Public Policy Research and Recommendation Paper Example

This policy proposal that this letter accompanies is the result of a detailed study of the involvement of women in combat situations. This policy proposal aims to see an improvement in the number of women engaging in direct combat operations.

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The policy is vital to the change process because it will have a legislation that backs it up and provides the necessary funding for implementation. The policy is important because it contributes to the mainstreaming of gender in the military. The policy timeframe will be one year after which monitoring and evaluation reports will be provided to determine the success progress of the policy.

Kindly go through the document carefully to familiarize with the issues under discussion. Your comments on and counter proposals regarding the document are most welcome.

Yours Faithfully,

Author.

Executive summary

This paper explores the role of women in military combat. The investigation hinges on the discrimination that women face in the military with regards to deployment in combat operations. The author discusses the methodology for defining the problem and identifies the key stakeholders of the project. The paper also highlights the effects that the research problem has on various stakeholders. Issues such as military readiness, tradition and career development are discussed in light of the research problem.

Next, the author discusses the involvement of women in military citing some challenges that they face. Subsequently, the author shares alternative plans to enhance the participation of women in combat. The strengths and weaknesses of the plan alternatives are also discussed. Also, the paper highlights the internal and external risks involved in a combat environment. The paper proposes possible budget considerations for the plan alternatives.

Importantly, the author outlines policy recommendations to address the challenge of women in the military. The section includes the policy rationale and the timelines for its implementation. Also, the monitoring and evaluation aspect of the policy are discussed in addition to the placement of the same within the existing military operations overview.

Finally, the paper defines a clear communication plan for the public policy project. The plan outlines the objectives of the public policy and addresses the various audiences for the policy. Also, the author presents a persuasive message to the project audience. The next section outlines the short-term and long-term implementation plan for the policy. Also, the author prescribes an appropriate budget strategy and provides a rationale for the choice. Finally, the paper ends with a persuasive presentation on the success prospects of the policy proposal.

Introduction

For many years in the history of humanity, women have been regarded as the weaker sex. Particularly, this assumption has been perpetuated in the military and led to the omission of women in combat. Evidence from the First World War shows that women were mainly assigned secretarial duties and never saw combat. The contemporary society, however, has a different opinion with regards to women in combat. Women are now an integral part of most armies in the world.

Nonetheless, several are yet to come to terms with the idea that women can be as effective in combat as men and continue to confine them to clerical and other non-combat positions. The role of women in combat has therefore been a subject of debate and has elicited mixed reactions from different military stakeholders across the globe. This paper explores whether women have a role to play in direct military combat.

Problem Statement

Military work in various capacities demands unwavering desire and commitment to service. Everyone aspiring to join the military must, therefore, have at their core the call to selflessness and sense of duty because the work involves making sacrifices on behalf of the country. Without these traits then one's loyalty in service may be questionable. During enlistment processes, physical strength is an important prerequisite.

Further, soldiers must have the desired levels of mental stamina. In many armies, the choice of personnel for deployment hinges on the experience and proficiency of the soldiers. Mostly, gender is never a prequalifying condition for deployment. That notwithstanding, many armies deliberately ignore women combatants and consign them to administrative roles. Consequently, this work sought to determine whether female combatants should participate directly in the war front.

Methodology for Problem Identification

By its very nature problem identification and definition in research requires investigators to be specific and precise. This section highlights the methodologies adopted in the collection of information to define the problem.

Stakeholders: These are individuals or parties that are directly or indirectly linked to the military. They are key informants in the research because they have experiential knowledge of the military. Their insights and informed opinions are necessary for defining the problem.

Opinions and assumptions: The views and perspectives of the stakeholders and study participants are vital in making informed decisions. Their opinions hinge on their knowledge of the military and can be useful as a means of collecting data. Obtaining informed opinions from the key participants also helps save time.

Interviews with experts and reliable sources: There several exert interviews both online and in libraries that provide extensive discussion on the military. They will also be employed to gain relevant information about the research question.

Research: Finally, the paper will borrow ideas from the findings of various authors who have researched the place of women in the military. Furthermore, the use of secondary sources is useful in identifying the challenges and gaps of previous researchers.

Stakeholders and their Roles in the Success of the Plan

The main stakeholders in this investigation are military experts, authors of literature on military and family members of military combatants.

Military experts are vital to the study because they provide crucial information concerning the actual happenings in the combat zone. They will assist in the elucidation of the roles of women in combat and non-combat context. The insight from this endeavor will create the avenue for assessing the ability to perform in combat.

The authors on military issues will contribute to the study by providing relevant information on previous patterns in military roles. The sources of information will be predominantly secondary.

Family members will also participate in one-on-one interviews that will illuminate the personal experiences of their kin in the battlefront.

Determine the effect of the problem

Cons

Physical ability: From the standpoint of anatomy, men are generally suited for physical activities. Mostly, combat operations are fashioned to fit male combatants. Furthermore, the physical demands of training can only be met by males. Accordingly, female combat recruits may fail to meet the demands and may accrue injuries instead.

Military readiness: Combat regiments that have high numbers of women may have issues with military readiness because of pregnancies. Their anatomy and physiological fluctuations may undermine effectiveness and efficiency in combat. Therefore, they are not suitable for combat.

Traditions: In many cultures, men hold the position of family protector. Accordingly, men in combat situations may be distracted when they instinctively respond to protect the women. There is also the potential risk of sexual harassment against women in combat.

Pros

Ability vs. gender: Most women are deemed to be more fit and with more capacity to endure pain than men. Thus, the argument is that provided the personnel are well trained and equipped, they should participate in combat.

Military readiness: The general restrictions on female combatants deny commanders the opportunity to select the most competent personnel for combat. Devoid of the limitations, commanders would find it easy to marshal the best soldiers for combat.

Tradition: Today, most societies have changed their perceptions concerning the ability of women to perform in various capacities. Women have actively participated in fields that were hitherto considered masculine and excelled. The military combat should not be an exception.

Career advancements: Career advancement in the military requires one to accrue combat experience. Denying women active roles in combat undermines their potential to climb the military ladder.

Involvement of Women in Military Combat

An in-depth consideration of the physiological differences between the male and female physique reveals that women are disadvantaged. Mostly, combat situations require muscular strength and power of the upper body. The current disparities can, however, be ameliorated by the adoption of comprehensive physical training (PT) programs for female combatants. These fitness regimens should target the fitness requirements that are essential to combat roles. The existing overemphasis on aerobic conditioning as the main standard for the design and implementation of physical training guidelines undermines the ability of women to participate in physically demanding combat activities.

Plan Alternatives

Several alternative activities can adequately prepare female combatants for their roles. They include: (a) a combination of resistance and endurance training for a minimum of six months. This is ideal for women without prior training who hope to join the combat units; (b) a PT program that focuses on the progressive development of load carrying capacity; (c) concentration on the development of upper body stamina for the women; (d) heavy resistance conditioning with a maximum of 8 repetitions to enhance the development of muscle fiber and motor units; (e) an aerobic fitness improvement strategy that involves low-volume and high intensity exercises. This approach will ensure the protection of the upper body as well as prevent injuries to muscles.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Plan Alternatives

Strengths

The six-month duration of resistance conditioning would promote muscular contraction leading to increased strength, endurance and size of the skeletal muscle. These components are crucial for military combat. Further, progressive load carriage would develop strength in female soldiers and increase their capacity to carry arms and ammunition.

Besides, it will improve the aerobic fitness and development of upper body strength. Generally, the science behind the training ensures individual performance at the same time preparing women for the physical demands of the combat environment.

Weaknesses

Intensive resistance drills would most likely lead to muscle soreness and stress fractures. These injuries are common in the bones that bearing body weight such as legs and feet. Again, the physiological aspects such as body mass, aerobic endurance and strength tend to increase the energy consumption of undertaking the progressive load routines and predispose the trainees to injuries.

Associated Internal and External Risks Involved

Internal Risks

• The compulsion to protect women
• There is a notion that men in combat situations would be moved to protect women.
• Loss of Privacy for both Men and Women

There would be difficulty in providing privacy for women in combat positions. Privacy is important because it prevents the close interactions between men and women that can instigate rape and...