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women at the front

Posted: Fri 11 Jul, 2008 5:52 pm
by researcher101
I hope it's OK to post this kind of message here.

I'm a researcher working with a well-known British screenwriter who is developing a TV drama about women soldiers serving at 'the front' in Afghanistan. She is keen for it to be as accurate as possible about the day-to-day realities of life for women soldiers.

I'm looking for people who would be prepared to share their experiences and/or answer questions on this subject.

Many thanks.

women at the front

Posted: Fri 11 Jul, 2008 5:55 pm
by researcher101
Further to my previous post, please email me on womenatfront@googlemail.com if you are prepared to share your experiences and views on the day to day experience of women serving at 'the front'.

Many thanks

Posted: Fri 11 Jul, 2008 8:59 pm
by Tab
Women are not in the Infantry , and the governments policy is to keep them out of the front line. When one got killed the other week it was behind our lines while traveling in a snatch Land Rover when it hit a mine.
Nothing is completely safe but they are as safe as they can make it for them

Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 10:41 am
by coley212
I did't think women were on front line either :S

Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 12:45 pm
by Hyperlithe
Officially, they're not, technically they actually are, in all sorts of roles, just not the ones classified as 'front-line'.
Women are deployed as medics, forward air and artillery controllers, and engineers, never mind all the girls I know who are loadies on helicopters, hanging out of the side doors returning enemy fire...
Even so, I can't see a single one of them wanting to talk to anyone in the media, even if it is just for a tv drama.

Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 1:25 pm
by coley212
O right me either tv programes always twist your words.

Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 2:18 pm
by Hyperlithe
Have just seen one of my mates (a RAF nurse) on tv, just behind Ant & Dec. She is part of the MERT, although not sure how she copes with that, because she gets really airsick!

Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 5:13 pm
by JayBuckley
Not being funny but there was a bit of a fiasco when one women got killed few months a go, so imagine what it would be like if they was allowed at the very front and involved with the infantry etc...??

I personally think when you sign up for the Army then you know what your job role is going to consist of, so you and no one else should have a problem if your injured or killed! Sounds harsh but end of the day Your signing up for the Armed services not the girl guides! Many people may disagree but it is my opinion and as it is an opinion i can't be wrong. ;)

Jay

Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 6:42 pm
by Hyperlithe
It really annoys me when the 'meeja' go nuts about a woman being killed, injured or taken hostage - every one of us is our job first and our gender second.
Look at what happened with Faye Turney (apologies for the spelling!), she was the focus of every single news channel, and the 14 guys that were with her hardly got a mention.
I know - they're only pandering to society, but it's still wrong!

Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 11:43 pm
by Tab
Now seeing one woman soldier is suing the MoD for £400.00.00 for sexual harassments, mainly verbal, which makes me wonder just how much she would be suing the MoD for if she had to live on the front line under fire with a bunch of blokes. There is little or no privacy and the personal remarks fly thick and fast to break the tension.

Posted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 7:23 am
by Greenronnie
The reason why there is more chance of women being KIA or WIA nowadays is that there aren't really any "front lines". There's obviously more dangerous areas, and places where our troops are actively seeking out the enemy, and in these areas you don't find many (if any) females. However, the fact that you can be IED'd in any part of Afghanistan or Iraq means that anyone and everyone is at risk.

I've never met (or heard of) a female FAC by the way, Hyperlithe.

Posted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 3:23 pm
by Hyperlithe
Me neither, but it was one of the list of jobs that women are supposedly eligible to be deployed in. Can't even remember where I found that info, so I'm quite happy to be corrected if it's wrong.

Posted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 5:29 pm
by timex
I know of one female FOO, I think she is about to do the FAC course but not sure. Bloody good girl too.

Posted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 7:12 pm
by got1
How about the female Apache pilot, she got as near the front as you can get. :drinking:

Posted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 7:22 pm
by Greenronnie
got1 wrote:How about the female Apache pilot, she got as near the front as you can get. :drinking:
Not exactly slumming it with the infantry, facing the dangers of IEDs, mines, ambushes etc. However, Effing ally job for a chick, got to admit that! 8)