"The four women in the group had known that they were perceived as weak links, and they were determined to prove their detractors wrong,"- David Michaels. A young female pilot, Jenna Munrough, must prove herself as a successful fighter pilot. David Michaels HAWX entertained me with an excellent, action packed adventure.
To start with, the Air Force gender role for pilots has traditionally been male pilots. In the beginning of the book, David Michaels wrote "No woman who had sat in this room a week ago was more determined to triumph than Lieutenant Jenna Munrough." As being seen as a weak link, Jenna wanted to prove that a woman can be as good as of a pilot just as well as any male pilot could be. She wanted the Air Force and other soldiers to realize that a pilot does not have to be a male gender role.
Continuing, women tend to have more administrative jobs in the military, rather than fighting in combat. David wrote in the middle of the book that Jenna is an "administrative liaison...I spend a lot of time schmoozing with customers." Jenna took a job with a PMC, a private military contractor, and instead of flying, she became an administrator for customers. While she performed her job well, she was not piloting a fighter aircraft, which meant that she could not fulfill her overall goal. Jenna really wanted to be back in an airplane instead of doing administrative jobs for a PMC.
Finally, David makes you believe in Jenna's ability to be a great pilot. Towards the end of the book, Michaels wrote that Jenna asserted "Trust me, you have better things to do with your life than to be sitting around in a cell waiting to be executed for treason." Over time, she became confident in her career as a pilot. When someone was going to assassinate the president, she demanded a guard in the Air Force base to allow her to use an F-16. She warned him that if he didn't let her take a plane, then he would go to prison for treason. The person that was about to kill the president was flying an aircraft, and Jenna needed a plane to take out the killer, before he reached the president.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in action packed books. HAWX was a very well written story that is easy to get into and enjoy.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Saturday, January 25, 2014
CC 3.2
In a recent article entitled "Military Gender Issue Reignites as 45 Percent of Female Marines Fail Pull-up Test," Bob Adelmann, writer for The New American, informs readers of the gender issues in the military and how it affects women.
As the Marines plan to gradually incorporate more females into the armed forces, they are faced with problems. In his article, Bob stated that "females have been unable to complete tasks assigned to males in the Corps." In the infantry boot camp training, only 3 of 20 females actually made it through the course. Meanwhile, 221 of 266 men were able to complete the obstacle course. The low numbers of women achieving the tasks is forcing the Marines to consider lowering expectations for women to pass. They claim that will make the tests more equal for female soldiers.
Furthermore, even the women in the best shape struggle to pass the fitness tests. In an interview with Adelmann, Captain Maureen Krebs explained that "zero women have made it through [the] infantry officer training and only a handful have made it through the enlisted course." This means that women female soldiers are less likely to survive close combat. Some even say that women soldiers may not be able to help other soldiers on the field survive.
Finally, the testing requirements can be adjusted to an extent. Elaine Donnelly reported that "some allowances can be made for female Marines serving behind the lines, but they cannot be made for those intending to serve at the front." In order to ensure safety on the front lines, every soldier must be able to perform theirs tasks without any complications. Each soldier must trust another for the survival of combat.
I myself am considering the Army. To be successful, I will have to begin working out and build up strength in order to pass the fitness test.
Only time will tell how the Marines will equal the playing field for female soldiers.
As the Marines plan to gradually incorporate more females into the armed forces, they are faced with problems. In his article, Bob stated that "females have been unable to complete tasks assigned to males in the Corps." In the infantry boot camp training, only 3 of 20 females actually made it through the course. Meanwhile, 221 of 266 men were able to complete the obstacle course. The low numbers of women achieving the tasks is forcing the Marines to consider lowering expectations for women to pass. They claim that will make the tests more equal for female soldiers.
Furthermore, even the women in the best shape struggle to pass the fitness tests. In an interview with Adelmann, Captain Maureen Krebs explained that "zero women have made it through [the] infantry officer training and only a handful have made it through the enlisted course." This means that women female soldiers are less likely to survive close combat. Some even say that women soldiers may not be able to help other soldiers on the field survive.
Finally, the testing requirements can be adjusted to an extent. Elaine Donnelly reported that "some allowances can be made for female Marines serving behind the lines, but they cannot be made for those intending to serve at the front." In order to ensure safety on the front lines, every soldier must be able to perform theirs tasks without any complications. Each soldier must trust another for the survival of combat.
I myself am considering the Army. To be successful, I will have to begin working out and build up strength in order to pass the fitness test.
Only time will tell how the Marines will equal the playing field for female soldiers.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Cc 3.1
In a recent article entitled "Why Most Female Marines Struggle To Pass Pullup Test" written by Richard Leiby, an author for the Washington Post, informs readers about the female gender role struggle in the U.S. Marines.
Up to recently, the gender role of women in the military has not been very big. Female soldiers, however, now face more obstacles as Richard reported that "Most female Marines can’t even do three lousy pullups." He is saying that 55 percent of the females in the marines boot camp can not do the minimum requirement of three pull-ups. The low minimum was set by Gen. James Amos, in hopes that more women would pass the test. Gen. Amos made that test rather than having women do the flexed arm hang option to qualify.
Continuing on, most people want to know why so many females struggle with only three pull-ups. In the fifth paragraph, Leiby stated one reason is "superior male upper-body strength." This means that an advantage that men have, testosterone, allows for them to build more lean muscle mass. Women on the other hand, tend to have more body fat, making pull-ups harder to accomplish. With training though, many women have been able to achieved more than required pull-ups, the highest in the marines being eight.
Finally, for years, women have been told what they can accomplish and what they can not. In his article, Richard said that "we have been telling young girls that they cannot do regular pullups because they will never be as strong as boys." This awful logic of telling women they can not do pull-ups is "one of the worst things we ever developed in physical-fitness classes," as Stew Smith said, a former Navy SEAL and fitness expert. Women have pretty much been discouraged to be stronger and accomplish higher goals.
I, myself, can not do a lot of pull-ups, but I can do more than three. Three pull-ups is a really low number and not really hard for women in shape. However, women have been told for years that they can not do regular pull-ups; therefore, they do not work on pull-ups as much as they should.
The female gender role in the Marines has been a struggle for years, and may continue to be a struggle. Men simply have an advantage to the pull-up physical test.
Up to recently, the gender role of women in the military has not been very big. Female soldiers, however, now face more obstacles as Richard reported that "Most female Marines can’t even do three lousy pullups." He is saying that 55 percent of the females in the marines boot camp can not do the minimum requirement of three pull-ups. The low minimum was set by Gen. James Amos, in hopes that more women would pass the test. Gen. Amos made that test rather than having women do the flexed arm hang option to qualify.
Continuing on, most people want to know why so many females struggle with only three pull-ups. In the fifth paragraph, Leiby stated one reason is "superior male upper-body strength." This means that an advantage that men have, testosterone, allows for them to build more lean muscle mass. Women on the other hand, tend to have more body fat, making pull-ups harder to accomplish. With training though, many women have been able to achieved more than required pull-ups, the highest in the marines being eight.
Finally, for years, women have been told what they can accomplish and what they can not. In his article, Richard said that "we have been telling young girls that they cannot do regular pullups because they will never be as strong as boys." This awful logic of telling women they can not do pull-ups is "one of the worst things we ever developed in physical-fitness classes," as Stew Smith said, a former Navy SEAL and fitness expert. Women have pretty much been discouraged to be stronger and accomplish higher goals.
I, myself, can not do a lot of pull-ups, but I can do more than three. Three pull-ups is a really low number and not really hard for women in shape. However, women have been told for years that they can not do regular pull-ups; therefore, they do not work on pull-ups as much as they should.
The female gender role in the Marines has been a struggle for years, and may continue to be a struggle. Men simply have an advantage to the pull-up physical test.
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