Marine Corps Slugfest Upon Test Results

Marine Corps Slugfest Upon Test Results

Earlier this week I wrote about a report published by the Marine Corps on their study of female integration into combat arms units and special operations forces. As predicted, these have been many outspoken critics on the results of this test. Surprisingly however, one of the largest critics of the results was Navy Secretary Mabus.

The military currently has a January deadline for female integration into all combat roles. Branches have until the 1^st of October to request exceptions to this new mandate. Secretary Mabus however has made it clear he has no intentions of allowing an exception, regardless of tests and results.

Mabus has also gone on to suggest that perhaps The Corps should have picked more qualified females. A statement, which I’m sure was nothing but insulting to the females who did participate in the study. Sergeant Major Justin LeHew (head of the unit charged with study) entered the ring with the following post to Facebook: “Listen up folks. Your senior leadership of this country does not want to see America overwhelmingly succeed on the battlefield, it wants to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to [pursue] whatever they want regardless of the outcome on national security.”

Most recently, Congressmen Duncan Hunter, a Republican from California has called for Mabus’ resignation. Of Mabus Hunter has said “He has openly disrespected the Marine Corps as an institution, and he insulted the competency of Marines by disregarding their professional judgment, their combat experience and their quality of leadership,” and “Such a significant loss of respect is detrimental to the ability of the Navy Secretary to effectively lead the men and women of the Marine Corps and ensure the service maintains the highest level of combat effectiveness.”

Mabus’ personal time in service amounts to two years aboard the USS Little Rock as a surface warfare officer. While I do thank Mabus for her service, personally, I don’t think him qualified enough to critique Marines on their ability to evaluate combat effectiveness.