particularly challenging in the most iconic of military occupations -- the infantry, among the most physically demanding and tradition-bound branches of the Marines and the Army.
Determining the best path forward to integrate women into this elite group will require hard-nosed honesty, careful management and compelling leadership.
For the 65 years that women have enjoyed a permanent place in the United States military, they have been subject to restrictions. One rationale is the notion embedded in our culture that women should be shielded from great physical risks.… Seguir leyendo »