“Both volunteers in a study to see if women could become Marine ground combat leaders have dropped out of the rigorous Infantry Officer Course, with the second failing because of a medical reason late last week, the Marine Corps Times reported.”
Not a surprise, and not a reflection on the women. These courses are designed to fail a certain percentage of men. They emphasize physical strength and endurance. There is no way your basic female or a lot of your basic males are going to get through it. While attitude, brains and determination are factors, and can be big factors, it also takes a body and mind which can avoid getting ground down rapidly.
If it were just speed, women would dominate I think. Add 100 pounds to a human frame, though, and demand it perform, and that’s a different issue. Bones, muscles and joints have to be big enough and used enough. Attitude can help one keep doing something much easier than it can help someone do it.
I predict that eventually some women will make it through, and they’ll relax some of the standards, either across the board or for them. Not many will make it through as it is.
And I’m one who thinks vegetarian women are the best hikers after the professional men. Fast and strong. But if they had to carry much more than they do they would have problems after a day or so.