Woman Should Be Able to Fight on the Combat Front Line of Any War, in Any Country

Imagine having to hide your identity to fight for your country. Well Sarah Emma- Edwards did, at the age of 17. She left everything behind to be the only woman to have served in the civil war for the Union Army. She ran away from her home, friends and family to fight in the Union Army. She was forced to dress up as a man, just like the classic Disney movie 'Mulan'. Except in Mulan they did not put her up on criminal charges, such as identity fraud. This all happened because a woman wanted to fight for her country and have the opportunity to fight alongside the strong and courageous men of the Civil War in America. I know things have changed since then, but the fact is that, this is still the case all over the world. Countries such as America, Britain, Canada, Australia and Europe are still denying women the opportunity to defend their country in combat roles on the front line. The question that should have been put forward to the Government is why aren't women fighting on the front line, if we are dedicated enough and have the necessary skills and knowledge to be effective in battle?'

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury the Australian Government has deprived the women of this country for long enough from their right to fight on the combat frontline of any country. Australian women believe that if given the opportunity to fight on the front lines, they would embrace it with both hands. They also understand that there are inherent risks involved being women on the frontline, like the female American Captain who was in Iraq with her small group of men. The men were tortured and killed, while she was brutally assaulted as only a woman could be. She was rescued by a covert U.S military force and hidden away until she was well (6 months later) and able to face the media storm. After everything she went through she is now a strong advocate for women on the frontline insisting that they know what can be in store for them if capture is imminent.

Only 13% of the armed forces in Australia are made of women and that means 87% of the ADF's intake in men. This is not just because some women wouldn't take being in the Australian Defence Force as their ideal career path, it's because they are turned away by the preferred job options for women. Which only includes mechanics, doctors, nurses, trades women and a few more, but it is time for the ADF to re evaluate these jobs and open up more categories, like combat engineers and certain positions in combat roles that require a certain level of expertise and knowledge. The government should also understand that the men in these roles agree with women in certain combat roles, like the ones listed above. Frank Anders a corporal in the Australian Defence Force declared his opinion on the ADF's forum page, when the question 'should women fight alongside the men of Australia on the frontline of any war?' was posted. His point of view was, "I agree with women on the frontline, in combat roles, just as long as they can keep up with the rest of us". The roles of women in the ADF are also ever changing and have evolved since women could fight alongside the men in the ADF.

You would be surprised to know that the only country in the world to go down the path of women on the frontline is Israel. In 2002 they have managed to put a side there anti feminist views and come together to protect their country and their citizens in a time of strife and uncertainly. This happened because the Israeli army deployed men in the west bank and Gaza strip but, they would not go. An elite group of women courageously put up their hands for the job and were deployed to complete the mission. These women courageously volunteered and completed the mission in a place were men feared to tread.

The Australian government is not willing to budge an inch on the topic of women on the combat frontline, they have been bombarded with people protesting for Australian women on the frontline, but there position is still, "Whether women should be on the front line or not... is a unresolved issue, that the government is looking in to," This was said by Defence personnel Bob Baldwin 2 years ago in a press conference about recruitment drives for the ADF. In