Integration of Women Concerns General

Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly, the outgoing chief of U.S. Southern Command, is concerned that the plan to allow women to serve in combat units could erode standards over time. “Right now, they say they’re not going to change any standards. But there will be great pressure – whether it’s 12 months from now, four years from now – because the question will be asked, if we inject women into these other roles, why aren’t they staying in those other roles?” Kelly said at a Jan. 8 Pentagon press conference, as reported by
Seapower Magazine. “The answer, I think will be, if we don’t change the standards, it will be very, very difficult to have any real numbers of women to come into the infantry, or the SEALs or the Rangers,” Kelly said.