Marines involved in an experiment evaluating gender-integrated infantry units say they feel betrayed by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus after he criticized the results of a nine-month study that found women are injured more frequently and shoot less accurately in combat scenarios.
“Our secretary of the Navy completely rolled the Marine Corps and the entire staff that was involved in putting this [experiment] in place under the bus,” said Sgt. Danielle Beck, a female anti-armor gunner with the task force, The Washington Post reported Monday.
On Friday, Mr. Mabus rejected the results of the report after a four-page summary was released Thursday. He argued many of the findings were based on generalizations and said he would continue to push the Marine Corps and the Navy to open all jobs to women.
Sgt. Joe Frommling, one of the Marines who acted as one of Sgt. Beck’s monitors for the experiment, said Mr. Mabus’ comments were particularly frustrating because he seemed to be undermining top military commanders.
“What Mabus said went completely against what the command was saying the whole time,” Sgt. Frommling said, The Post reported. “They said, ’Hey, no matter what your opinion is, go out there and give it your best and let the chips fall where they may.’
“All the work that the task force did, the rounds that we shot, didn’t mean anything if he had already made up his mind,” he added.
Capt. Patrick McNally, a spokeman for Mr. Mabus, said the secretary had no further comment on the report and said he “remains committed to opening combat fields to women,” The Post reported.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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