The U.S. Marines Are Looking For 'A Few Good Women'

CBS 60 Minutes: A Few Good Women

The Marines are looking for a few good women to serve in combat but, after more than two years of trying, no woman has made it through the grueling infantry officer school

Remember that old recruiting ad the Marines are "...looking for a few good men?" Well, now they're looking for a few good women as well. The Armed Services have been ordered to open all their ground combat units to women by the end of this year - or else give the secretary of defense a good reason why not.

For the Marines that means accepting female volunteers into their Infantry Officer School to see if they can make it through the grueling three-month course. You would expect the training to be tough, but we had no idea how tough until we saw it. The Marines have kept most of what happens in that course secret so anyone going through it doesn't know what to expect. But they opened it up for us so you could see what it takes to become a Marine infantry officer - male or female it doesn't matter because the demands are the same. Can women do it? Take a look and judge for yourself.

WNU Editor: The clip for this story starts at the 15:52 mark. The story is interesting, but this report also gives a eye-opening look at the Marines "combat endurance test" .... wow .... I knew it was tough .... but not that tough .... and the 25ft rope climb .... ouch!!!!

Update #1: 60 Minutes Takes on Women in Combat -- Washington Free Beacon
Update #2: 60 Minutes and Women in Combat Training -- Russ Vaughn, American Thinker

Update #3: Speaking of having women in combat .... a new British report says that it is NOT a good idea .... Integrating women into combat reduces effectiveness, harms unit cohesion (Washington Times).