Your Momma Wears Combat Boots!

I remember when the phrase "your momma wears Combat Boots" was an insult. The number of women in the military was minimal to say the least. It was rare that a female would join the military for any reason than nursing or secretarial duties.

Within the last few decades that number has risen to an approximate 75,000 females as of September 2009, serving in Active Duty in the United States Army. That number may seem large, but they still only make up an estimated 14% of Active Duty Soldiers. Although, some jobs are still closed for females in the military, our choices are larger than that of yesteryear.
Women are proving themselves to be worthy on a daily basis, by taking on tasks normally thought for men only. All women have to potential to break barriers, and play on the same field as a man.

Do I think women are cut for combat?...Absolutely. For several reasons.
1. I am a firm believer in Equal Opportunity, means Equal Responsibility.
If a female wants the same opportunities as a man, she must carry the same burden.
I believe this is true in all aspects of the Army. I am completely against seperate PT and standards for the sex of the soldier.

2. We are called, irrational, illogical, and even weak. However, you put our children/families in harms way, and all of these stereotypes are proven false. Women have sacrificed more than any man in the name of child preservation. Women have and will do the unthinkable to save loved ones, carry on a way of life, and defend their home.

3. I've frequently (jokingly) said, if women and gays were on the front lines, we would have blown it up, rebuilt and redecorated the Middle East by now. If you want a job talked about, ask a man. You want it done...ask a woman.

Now with that being said, I will say Kudo's for any woman who has managed to fulfill a successful military career and a family. I don't know how any woman can have a child and be away for months to more than a year at a time. It takes a much stronger, dedicated woman than myself to accomplish this task. Now I'm not saying the fathers do not sacrifice being away from their children, and I mean no disrespect to those who leave their children for deployments, tdy or field time.
I won't get into my thoughts on parent/child bonding or one being stronger than the other. I am just observing from the point of a mother.

Wearing combat boots, is no longer an insult. But an honor that is bestowed upon the best and strongest of women. A woman can never have too many shoes.~