Women in the Line of Fire: What You Should Know about Women in the Military

Women in the Line of Fire is as much a political as a military book. This isn't meant to be derogatory, it's just a statement of fact. Erin Solaro argues for the full integration of women into every branch of the military, including ground combat arms. Others have argued for this in the past, indeed the role of women in the military has been controversial for a very long time. What makes this book unusual is that Ms Solaro actually finds something new to say on the topic. Many feminists have argued for integrating women into combat arms for reasons that don't bear a moment's serious examination. In some cases they argue that women, by being excluded from combat arms are denied career opportunities, or in some cases they obviously hope that full integration of women into the military will make it less, well...military. Ms Solaro recognizes these sorts of arguments for the nonsense they are. Unlike many far too many feminists, Ms Solaro genuinely cares about the nation's defense and the military as a whole, she doesn't simply view servicewomen as some sort of aggrieved minority group. Women in the Line of Fire includes a history of the women in combat issue, including how the Pentagon began, after Vietnam, to integrate women into critically important positions which, although technically not combat positions, put women at serious risk in the event of war, without considering where it all could lead. She also shows how present policy has evolved into a kind of officially approved charade, with the Pentagon seeking to deploy women alongside small infantry units at the sharp end while officially denying both that it does so, and that this is the result of harsh military necessity. Solaro argues that women, as citizens, should be considered part of the organized militia, and she favors a kind of universal military service that would include women in all ranks. Here is where the book is as much political as military, both because the decision about who may serve in what capacity is ultimately political, and because her notion of militia service is part of a larger political program that she calls an "enabling civic triad". This includes education, gainful employment, and taking part in the nation's defense as key components of citizenship. Ms Solaro calls her ideas "civic feminism". Not everyone will agree with Erin Solaro's ideas about women in the military, or civic feminism. Some will object to her politics, others to the inclusion of politics in a book arguing what military policy should be. The debate is no longer over whether or not women will serve in combat. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have settled that. Solaro's arguments are original, interesting, and rooted in a genuine belief that America is worth defending, and that all its citizens have a role to play in its defense.

Erin Solaro has provided both the data showing the good job women soldiers are doing and a clear explanation the military and political obstacles that make their lives and service so difficult. This is not just a feminist argument that women should have full opportunities for combat service because it's the right thing to do; it's a thorough analysis of why women can do the job. As Solaro points out, full participation of women in the armed forces is the last barrier to equality in our society. I've believed that women have a full place in the military for years, but Solaro has given me the facts to back up my argument.

This book raises several questions near and dear to my heart as a female servicemember who has been deployed twice, both times to Iraq for 12 months. There are some issues I agree with, and some I do not. Nonmilitary females may be interested in the points Ms. Solaro raises on maternal mortality. I am not convinced on that point, and it was a needless digression before getting into her later points, which I found much more interesting. The section describing her time actually spent embedded in Iraq was enlightening as well. Sometimes, her zeal in showing the practical ability of men and women to integrate without too much drama is slightly idealistic (I assure you, the circumstances of combat where men and women are too tired to engage in sexual activity is rare - sometimes I've even seen activity increased, for whatever reasons may be out there - heightened awareness of mortality, troubles at home, etc.) but still, the debate and update of women's place in the Army, in combat areas, and as citizens is served here by a good foundation of historical and critical analysis. I heartily recommend this book to anyone wishing an informative read on the subject, even if they do not necessarily agree with the subject material.