When the first women graduated from the enlisted infantry course in November 2013, I was exuberant. Deployed to Afghanistan at the time, I remember adding this to my list of updates for our morning staff meeting. None of the men at the staff meeting seemed as excited as I was. Perhaps I should not have … Continue reading Origins of the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force (GCEITF)
Standards
The Weigh-in
Marines who exceed weight and body fat standards are a detriment to and detract from the combat readiness of their unit . . . Simply put, Marines who do not present a suitable military appearance fail to possess the qualities necessary to effectively lead Marines. This is especially true for Marines in a leadership or … Continue reading The Weigh-in
Hiking Under Load, Part 3
Gentlemen, size matters. The quote is funny for obvious reasons. But the leader's point remains - and it has nothing to do with the usual connotation behind "size matters". Partially, he was right. When it comes to hiking, size matters. Long before the research results were public, the assumption that women's smaller size (on average) … Continue reading Hiking Under Load, Part 3
Standards, Part 1 (Enlisted Infantry Training)
How many points does it take to win a basketball game? Male Infantry Officer "Just set the standard." "As long as they can meet the standard." "We're not lowering the standard." The Marine Corps remained steadfastly dedicated to "the standard" throughout the research period. Yet, defining that "standard" proved interminably difficult. Why? Virtually every standard … Continue reading Standards, Part 1 (Enlisted Infantry Training)
The Infantry Officer’s Course
"There is certainly nothing magical or attractive about fighting. It’s hard, dirty, unpleasant work. But I believe that women don’t want to fight any more than our men. They merely ask for the opportunity to share the full burden of defense, should the need arise.”COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS LOU WILSON, SPEAKING TO THE WOMEN … Continue reading The Infantry Officer’s Course
Breaking Into the Brotherhood 