Before I discuss this ridiculous article on The Atlantic Wire website I want to make it clear I have no problems with women serving in combat arms specialties in the US military. I have no qualms about which of our soldiers has to get shot at. I'd prefer that none of them got shot at but that's a different topic.
What I have a problem with is people trying to make the case for women in combat by using completely factious arguments like the one in the aforementioned Atlantic Wire article titled "The Truth about Little Women Carrying Big Wounded Men in Combat." The article is laughably uninformed and full of glaring logical inconsistencies.
Some women can carry heavy guys out of combat. Just like some guys can carry heavy guys. However, carrying a heavy guy out of combat is not easy which is what the article states:
American troops are trained use the fireman's carry, which is a way of sort of slinging a dude over your shoulder, as seen in the GIF at right. It's shockingly easy.
Emphasis added by me. The quote is accompanied by an animated gif of pretty good sized guy picking up a man smaller than by using the fireman carry. Obviously the image has nothing to do with a small woman picking up a much larger man. It also has nothing to do with picking up a wounded man. Further, it has nothing to do with picking up a wounded man in a combat situation. Finally, it has nothing to do with picking up a wounded man in a combat situation where you are wearing body armor carrying a rifle of your own.
At the bottom of the article is a video of a smallish women who is clearly in good shape picking up a fat guy. Granted the fat guy is just wearing a pair of shorts and she is just wearing a bikini so, again, it isn't particularly representative of a real combat situation of picking up a 6'4" 240lb Marine as the article discusses when it quotes George Will in order to mock him:
"You're 6'4", 240-pound Marine, and you're injured, and you need a Marine next to you to carry you back to safety, and the Marine next to you is a 5'4" woman who weighs 115 pounds. It's relevant."
It's a shame really that the author of the article does such a shabby job of actually addressing the issue.
Imagine yourself on a battle field with a fellow soldier who is wounded enough that you have to throw him over your soldier in the fireman carry and lug him off to relative safety. More than likely the wounded soldier is on the ground, prone, and not really going to be helping you get him onto your back. He's probably either in a lot of pain or unconscious Therefore you have to some how get him off the ground and up onto your shoulder while you are probably kneeling, and then stand up with him on your back.
The wounded soldier will be wearing body armor. He will have on a full set of clothing and boots. He will weigh more than his normal 240 pounds. You will also be wearing a full uniform, body armor, and a kevlar helmet. You will already be carrying a sizable amount of weight beyond a bikini. Furthermore, you might be getting shot at so you have to get this guy onto your back and you need to get up quickly. Then you need to get moving off the field of battle fast. You might have to drop and take cover a few times. You'll be zig zagging so as to not create an easier target and you'll be running; probably in a crouch - all with a 240 pound guy + his gear on your back. Oh, and you'll want to have your rifle with you.
What part of that process sounds easy? None of it I'd wager.
I was in the Army, I've had to rapidly fireman carry 240 pound men - it is really hard to run with a 240 pound guy on your back. It is really really easy to lose your balance and fall on your face. At that point you need to get out from underneath the heavy guy and pick him all up again.
Go to the gym and squat 240 pounds where your ass has to touch the ground. That's basically how low you have to get. Tell me how easy that lift really is. Then find someone and try to run with them on your back and tell me how easy it is.
Finally, contrary to popular misconception not everyone in the military is as muscular and strong as people like to think. Most women don't have thighs like the bikini lady in the Atlantic article. And most guys you might have to carry out of combat aren't ..
(admittedly indie-rock thin) 6'2" male friend [that isn't injured]
This isn't about a power exchange - this is about reality. Elspeth Reeve doesn't seem to be living in a combat reality; she's too busy playing on the beach in Miami.