Saletan's next post will be about the female firefighters who pass fire department tests by being able to DRAG residents out of burning buildings. Men candidates have to CARRY people out. All you folks who want to be dragged out of a fire {bumpety-bump-bump), send a "thank you for your poltical correctness" note to Bill c/co Slate. (Don't ask him about the hand grenade-throwing tests for Army girls which show they can't throw the grenades far enough to avoid blowing up their own unit.)

I do not think that Saletan was advocating different standards for men and women in his article. He stated that the fact that men are *on average* stronger than women is not a sufficient reason to deny women these positions. That doesn't mean that he feels a particularly weak women should be allowed the job, merely that her lack of qualifications have everything to do with her ability and nothing to do with her gender.

Army basic does not screen for hand grenade throwing distance. You do have to throw a live grenade, but it is more for exposure to the ordinance, not a distance test. There are a lot of guys who would also fail that test. The grenade merely has to make it over a wall, though, it's nice to get it a bit farther as they are loud. And of course security of knowing that something that will hurt you pretty bad is more than just a couple of feet away when it explodes.

Infantry AIT may have different requirements, however, since women are currently not allowed in those MOS's, then there would be no screening necessary. My guess would be that you were never in the army, or you would no there is no such test.

And you think "there is no such test" should make citizens feel...what? smug? better? And why are women not allowed in MOS? "There is no such test." Keep talking & digging your hole.

Actually what I was taught in the army was that noone can throw a grenade far enough to be safe from the blast. You were always told to find a cover you could duck behind before you throw a grenade.

Hand grenade test?

You're really reaching aren't you?

bibi35:

And you think "there is no such test" should make citizens feel...what? smug? better? And why are women not allowed in MOS? "There is no such test." Keep talking & digging your hole.

Countering informed correction with ignorant insults means you're already deep enough yourself, here. Maybe it's time for you to stop digging. Or not, you know.