Giving all the chance to succeed

It might be a surprise to many that now women are now allowed to serve on the front lines of combat in the U.S. military.

The flagrant expression of the executive order, by Secretary of Defense Panetta, will undoubtedly have unforeseen consequences, good and bad.

Many questions remain unanswered as to what will happen next with women in our military. One of the hot topics now is concerning whether or not women should be required to register with the Selective Service System.

Requiring women to register would not only benefit the women registering, but the nation as a whole.

While the infamous glass ceiling is slowly being shattered in corporate America, the problem still runs rampant in the military. Women simply can’t get above certain ranks.

Much of the problem has to do with the lack of combat experience women have had. Now that they can serve on the front lines, there should be nothing restricting them.

If a woman expects to be rewarded on the same criteria as a man, it is expected that she be held to the same standards; this includes submitting to a draft in the time of war.

America cannot expect to continue to be a world leader in equality with sub-par military restrictions.

Israel is a true leader in military equality. Due to the volatile political environment of the Middle East, Israel is forced to keep a large standing army. When every Israeli turns 18, he/she are required to serve in the military regardless of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.

This integration of military personnel creates a great sense of equality in Israel that many other nations in the area lack. The United States would be ever closer to completely closing the gender gap if we held all Americans to the same standards, in regard to the military.

After fighting ended in WWII, many of those drafted into the military were able to go to college on the G.I. Bill who would not have had the opportunity otherwise. The economy prospered as the college graduates entered the workforce and helped shape the nation into what it is today.

If women are excluded from the draft, they would also be excluded from the benefits of the G.I. Bill. This would create an education deficit between men and women causing gender equality to lose valuable ground.

Equality has been important to America since its inception. The phrase “All men are created equal” appears in the Declaration of Independence.

If we want to continue to be considered a world leader in equality, it is important that we insure that all people have the opportunity to succeed in our military.


Korey Speaight is sophomore accounting and business major of Camp.