311, i hope you don't presume to speak for the average marine.

The marines I knew and worked with in the Air Force had one prevailing characteristic in common: mental discipline. They had a sense of respect, honor, and duty that seemed to be more than some recruiting poster fantasy. I don't imagine any of them would have raped a woman no matter how drunk they were.

I myself was drunk quite a bit. Funny it never occured to me to rape someone.

The stess that soldiers are put under during training is designed to prepare them to overcome stress that might be unbearable to the average individual. To be able to maintain that clear mental state and think clearly. It is not designed to turn you into a gun-toting maniac hell-bent on destruction.

An individual that can't even control himself in the barracks definitely shouldn't be placed in a combat situation. I, personally, wouldn't want him with me. I agree with Badger and would want a "strong" individual with me. I'm talking about a person of strong constitution, not the person who could carry the heaviest gun.

Now, since the article referenced was about the Air Force, of which I have some first-hand knowledge, I will say this: there is no place for rapists, or potential rapists, in the Air Force. They will be working side by side with women. Seeing that the average person in the Air Force is probably under a lot less stress, even when deployed, than the average marine or army soldier, then I would think that a person given to rape or other deviant behavior should be avoided if possible (notice I said "average").

And this is not about whether women can perform in this situation or another. It is about sexual assault of a fellow soldier or recruit. From a logical standpoint, the whole argument that a women should not be with men in the military because the men might lose control is ridiculous. Are we saying that women should not be allowed in the military or in certain jobs but, on the other hand, sex offenders should be welcomed?

Many civilians (and the civilian press) expect a high standard of behavior from the military. Why shouldn't they? The guy who thinks that being a soldier is about acting like a gorilla and beating your chest the loudest is not who the public wants protecting them. Now, more than any other time, it is important for military members to represent that higher standard so that soldiers will never again be judged for the mistakes of their government.