The emasculation of our close-mat forces.

• Author: Gillem, Denny
• Position: Armed Forces

AS A GENERAL statement, the more diverse a group, the more effective it will be. This is because we all are products of our environment and it guides how we think. Normally, the more different perspectives a team can bring to problem solving, the more successful it will be.

Of course, diversity is not itself divine, nor the answer to all challenges. The driving factor always is mission accomplishment--get the job done. For military organizations, the mission is combat readiness. What that means to each military organization depends on the group's mission. A military purchasing and contracting office is much different than a cargo aircraft wing, which is very different that an infantry brigade or a SEAL team.

Women have served in our military for generations and are doing so now, honorably and well. They also have been serving in combat for decades--competently and bravely. However, there is a difference between serving in combat and serving in close combat. Our nation's civilian leaders have mandated that, since January of this year, women must be permitted to serve in all military units, specifically including close-combat units--such as Army and Marine infantry and armor units and special operations units. Special Operations units include organizations like Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, and Marine Special Ops.

The purpose of close-combat units is to kill people and break things--up close and personal. There is no cannon fired or bomb dropped from miles away--no, close-combat units must be prepared to (and sometimes will have to) get face-to-face and hand-to-hand with our nation's enemies. The consequence of failure is not a lawsuit about a goofed-up contract for more bullets, but bloody and horrible death or lifetime disability. Close-combat units always must be combat ready--and that readiness never can be sacrificed--even to nice things like diversity, equal opportunity, or political correctness.

What has made U.S. close-combat units so effective is what often is called the "band of brothers bond." Team members bear all kinds of hardship together, bleed together, literally put their lives on the line daily for the others. They fight together, cry together, laugh together, and absolutely trust each other. Such an organization can beat larger enemy forces that do not share that bond.

Warning: this may shock you, but there is a difference between men and women--really. Should we allow women to be in infantry units and...