In recent years women have become a significant part of the US armed forces. Whether it's the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marines, women have slowly ingrained themselves into the fabric of what was once an all-male defense system. In 1994, women were banned from deployment into any type of combat position. Many argued that this was sexist and that women should be allowed the same opportunities as men in the military. In 2013, Congress lifted the ban, and as of December, 2015, women are allowed to serve in all combat positions, including Special Operations, which were previously only available to men.

This change was made in order to provide the US military with a wider array of talent to select from. As a result, the physical standards required for many of these occupations were lowered to give women a higher chance of success. Success of recruits should not be the primary concern when it comes to our nation’s defense system. If women are allowed to serve in these combat roles, there should be universal fitness standards for both males and females in order to test for combat readiness.

After Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the change in December, many members of the US Special Forces spoke up. The US Special Forces include Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, Delta Force, Green Berets, and others. The men who serve in these teams make up the most elite of the American Military. In response the new legislation, an unidentified member of the Army Green Berets stated “I weigh 225 pounds, and 280 pounds in full kit. I expect every person on my team to be able to drag any member of my team out of a firefight. A 130-pound female could not do it, I don’t care how much time she spends in the gym.” This is not sexist. This is not biased. It is simply a fact that on average, women are not physically as strong as men.

In order to truly recognize women as equal to their male counterparts in the armed forces, there should be no lowering of standards for combat positions. If women want to serve in Special Forces, they should be required to meet the same requirements as men. Does this give men an unfair advantage in obtaining these occupations? Absolutely. However, the safety of our nation, its citizens, and its soldiers, is not something we should sacrifice for gender equality. Women are more than capable of providing skills that will benefit our armed forces in other disciplines, and there are thousands of them who do this every day. While allowing women to work in more military occupations does expand the array of talent, we need to recognize where that talent should be used, and where it should not.