Women have always served nobly e.g. in service positions, so that men can take up the combat arms.

Forcing women INTO the combat units and positions has been the problem, as I can attest. Forcing women into those positions in numbers for reasons of "equal opportunity" and promoting them, so the Services can preen to leftist pressure groups, about how many women are in such positions! is insanity.

I had a visit to my unit from DACOWITS, Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. I had been assigned to an Infantry Division as Commander of the largest maintenance company. Not forward, except for maintenance contact teams and the unavoidable contact of warfare. Rear "echelon" such that it can be said to exist in a deployed combat arms division.

I had about 10% women, and said that is about the most that could be used. WHY? the women advocates asked who had never served a day. I responded: have you ever put up a maintenance tent? [In the snow, in the rain, in the cold?] Have you ever carried about a master mechanics' tool box? Have you ever used chains to tie down a recovery load? Have you ever changed a truck tire?

Admin and motor pool clerks, my women performed well. In technical repair in the rear that did not require physical strength. So my unit could function with about 10% women.

STILL there was sexual tension in the ranks. Married woman courted by single man, ok we transferred him out. Pregnant SINGLE women who could not be deployed, SERIOUSLY degrading our readiness. I could go on.

I did not ask to be assigned to a combat division, yet I did well and was respected by my men.