Women in the military, political power and equal civil status?

Question

Under republican political theory (upon which the U.S. Constitution is based) only men owe the duty of military service to their country. While this seems like an unfair burden, it is also an unfair advantage, offering men the opportunity to make a career in the military & thereby possibly a career in politics. Moreover, veterans have benefitted from government programs like the G.I. Bill & preferential hiring practices that ipso facto discriminate against women. By denying women full rights to military service, are women being denied one important route to political power & to equal civil status? What is the current law on this matter, and do you agree with it?

Answer 1

"Under republican political theory (upon which the U.S. Constitution is based"......Which Repubs signed the Constitution again?.....

Answer 2

I was in the military for about seven years. I can only speak for the Army. Women have the opportunity to advance just as man.

Answer 3

Women serve in the armed forces today. One out of every five individuals in the Air Force is a woman. There are only two prohibitions which are gender-based. The first concerns a ban on women serving in combat arms positions in the military. That is Federal law and was put on the books when the Democrats controlled the Congress and was heavily lobbied for by the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service (DACOWITS) which is composed of women from different walks in life. The second barrier is that women do not have to register for the draft. That barrier is contained in the Universal Military Training and Service Act of 1947. But, since the induction portion of that law has not been used since 1973, women have joined the service voluntarily in larger percentages every year since. That tells me that an all-volunteer force is more attractive to the women who wish to serve than an army of draftees with women who do not wish to serve.

You should know, as I write this, that the current Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy is a woman.  There are any number of female generals and admirals in important positions throughout our military establishment.

A great number of female veterans are using their G.I. bill benefits to attend college.

The "glass ceiling" in the military was shattered years ago. It's the civilian world which needs to come into the 21st century.

Answer 4

Under the current law, no one "owes" military service to the country; that would be conscription or a draft. The military draft in the United States ended in 1973. However, all males aged 18 and above still must register with the selective service.

I spent four years in the Air Force in Security Forces. One of the best Sergeants I ever had was a woman. She knew her stuff and just about everyone respected her. The ones who did not like her normally were the ones who were feeling threatened in some way. But, they still respected her.

When she retired from the Air Force, she was only 45 years old. She got a high paying job (with military preference) at a defense contractor.

While there aren't as many female as males in the military, that doesn't mean that they are kept out. It just means more males than females sign up.

Everyone, male or female, goes to boot camp. While there, everyone was given the opportunity to receive the G.I. Bill. Opportunities were open to all depending on qualifications. While in the military there were a couple of jobs or promotions that I wanted that a female got before me. Why? She was more qualified.