Women in Army: What it takes?

It is unclear to me which country`s army this article is referring to?
Could the writer, with a christian first name and so could be anywhere, India, Pakistan, Srilanka, UK, USA and so on and so forth, be more specific please.

I guess what the vice-chief of the army meant when he said that the army does not need women officers, is that there are sufficient available recruits from the male population, so there is no need to recruit women. The reality is two-fold:
- One, there is a severe shortage of officers in the Indian army. The educated no longer view the army as a career choice. Hence, opening up positions to women will help fill the shortage.
- Two, women officers are being posted only in non-combat positions. I am guessing these are easier to fill in the army and that is what the army chief must have meant when he said there is no need for women in the army.

I would support involving women in combat positions, and requiring that they meet the same physical and other standards as male recruits.

However, I think sexual abuse (not just discrimination) of women in the army will go on. If you go by the stories in the media, abuse is rampant for women in the US army too. It will take a major mind-set change to overcome and I just feel it will take a lot of time for that to happen in the Indian army.

This reminds me of the time when American aircraft carrier (i forgot the name) anchored near the Karachi coast and PAF fighter pilots were not allowed to fly simulated combat sorties against American carrier pilots.The reason being that among American carrier fliers were women fighter pilots also and keeping in view the professional competence of these women pilots PAF played safe not to put its ``Shaheens`` in an an embarrassing situation.It is far too shameful and matter of prestige for a pilot to be outsmarted by a woman rather than a fellow male flier.
Professionalism is the key to survival in whichever sector, whether defense or private, one is serving.Joining the Armed forces and expecting that you`ll be treated like a Barbie is a fools dream especially when you also have to chant slogans of gender equality and equal oppurtunity.
I reccommend the movie ``GI Jane`` starring ``Demy Moore``

Re: # 1 Professionalism is a must in whatever field you are working but there are women even though they are good and extremely professional in their work they loose out in promotion and other oppourtunities because the management feels that for acertain post the person required is a male, that`s why we need equality. Everybody should be considered for a post regardless of their sex provided the applicants fulfill the required criteria