The Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force (GCEITF) included roughly 200 male and 75 female volunteers, who were evaluated on how they performed a series of physical combat tasks between March and May. Efforts to integrate combat units constitute "social engineering" Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, a former Marine infantryman who served as Director of Operations on the Pentagon's Joint Staff before he retired, argued in an op-ed this week. "All-male squads, teams and crews demonstrated higher performance levels on 69 percent of tasks evaluated ... as compared to gender-integrated squads, teams and crews." The study also concludes that all-male squads were faster and had greater accuracy in firing weapons. All-male crews "had a noticeable difference in their performance of the basic combat tasks of negotiating obstacles and evacuating casualties." Ex: Wall obstacle "Male Marines threw their packs to the top of the wall, whereas female Marines required regular assistance in getting their packs to the top."
The Marine Corps cites the "the brutal and extremely physical nature of direct ground combat, often marked by close, interpersonal violence." It further argues that the nature of battle "remains largely unchanged throughout centuries of warfare, despite technological advancements." my emphasis added
Mr. Newbold echoes similar points: "the burden of 30 to 80 pounds of personal equipment, mind-bending physical exertion, energy-sapping adrenaline highs" Newbold argues, concluding, "If I'm wrong, the cost may be opportunities denied to strong and impressive young women. If you're wrong, our national security is shaken and there is a butcher's bill to pay."
And there is the bottom line: military effectiveness and national security versus social engineering and progressivism.