![]() ![]() Perhaps this is a moot point considering all that has transpired since Trump’s Twitter tantrum. ![]() military, knowing that the former commander-in-chief and any number of his supporters are unabashedly unsympathetic to gender-inclusivity may be more than enough reason for women to continue avoiding the combat arms branches or military service altogether. And in an all-volunteer force such as the U.S. Using only eight words, Trump told the Twitter world that while women may now be able to enter these spaces, they are still spaces meant for men. Trump’s public reaction to this gendered change represents a clear effort to preserve the myth that the Navy SEALs, and perhaps the combat arms branches altogether, is the realm of men and is therefore no place for women. Yet, I argue, a bark was all Trump needed to achieve his goal. In a tweet on October 1 st, 2020, Donald Trump declared that he would be overturning the Navy SEALs’ and SWCC’s efforts, calling the decision a “ridiculous order.” This was an ‘all bark and no bite’ situation, however, as no evidence has surfaced suggesting he followed through with his proclamation prior to leaving office on January 20, 2021. Lieutenant Commander Matthew Stroup believes these recent changes represent the organizations’ intention to “develop a culture of tactical and ethical excellence that reflects the nation we represent, and that draws upon the talents of the all-volunteer force who meet the standards of qualification as a SEAL.” While no women have yet received SEAL contracts or have become special warfare combatant crewmen, a number have made attempts and others were in the training process as of September 2020. In the case of the Navy, leadership within the Navy SEALs and the Navy Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) have recently moved to replace the existing gendered language within their ethos and creed statements with gender-neutral language. Since the repeal of the exclusion rule, the military branches have continually made changes to promote greater gender-inclusivity. One example that deserves particular attention is former President Donald Trump’s recent move to reaffirm the myth that heterosexual men are ‘natural’ warriors and the belief that women do not belong in the combat arms branches. Because the military represents one of the most salient figures of masculinity, egalitarian changes to its gendered policies and practices are often seen as attacks on masculinity itself. military has made efforts to become a more gender-inclusive organization, it has experienced pushback from the public, military personnel, and policymakers alike. military’s major steps toward establishing a combat troop force more-accurately reflecting the diverse civilian U.S. By opening the doors of the combat arms to women, the repeal of the exclusion rule represents one of the U.S. Generally, the combat arms branches have been dominated by White men, as women were unable to enter these spaces and non-White men largely gravitated toward support roles. military repealed its Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule which excluded women from officially entering the combat arms branches. As reported by ET earlier, the Centre appealed against this in the apex court stating that the tribunal's decision would go against the goal of ensuring younger commanders at the helm of fighting units.“…Forged by adversity, he stands alongside America’s finest special operations forces to serve his country, the American people, and protect their way of life. The AFT ruled in their favour, calling the policy biased in nature. While the first lot of 750 was distributed on a pro-rata basis, the second was restricted to the combat units on the basis of the command exit policy suggested by the report.ĭubbing it as "unfair" this practice was challenged in the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) by officers of the services. These recommendations listed out vacancies between 20 to reduce the age of commanding officers at the rank of Colonels. The Command and Exit policy was put in place after the AV Singh Committee Report recommendations called for younger and fitter officers to assume charge as commanding officers of infantry and artillery units. After the Ministry of Defence approved the policy in 2009, its preferential nature of according promotions to only combat arms had raised questions on the justness of such a policy for officers of services like ASC. ![]()
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