THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, August 12, 1995              TAG: 9508120055
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Short :   35 lines

NEW MARINE BOSS IS OPPOSED TO WOMEN IN GROUND COMBAT

The new commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Charles Krulak, says women are important to the success of his force but have no place in ground combat.

``Why? Because I don't think they can do it,'' the four-star general said in an interview Friday.

Krulak, who took over as the Marine Corps' top officer July 1, said he does not doubt that women have the intelligence and courage it takes to fight on the battlefield.

``It just is damn tough being a grunt,'' he said, using the slang for a Marine infantryman.

He believes, as do most other U.S. military leaders, that the challenge is too great. As Krulak put it, ``Humping a lot of gear for a long distance and then putting steel on target (shooting accurately),'' is too much to ask of female Marines.

Women make up 4.7 percent of the Marine Corps - by far the smallest proportion of the uniformed services, although the share has grown in recent years.

Krulak, 53, has many changes in mind for the Marines, but he sees no reason to drop the existing prohibition against women serving in infantry, artillery and armored units. Women, however, can serve in combat support roles such as engineering, which in time of war face the same risk of direct enemy fire. by CNB