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Odierno: Army to open most field artillery jobs to women

The Army plans to open to women all but one field artillery MOS, the service’s top officer said Monday. With the exception of the 13F military occupational specialty, “we have decided … we are not going to ask for a waiver to keep it closed,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno. This decision,…

The Army plans to open to women all but one field artillery MOS, the service’s top officer said Monday.

With the exception of the 13F military occupational specialty, “we have decided … we are not going to ask for a waiver to keep it closed,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno.

This decision, which opens up MOSs such as cannon crewmember (13B) and field artillery automated tactical data system specialist (13D), comes just weeks after the Army opened the combat engineer (12B) MOS to women.

It also follows a decision from more than a year ago to open all field artillery officer positions to women.

via Odierno: Army to open most field artillery jobs to women.

I suspect once you start getting a few women in 13B, cannon crewmember, you’re going to see injury rates that outstrip those of men by a mile. An M107 155mm projectile weighs just shy of 97 pounds. The newer M795 weighs over 100 pounds.

Women will suffer sports type injuries at higher rates than men given a similar task involving significant upper body strength. That costs the Army in terms of direct medical expenses, and indirect costs such as lost time available for service. That’s to say nothing of the costs to taxpayers for higher rates of service related disabilities treated by the VA.

Again, I’ve yet to see a coherent argument that shows what the Army gains from opening combat arms  MOS to women.

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  1. Jason

    I don’t have any particular issues opening up 13D to women, but the only possible place in 13B is with the 105mm units. The weight of the 155mm shells will be more than virtually all women can handle on a sustained basis. I know I tweaked my own back in the Paladin while trying to reach some of those hard-to-get-at spaces. Perhaps Brienne of Tarth can handle them OK, but such women are few and far between.

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  2. Trevor Thralls

    Except 105mm ammo comes packed two per crate. That’s two complete rounds. Projo and propellant charge. Weight, about 120 lbs. And sometimes one person must hump (by hump I mean run your ass off) a crate from point A to point B. And sometimes the distance between A and B is not an inconsiderable distance. Like when a CH-46 dumps your load of ammo about 1km from the howitzer. Great training was had by all.

    http://www.pinstopin.com/105mm-howitzer-shell-crate/ZmlyZXdvcmtzMSpjb218aW1hZ2VzfHByb2R1Y3RzfDE2OTgqanBn_ZmlyZXdvcmtzMSpjb218TWlsbGl0YXJ5LUFtbXVuaXRpb24tQ29udGFpbmVyc3xIb3dpdHplci0xMDVNTS1BbW11bml0aW9uLUNyYXRlKmh0bWw/

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  3. JoshO

    What possible good could come of this? What is wrong with these politicians and officers?

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  4. timactual

    I would expect to hear the words “Wait, out” a little more frequently when calling for fire. Particularly if it has been a busy day, which sometimes happens.

    Is there, perhaps, a problem with recruitment?
    “Applicants who enlist for three or more years in the following jobs may qualify for bonuses up to $15,000
    Infantryman (11X)
    Cannon Crewmember (13B)
    Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data Systems Specialist (13D)
    Fire Support Specialist (13F)
    Multiple Launch Rocket System Crewmember (13M)
    Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator (13R) ”

    A major downside of the all volunteer military is the increased cost.

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