Marine Corps to Mix Men and Women in Combat Training
For the first time, the US Marines are taking a serious look at training women for combat alongside their male counterparts. After accusations of gender inequality in the service, some say this is a step in the right direction.
On Tuesday, the Marines announced that they are specifically eyeing Southern California’s Camp Pendleton for their female recruits to join in combat training. As of right now, only male Marines complete combat training there, while women are only placed on the East Coast.
The Corps is also looking to bring females and males together for boot camp training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, which must be completed before any type of combat training. Currently, female recruits only attend boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, while male recruits either go there or to Southern California, according to officials, the Associated Press reported.
The proposals must be approved by senior Marine officers, and officials are not authorized to discuss the matter publicly because a final decision has not been made.
General Glenn Waters, who serves as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, said Tuesday that all options are on the table. The final decisions will depend on analysis, including logistics, cost benefits and personnel.
“If we’re going to change the culture of the Marine Corps, we need to change how we’re organized. Our recruit training is a component of that,” Walters said, according to the AP. He added that leaders in the Marines want to go after any “unconscious bias” that may exist in the Corps.
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