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Women On The Frontline Poll: The Results
The results are in... and Forces Network's audience has spoken.
After Prime Minister David Cameron asked the Ministry of Defence to open up combat roles to women within a year earlier this week, we asked your thoughts on the issue.
The move, which could see women training for frontline roles as early as next autumn, would be the biggest shake-up of the British military in recent history - and so understandably caused a lot of debate.
The question: "Do you think women should serve in frontline infantry combat roles?"
As you can see, there was a clear winner - although by a much closer margin than in some previous Forces TV polls.
In the end, it was around 60-40 in favour of 'No'.
One of the arguments in support of the majority was women's physical capability of performing in combat. One commenter said:
"In general women are weaker, slower and have less stamina than men... This will lead to two 'grades' of combat troops. Note, athletics and many other sports are divided on the basis of gender. There are good reasons for this. Placing women alongside men in typical ground-force combat roles will lead to an increase in death or injury among either or both."
Another argued that the move is more about 'point-scoring' than increasing the military's effectiveness as a fighting force:
"[It's] a political response to a non existent problem. There are so few women that want to do the job (compared to the majority who agree that we should aspire to equality) that it would never reach sufficient numbers to become the norm. This could endanger the effectiveness of the unit from many different aspects, physical, emotional etc.
"The military is founded on the needs of the many outweighing the rights of the few. The goverment needs to concentrate on attracting talent to the military on a large scale. This is more about scoring points than saving our depleted military."
Others, however, saw things differently. One voter pointed to the fact that a decision to open up all roles to women would put the UK alongside other nations such as Australia and the US, which earlier this month announced it would open all jobs in combat roles to women:
"Women on the frontline is already in place in many countries and... an all female spec ops battalion is a very scary thought. They would be at advantage."
Other commenters argued that as long as women pass the same tests and are treated equally to men, they should be allowed to fight on the frontline. One said:
"As long as they meet the same requirements as men and get no special treatment then yeah [women should be allowed to fight]."
Another added, meanwhile: "If a woman has signed up to the forces and is able to do the job needed then why not."
It's clearly an issue that you and the wider public feel strongly about, and is likely to remain so even after any changes are put into place.
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