Women should face combat

The old saying tells us to "never hit a girl," but we know some pretty tough chicks who can handle their own better than a lot of guys out there.

Women in the military, as strong and capable as they may be, are not permitted to serve in front-line combat but it seems as though that could change.

We were elated to see the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell last month and now we're left with only one major prejudice in the armed forces.

Women have been serving in the military since 1775 but they're only allowed certain roles, such as medics, cooks and transportation officers.

These services provided by the dedicated women who serve our country are crucial and we thank them for all their hard work, but we also believe that these women could be doing so much more.

The current bar from combat leaves about 10 percent of jobs unavailable to women in the Marines  and Army, making advancement and promotion nearly impossible.

We must point out that because women have lower testosterone levels, it is more difficult for them to gain muscle.

This means women wanting to fight in combat must be willing to work harder than their male counterparts to develop the same level of strength and stamina.

If these women want to fight with men, they should have to meet the same standards and be able to accomplish the same physical tasks, no special treatment should be given.

If they can meet the criteria of any given male soldier, then there's no reason they shouldn't be allowed to fight in combat.

Women should have the same rights as any man when it comes to deciding how much they're willing to sacrifice for their country; yes, even if it means their life.

Here we must interject and say that if women were allowed in combat, men would need to learn how to properly handle that situation.

As harsh as it sounds, all the men in the brigade can't rush to an injured woman's side because that would leave them with a weak defense.

Two years ago, Congress created the Military Leadership Diversity Commission to assess military policies regarding minorities in an attempt to increase diversity.

The members of the MLDC said Friday that the military needs "to create a level playing field for all qualified service members, in terms of number of military leadership positions."

Our nation is supposed to be known for its rich, diverse culture and openness. Yet our military, which is a service so essential to the well-being of our nation, demonstrates sexist and stereotypical practices.

Lory Manning of the Women's Research and Education Institute said there has been some cunning among military officials to surpass the ban.

She referenced leaders "attaching" women to combat units rather than "assigning" them in order to allow women in combat without technically violating the ban.

Women have worked hard to achieve the rights they have today, yet it still seems they aren't given the same respect or privileges granted to men.

It will be much longer before the U.S. is egalitarian in all its practices, but we believe this move by the military would be a major victory in the fight against sexism.

If a woman has the strength, commitment and stamina to fight in the front lines, so be it.

There are many strong and dedicated women who wouldn't think twice about signing themselves up for combat, and no military is really in a position to turn away qualified fighters.

Although it's uncertain when the changes will take place, it seems very certain that the ban will indeed be lifted.

We look forward to this advancement for women and we can't wait to see all the hardcore women out there gathering their guns and jumping at the opportunity to defend our country.