THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 21, 1994 TAG: 9409210012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
The House Armed Services Committee has canceled a hearing that was scheduled for today on the Pentagon's proposal to ``open'' units in or near land combat to women. Reportedly, behind-the-scenes talks are being held on the scope of the proposed changes. Frankly, the country would be better served by an open inquiry. It appears the Clinton Defense Department might be engaged in one of the administration's favorite sports: using the administrative process to bypass the will of Congress.
On July 29, Defense Secretary William Perry announced unprecedented plans to assign Army and Marine Corps women in or near land combat units. Some of these assignments would be involuntary. This is done by redefining ``land combat'' to exclude those occupations that formerly were defined as having ``a substantial risk of capture'' and ``seeking out and reconnoitering'' enemy forces. This change is being made not for national-security reasons, but in the name of opening ``career opportunities'' to women.
These plans are scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 1, unless Congress decides differently. In redefining ``land combat,'' the Clinton Defense Department is ignoring clear statutory language that requires it to inform Congress of any such redefinition. The Pentagon civilian leadership is blandly declaring that the provisions of the law simply ``do not apply'' in this case.
The Army said on July 29 that women will be eligible for assignment to air cavalry helicopters, which often operate in front of the actual front lines. Some combat engineering units are to be opened to women, along with the field headquarters of combat engineering units, air cavalry units, air defense artillery battalions, Special Forces groups and special operations aviation regiments.
The Army's original, even more sweeping, plan was withdrawn in early June by Army Secretary Togo West after it leaked to the press and aroused a storm of controversy within the Army itself. The new plan, however, isn't much of an improvement. The new moves are clearly incremental steps in the previous direction. Once principles are compromised and priorities are skewed, it becomes difficult to stop changes that might not be in the interests of the services or the national security.
None of this is to slight the professionalism and dedication of the women in the armed services. The purpose of the military, however, is not to provide ``career opportunities.'' If the will of Congress is being subverted via the administrative process, Virginia's members on the House and Senate Armed Services committees should be demanding some answers.
KEYWORDS: WOMEN IN THE MILITARY by CNB