A major concern for many Americans is the protection of our nation and its people. Are our armies strong enough, large enough, and ready to protect the United States effectively?Women first were allowed onto the battlefield during the Civil War to serve as nurses and medical aid. Then, women entered the military in “non-combat” positions during WWII. In both instances, women were considered a large help, despite many in society that opposed it. Without the aid of women back then, our armies would have fallen flat due to lack of medical care and moral support.

However, now there is this huge debate over whether women should be allowed on the frontline.
People opposed to the idea lay claim to weak justifications. They argue that women are naturally weaker than men, than women could not handle the mentally-taxing nature of war and that women will interfere with this “military bro-code” that‘s been constructed between the soldiers.

Really now, if you’ve got to use that last one, you know your case is weak.
In high stress, physically demanding jobs every day, men and women mix comfortably and are perfectly able to work together. Take our nation’s police for instance. In 2008, more than 40% of the U.S police force was made up of women serving alongside men; more and more women are taking leadership positions.

Saying that “all women are weaker than men” is such a biased statement that anyone who’s ever claimed such a thing can find themselves a nice rock to go and hide under.

There are plenty of women stronger than men, including the two who started this proposal. The two women are proof enough of women’s ability to stand up for themselves on the frontline.

War is mentally taxing on anyone, no matter what position you are in. The suicide rate in the military is at the highest level it’s ever been in nearly 10 years, hitting one suicide per  day.

Statistics also show that approximately 80% of those deaths are men. According to APSP, the suicide rate for gender is 5% women to 19.8% men. There is no implication that women handle mental stress any worse than men. The that women will not be the only ones affected by the emotional toll, and that it‘s just a product of war.

And lastly, practically the only possibly semi-good argument against women on the frontline, is the matter of what circumstances they’d be forced into if captured. With most military forces in other countries only being made up of men, the capture of a female soldier can result in many horrid circumstances, including rape.

But everyone has free will and the ability to choose his or hers future. If a woman in the military decides she wants to further protect her country by fighting on the frontline, she has to understand what can happen. It’s a personal decision and a risk she must be willing to make.

The whole point of an army is to protect a country. Are we really going to argue over making our army stronger by increasing our number? It’s as if we want to be conquered for fighting what could be a great benefit to our country.

Let everyone and anyone who wants to fight for our country fight.