Former Afghanistan commander says standards could drop now women are permitted to join ground force

The Royal Air Force has opened up combat roles to women in a move that will be extended to all branches of the military despite the concerns of senior officers.

From Friday, the RAF’s ground force will be open for female applicants in the first test of the government’s decision to lift a ban on women serving in close combat roles.

Tobias Ellwood, the defence minister and former army captain, said it was proud moment in the RAF’s history. He tweeted:

Tobias Ellwood (@Tobias_Ellwood) LANDMARK CHANGE for RAF



Proud moment in RAF's history as all roles (incl ground close combat) are now open to womenhttps://t.co/nyZAtnpUK2 pic.twitter.com/fJA3BRHPBU

Announcing the move in July, the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said a diverse military would be more effective. “Individuals who are capable of meeting the standards for the regiment will be given the opportunity to serve, regardless of their gender. This is a defining moment for the RAF.”



There's more to feminism than women in combat roles | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett Read more

The main role of the 2,000-member RAF regiment, which sustained casualties in Afghanistan, is to patrol and protect RAF bases and airfields. Women currently make up 10% of the RAF.

Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, said he “vehemently” disagreed with allowing women to serve in the infantry, as is planned next year.



Speaking to BBC News, Kemp said he was concerned that women were more likely to suffer long-term injuries than men. This in turn could lead the military budget being hit by expensive compensation payments, he said.

“My concern is primarily in terms of physical capabilities and the effects that long-term stresses and strains of infantry training and operations will have on a woman’s body,” he said.



“Once you have got through the selection, you then are subjecting yourself to a minimum of four years of intensive physical training day in and day out, which puts enough of a strain on a man’s body.”



Kemp cited research that he claimed showed women sustained twice as many serious injuries as men in military training.

He said: “If you can imagine the stresses that is going to put on a woman’s body over four years minimum – and many cases much longer – we will have some pretty severe problems for women.

“We will then undoubtedly see very, very significant compensation payments being made out of the defence budget. The nature of a woman’s body means that some of the injuries are going to be more significant in terms of ability to bear children and the like.”



Kemp also claimed military training would become less arduous. “My other concern is that standards of training and selection will be dropped. The army deny they will do that, but I’m confident they will,” he said.

In an interview with BBC Essex, he pointed out that there were no mixed-gender national sports teams, adding: “The simple fact is we take sport more seriously today. We take the defence of our country and the lives of our servicemen and women less seriously.”

BBC Essex (@BBCEssex) "Men and women don't compete together in football, rugby or boxing." @COLRICHARDKEMP on close-combat roles for women in the RAF Regiment pic.twitter.com/3Hf8talhzx

The former head of the British army, Gen Lord Dannatt has also expressed doubts about the plan.

Maj Judith Webb said she shared concerns about the physical consequences for women serving on the frontline. But she added: “Women are capable of anything and everything. My concern has been about the longevity of women in these roles.”

She said the physical impact could be mitigated by separating military training by sex. “Being aware of our physical differences is an important aspect, but that is where I feel research has now been carried out. We want to promote diversity and get the best people, and if we have got women who want to do it and who are capable of doing it, then of course they should be able to do it.”