[Raellus]

I just watched a documentary called Seeds of Summers about female IDF recruits going through basic. Unfortunately, it wasn't very good- it was more about the young women's social dynamics than about the actual training itself- but it got me to thinking. I know we've had this discussion before in the old forum, but I thought I'd start it up here again anyway.

The Israelis tap into their female "manpower" since their popluation is small relative to their far more numberous (and often hostile) Arab neighbors. For them, female soldiers are a necessity. I was impressed by how the very young, very feminine Israeli women were toughened up during the training process. Since they don't typically serve in mixed gender groups, they seem to develop a unique but effective unit bond and espirit de corps. Physically, they weren't that imposing, but many of them seemed to make up for in enthusiasm what they lacked in size and strength. Perhaps that's the way to go, as opposed to integrating female soldiers into majority male units. All female combat infantry companies in the U.S. army?

Anyway, I can definitely see U.S./NATO armies using more female soldiers in the Twilight War. With a large percentage of young and able-bodied males away at war (the U.S. alone has troops in Europe, Korea, the Middle East, Alaska, and parts of Africa), and with massive civilian attrition post-TDM, young women would be mobilized in increasing numbers. In the CONUS theater, I would imagine a large proportion of U.S. troops would be women. And by soldiers, I mean combat troops. Sure, women would still be posted in many of the non-combat roles (and one could argue that there is no such thing in the Twilight War) but it would seem that necessity would dictate more women in active combat roles.

It goes without saying the T2K Soviet Army would use women in a combat role. Socially, the Russians still (in 2009) aren't as progressive when it comes to gender issues, compared to western nations. However, they did employ women as combat pilots, snipers, and tankers during WWII. So, it stands to reason that a U.S.S.R., after having fought on several fronts for going on half a decade, would tap into its female popluation for combat troops.

Your thoughts?