Abstract:
|
In 2013, Secretary Panetta rescinded the Direct Combat Exclusion Rule enabling women to serve in infantry, artillery, armor, combat engineer, and special operation units of battalion size or smaller. The Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) authorized the formation of a Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force (GCEITF). The GCEITF trained female Marine volunteers in closed military occupational specialty (MOS) skills and integrated them into a combat arms unit. A dedicated research team observed the unit's physical performance in a simulated operational environment. This was the largest human subjects experiment ever conducted by the Marine Corps.
We collected and analyzed data on numerous metrics, including marching pace, shooting accuracy, time to complete tasks, injuries, individual workload and fatigue, and unit cohesion. CMC used the analysis of GCEITF data in his decision to ask for exception to policy on gender integration in combat arms. We present details and challenges associated with the complex experimental design, execution, data analysis and delivering the results, as well as select findings.
|