Tri-Service

Former Army Commander Brands Women 'Weak Link' In Special Forces

A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan has warned that women will become a 'weak link' if they are allowed to join the Special Forces in frontline combat roles.

It comes after military chiefs secretly agreed to allow female troops to volunteer for Special Forces training, according to reports.

The decision will reportedly be announced in June, and comes after head of the Army General Sir Nick Carter had to deny that fitness and training standards will be lowered to allow female soldiers to serve on the frontline.

Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, asked the Ministry of Defence to open up combat roles to women within a year, as recently as December.

But Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan in 2003, told the Daily Mirror:

"This foolish move will reduce the capability of the infantry, undermine our national defences and put lives in danger."

Col Kemp also claimed the majority of soldiers are “vehemently opposed” to the plan and will leave if it goes ahead. He added:

"Why do feelings run so high? Because every infantryman knows the price for this social engineering experiment will be paid in blood."

An MOD spokesperson said:

"The Prime Minister and Defence Secretary have both said they are united in wanting to see all roles in the Armed Forces opened up to women.

"The decision on whether women should be allowed to serve in the ground close combat roles is expected by the middle of this year following further physiological research."

General Sir Nick Carter, who supports opening all careers to women, denied recently that standards would be lowered to allow women to serve on the frontline. He said:

"I want to make it very clear that there will be no lowering of training or qualifying levels for soldiers in ground close combat roles."

But the heads of the SAS and the Special Boat Service have reportedly expressed concerns over the “physical robustness” of the female frame.

Former Parachute Regiment Sergeant Paul Biddiss said:

"I was a member of 3 PARA when the MoD conducted secret trials on women to analyse their physical and mental aptitude towards combat roles.

"P Company, the test you undergo to get into the Paras, was considered the perfect test with which to simulate those physical and mental hardships needed due to its tough, aggressive and fast-paced tests designed to simulate battle scenarios. Not one of them passed.