The first female Marine students arrived at School of Infantry-West (SOI-W) to begin the first phase of Marine Combat Training (MCT) on Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 6, 2018.
This marks the first male-female integrated Marine Combat Training Company on the West Coast.
“It is important, one team one fight, at the end of the day it’s to show the Marine Corps can produce [Marines] regardless of gender and complete any mission.” Said Sgt. Ambar Gonzalez, a combat instructor with Lima Company, SOI-West.
Prior to the West Coast’s integration, female Marines attended MCT training exclusively at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina remains the only depot available for females to attend basic training.
“The Marine Corps has trained all entry-level female Marines, both boot camp at Parris Island and Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.” said Lt. Col. Dennis L. Hager II, Headquarter and Support Battalion commander. “Starting today, we took 40 of the women from the western regional recruiting offices, and brought them here to Camp Pendleton.”
An additional benefit of the integration is providing families from the West Coast opportunity to see their Marines graduate.
“If families had wanted to observe their daughter from boot camp, or any entry level training school they would have to travel across the country,’ said Hager. “These students are going to have the unique ability to have their families observe their graduation from MCT, from the local area where they came from.”
Marine Combat Training consists of a 29-day course where entry-level Marines in non-infantry related Military Occupational Specialties are taught the basic skills needed to function in a combat environment. Upon completion of MCT, every Marine will have the knowledge and ability to deploy and operate as a basic rifleman.
I’ll be here first to remark on the stupidity of those forcing this unnecessary integration that will only endanger the lives of Marines in combat. The only so-called rationale I’ve heard is that it’s only fair women be allowed to do this; since when has fairness come into play in any aspect of military life?!
I agree. Did the enemy sign on to gender integration? How about the NFL?
Bad…..more reasons than can be named. Only thing worse is allowing queers openly.
Ahhhh!! So much wrong with this!!! Surely the WM’s will have the normal pull-up test and not just the hang on a bar test?? Hopefully the PFT’s will not be a watered down version of the male Marines testing protocol? I hope so because I would not want to depend on an individual that did not complete the same PFT testing! Just to address any possible male masogany comments. I believe that any and everyone should be tested on the same platform and ‘NO ONE ‘ should be given any leeway or able to skirt those requirements!!! I personally feel that if not done that way, it could compromise our missions! 0331 GUNS UP!
Yeah, great. Let’s hope the enemies of America are just as scared of their politicians as we are. By the way, are the sports teams mixed gender? Does the Annapolis Football team have both men and women? Hmm…why not?
This is not good for the Marine Corps.
Keep the gays in the rear, and the females manning the breastworks!
Chesty is rolling over in his grave!
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I hate to differ w/my brothers but the Israelis don’t have a problem with this.I’ve met some pretty tough Marine Corps women.I’ve been saying for 48 years,that in a combat situation,I would rather have a woman Marine next to me before I would take an Army poge.I know a Woman Marine wouldn’t run and would shoot straight.I know what you guys are really thinking…that it might be to much to see a Sister gunned down.Semper Fi.Ps;Those Woman Marines did volunteer to go thru basic ITR.In the Army,if your MOS is not infantry,you do not go to AIT (advanced infantry training)
My turn to weigh in. I am a MALE Marine, 68 years young, enlisted in the Corps 1968 and got out in 1972. So how do I feel about WM’s taking Combat Training? Unlike all of the chauvinist men that have posted on this, I have to say it’s well overdue. The Israeli Army has had women serving in combat for as long as I can remember (and that country has been at war for as long as I’ve been alive). Case in point is the new Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot, she was a Combat Instructor for two years when she was in their Army. Until you have watched your (non-military) wife go through childbirth, or done so yourself, don’t underestimate the strength a woman has. It’s not just that their threshold for pain is higher than a man’s, but they also have better endurance. Granted, a woman might not possess the strength of her male counterparts, but I’d be willing to bet MY life on them being every bit as ferocious a fighter as most men.
Women in the Israeli army are not allowed in offensive ground units. I trained with them in 98. So that argument is gone. It is an undue stressor and will damage combat readiness in infantry units. How many people think that a 19-21 year old woman will not be sleeping with someone in her platoon or squad? Is this good for morale? To call someone a chauvinist because they think this is a bad idea is infuriating. Read Col. John Ripleys testimony before congress on this topic. Much more eloquent than myself and much more qualified to speak on it. If you don’t know who John Ripley is fix yourself.
Semper Fi?
We have plenty of males in US without weakening are corps by adding girls to weakening are fighting ability . Politicians and feminist have tried to make us more diversified . We need balls and guts in a fight not distractions
One more thing, the women in Israeli infantry are assigned to two battalions. Both of those battalions are assigned to defense of the Egypt, Jordan border. So if they fight it is not in offensive combat, where they are attacking enemy infantry or defensive position. This is a huge difference. They are also not allowed to serve on main battle tanks. So they are used as a last defense and all hands are on deck. Do some research and get your facts straight. Also if you were a POG in the Marine Corps you don’t have the experience in training or what is required on a daily basis in an infantry unit. This integration has been tried numerous times before. The Marine corps spent millions of dollars on this integration study in 2012-2014. They submitted an exhaustive report to the secretary of the navy Ray Mabus. After all the money and all the training the marine corps recommended not to integrate women into combat arms. Mabus said too bad your doing it anyway. So it’s totally political. Good reference on wonderwoman though Otto. Totally legit
This is a wreck looking for a place to happen!!
Women in the IDF do not have combat jobs. They tried it and the test failed.
The old saying: “Don’t mess with Mother Nature” is ringing in my ears. Two million years ago men evolved into hunters and warriors while women were the gatherers and the keepers of the home fires. The reason their bodies are different is what Mother Nature intended. Good old Albert Einstein defined INSANITY as the repeated effort to accomplish a task expecting different results each time.
Calm down everyone. Read the article. This is Marine Combat Training (MCT) for all Marines regardless of gender who are NOT in the Infantry. They just created an MCT on the west coast where one had existed on the east coast for a number of years. Surely, you want all your Marines trained to fight beyond what they receive in recruit training, especially in the non-linear battlefields of today where everyone is a potential “rifleman.” Ask the Marines in Combat Logistics Regiment and at forward deployed airfields like at Camp Bastion / Leatherneck in Afghanistan in 2012 which did sustain a ground assault.
Nuts, clearly the decision was made by someone who never served in a Grunt unit.
This is why we have such a f**ked up military now. The Corp will never be the same again. Chesty is flipping in his grave trust me. There once was a time when you had to earn the eagle globe and anchor as well as the title of Marine. We have lowered the standards so low to accommodate those who are unworthy that it’s become pathetic. Remember the days when you got to recruit training and you were issued one pair of boots and were told that they were your dress shoes, running shoes and work shoes. Where did we go wrong?.
For those of you that say women do not serve in Combat Units in the IDF, read this. In 2000, the Equality amendment to the Military Service law stated that “The right of women to serve in any role in the IDF is equal to the right of men.”[3] The amendment that female lawmakers had drafted granted equal opportunities to women found physically and personally suitable for a job. The question of who and what was “suitable” was left to the discretion of military leaders on a case-by-case basis. Women did start to enter combat support and light combat roles in a few areas, including the Artillery Corps, infantry units and armored divisions. A few platoons named Carakal were formed for men and women to serve together in light infantry. By 2000 Carakal became a full-fledged battalion. Many women would also join the Border Police.[2]
Better bring more body bags!
Some wm are stronger or faster than some other Marines but the ones that i have a problem with are the ones that walk around shaking their ass giving erbody a tease! And the ones that get promoted jus cuz the brown nose Lt. ass!
How desperate can this country be to have to resort to this? We don’t have enough men to fill the ranks? I am glad I was born and served in the Corps when it was a mans job exclusively in the combat arms.
I was questioned about this at the SNCO Advanced Course in 1996. Being I was a dual-cool recon Marine, I suspect they were baiting me during a group discussion. I said I would be OK with it if they had the same standards; ie., PFT, etc. But you can see that they don’t. I love women, and women have a role in the military. In my opinion, the ground combat element is not the place. God made men and different for a reason. Can some women do it? Of course. But as previous comments bear, women don’t play in the NFL. Why? They are physically different, and would get hurt badly. Numerous studies, including the Marine Corps own Integrated Training Experiment, bore this out, but the politicians forced it upon it anyway. The Russians had female soldiers in front line units during World War II, but banned the practice thereafter. Everyone likes to make the outlier the rule, not the exception!
I got a little off track here. The article was referring to female Marines going to Marine Combat Training (MCT), not Infantry Training Battalion (ITB). ITB is where 03’s are trained. All non-infantry Marines go to MCT, regardless of gender.
I thank God that when I was active, you couldn’t find a WM. I saw three my entire enlistment. They were all at Division and I was an Artillery Marine. Now it seems you can’t sling a dead cat without hitting one. Y’all have ruined my Beloved Marine Corps! I know”Chesty Puller” is rolling in his grave like a pig on a spit. You might as well intergrate into the Navy.
This is the dumbest thing i’ve ever heard. The old timer that is 68 i’m sure wasn’t in the infantry in Vietnam. So happy i was in the corps when i was. This is exactally why i talked my son out of joining the Marine Corps. iI told him let the gays, trans genders,woman, and liberals fight the future wars.
Its about time. All Marines should get Combat Training after Basic Training. We all know what happened to the 1st Marine Division in December of 1950. It’s our job to fight when TSHTF. Can’t be done if we don’t get the training. I did’t serve with any WMs but even in ’72’ I thought they should be better trained. Just in case. Semper Fi guys. Love you all.