WOMEN AND THE MILITARY
American women arrive at basic training less fit than men.[1]
US Marines To Accept Chubbier Women.[12]
Army women are injured more than men in combat training and have higher rates of mental disorders.[1]
Women suffer a rate of stress that’s four times higher than men.[1]
86% of women (and 3% of men) fail new U.S. marines combat fitness test.[2]
Studies demonstrate a relationship between shorter female height and injury rates among military recruits.[3]
Study finds women in combat get injured more often and shoot less accurately than men.[4]
The army’s standard fragmentation grenade has a blast radius of 15 meters. Infantrymen are required to demonstrate the ability to throw a grenade 35 meters; military women, only 25 meters. In practice, many military women cannot throw even that far.[5]
Sources:
1. Army women hurt more often in combat training, experience more mental health issues, Washington Times, December 17, 2015. URL: washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/17/army-women-hurt-more-often-in-combat-training-expe/
Based on report Soldier 2020: Injury Rates/Attrition Rates Working Group/Medical Recommendations
2. New Marine Corps fitness standards: Women, and men, are washing out, Christian Science Monitor, June 21, 2016. URL: csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2016/0621/New-Marine-Corps-fitness-standards-Women-and-men-are-washing-out
3. Musculoskeletal Injuries in Military Women, Borden Institute, 2011. URL: cs.amedd.army.mil/FileDownloadpublic.aspx?docid=b42d1acd-0b32-4d26-8e22-4a518be998f7
4. U.S. Marines study: Women in combat injured more often than men, UPI, September 10, 2015. URL: upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/09/10/US-Marines-study-Women-in-combat-injured-more-often-than-men/6121441908304/
5. The Truth About Women in Combat, The Daily Beast, March 1, 2013. URL: thedailybeast.com/the-truth-about-women-in-combat