Ban Lifted on Women in Combat

The U.S. military will lift its ban on women serving in combat roles, opening to them about 230,000 posts that have
previously been reserved for men. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made this announcement on January 24, praising women for
their courage and sacrifice on and off the battlefield. He stated that the "goal in rescinding the rule is to ensure that
the mission is met with the best-qualified and most capable people, regardless of gender."
Currently, women cannot be assigned below the brigade level to fight on the ground. This has effectively barred women from
infantry, artillery, armor, combat engineer and special operations units of battalion size (about 700 troops or fewer). The
armed services will have until January 2016 to open these positions to women.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported that military service chiefs support the change
unanimously, saying that "the Joint Chiefs share a common cause on the need to start doing this now and to doing this
right."
President Obama announced that he also strongly endorses Panetta's decision, which he believes will "strengthen our
military, enhance our readiness and be another step toward fulfilling our nation's founding ideals of fairness and
equality." He is confident that the "armed forces will ensure a smooth transition and keep our military the very best in
the world."
Lynsey Addario is a photographer for The New York Times who has covered the war in Afghanistan and has often focused on
female soldiers. She acknowledges that the lifting of the ban is a huge step historically, but notes that women have
actually been doing more and more fighting over the past decade. Although Americans can disagree about whether women should
be on the front lines, the reality is that they are already there.
"They're at bases all across Afghanistan, and they're playing different roles," said Addario to The New York Times, "from
black ops pilots to doing triage in forward-operating medical centers. They're engaging women in villages of Helmand that
are covered with landmines. They are getting shot at. They are dying, and they are getting injured."
In Addario's experience, the women who join the military and want to be in combat "believe in fighting for their country.
They want to be doing something to help fight the wars that we've been fighting for over a decade. … They have a goal, and
they want to accomplish it. And they don't want to be told they can't do it because they're women. A lot of them are
extremely ambitious, very dedicated. They work out all the time [and are] very intelligent."
The military will not need to lower its physical standards as it opens combat roles to women. However, an Army general said
on January 24 that it may need to review the standards for some positions. The military already has different physical
standards based on age and sex for the Army and the Marines. While standards may change, they will be set at the same
demanding level for men and women who want to serve in the infantry and other combat arms specialties. Both men and women
will need to have the strength to carry a comrade who has been shot or lift heavy rounds of ammunition.
Opening combat roles to women reminds The Wired Word editorial team member Frank Ramirez of "the need for African Americans
to be more actively involved in the Civil War, in actual combat and not just grunt work, and the same with the Japanese-
Americans during World War II who fought in the European theater." He recalls that Hispanic and Anglo soldiers had to deal
with each other and help each other in Japanese prison camps, an experience that changed their views of each other. Ramirez
predicts that women in combat will have the positive effect of "opening doors to further acceptance and advancement."
More on this story can be found at these links:
Pentagon makes women in combat rule change official, USA TODAY
Women shooting on the front lines, The New York Times
Women, men must meet same combat standards in military, USA TODAY

The Big Questions
1. Why has there been a ban on women in combat? What purposes did it serve?
2. Where do you see physical challenges for women on the front lines? How about emotional challenges for both women and
men?
3. What spiritual challenges are raised by the lifting of this ban?
4. Do you see roles in the military that would be best performed by women? By men? Why? Be specific. Outside the military,
are there tasks that you believe are best performed by either men or women?
5. The integration of the United States military helped the advancement of race relations in this country. Do you predict
that this new change will have a similar effect on gender relations, and if so, how?
6. What are the implications of this decision, if any, on churches that reserve certain roles for men?
7. Which of your cultural attitudes about men or women have changed over the years? Which have been reinforced by your own
experience?

Confronting the News with Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
Judges 4:21
But Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to [Sisera] and drove the peg into
his temple, until it went down into the ground -- he was lying fast asleep from weariness -- and he died. (For context,
read 4:1-22.)
Deborah is a prophetess and judge of Israel who summons Barak to wage war against Sisera and his army. Barak says that he
will not go into battle without her, and she agrees to go. She predicts that "the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a
woman" (v. 9). Barak and 10,000 warriors engage Sisera and his army, and the army of Sisera is defeated. Sisera flees to
the tent of Jael, a woman who welcomes him, gives him drink and shelter, and then kills him.
Questions: What role does Deborah play in the defeat of the army of Sisera? Why is Barak reluctant to go to war without
her? What does the action of Jael tell you about the abilities of women in combat?
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff -- they comfort
me. (For context, read 23:1-4.)
Psalm 23 has comforted generations with its promise that the Lord watches over his people in the most extreme
circumstances, even through "the darkest valley," or what the King James Version calls "the valley of the shadow of death."
In the 2002 film We Were Soldiers, "the valley of the shadow of death" is referenced multiple times. In the 2011 film War
Horse, a British soldier recites the beginning of the psalm while crossing no-man's land.
Questions: How is faith in God a resource on the front lines? In your experience, are women more likely than men to talk
about their faith? Where might there be opportunities for women in combat to share their faith with the men around them?
John 20:18
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things
to her. (For context, read 20:1-18.)
Mary Magdalene is on the "front lines" on Easter morning, arriving at the tomb of Jesus while it is still dark. She sees
that the stone has been removed, so she runs and makes a report to Simon Peter and the beloved disciple. Peter and the
beloved disciple investigate the empty tomb and then return to their homes. Mary keeps vigil at the tomb, weeping, until
two angels speak to her. Then the resurrected Jesus speaks to her and tells her to take a message to the disciples.
Questions: What qualities does Mary Magdalene have that would serve a military woman well on the front lines? Why does
Jesus reveal himself first to Mary, and ask her to deliver a message to the male disciples? What does this tell you about
the distinctive roles of men and women?
Galatians 3:27-28
As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is
no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (For context, read
3:23-29.)
The apostle Paul explains that people were "under the law" until Christ came (vv. 23-24). But now, we are all children of
God through faith in Christ, with no distinctions between us based on culture, economic status or gender. Christ has
created a new freedom and equality among his followers.
Questions: What are the implications of Christian equality for military service? For life in the church? For society at
large? For relationships between men and women?
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done
everything, to stand firm. (For context, read 6:10-17.)
In the face of personal challenges, Paul urges us to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power" (v. 10). He
urges us to put on the whole armor of God, including the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of
faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (vv. 14-17). This equipment is needed to fight battles against
"the spiritual forces of evil" (v. 12).
Questions: In addition to the equipment issued by the United States military, what weapons and protective items do both
women and men on the front lines need? Are there particular dangers that women face in combat that men do not? What will
enable them to serve well and remain faithful?
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (For context, read 4:10-14.)
Paul has learned to be content with whatever he has -- whether little or plenty, being well-fed or going hungry. He has
endured the kind of hardships that we often associate with life on the front lines. Through it all, he discovers that
Christ has strengthened him to "do all things."
Questions: What particular hardships do women face in military service? How is Christ involved in strengthening soldiers
for service to country? What differences, if any, would be experienced by women and men?
For Further Discussion
1. Would you want your daughter, sister or wife to serve in a combat role? Why or why not?
2. The United States military is often described as a meritocracy, where good performance is the basis of advancement. How
does this serve women well today?
3. Does your church allow women to serve on the "front lines"? When, where, and how?
4. Allowing women to serve in combat roles will increase their chances for advancement up the military chain of command.
What kind of advancement is permitted for women in your church community? If there are bans that you think should be
lifted, explain why.
5. Paul says that "there is no longer male and female" in Christ (Galatians 3:28), but clearly there are differences
between men and women. Which differences should be affirmed and celebrated?
6. What are the dangers involved in opening combat roles to women, besides the obvious risk of injury and death? Where do
you see risks to men, women and overall military readiness?
7. Women are central to the health and vitality of most Christian congregations. What distinctive qualities do they bring
to their work in the community of faith? Are some of these qualities also important to military service? Which ones?

Responding to the News
Look for ways to celebrate the gifts of women in your community of faith, through worship and special recognition
ceremonies. Consider whether there are "bans" that prevent women from playing certain roles in the church, and whether they
should be lifted.