Until recently, women in the United States were only able to enlist in military support or intelligence positions and couldn’t physically serve in combat. In 2015, the U.S. Pentagon opened all combat jobs to women, and in 2016, the ban on women serving in close combat roles in the British military was lifted. (In other countries, like Israel, women have been allowed to serve in combat units for much longer). While many people believe that allowing women to serve in combat units is a positive step towards gender equality, there are concerns that it is inappropriate, if not dangerous.

Here are three reasons why women should be able to serve in combat units, and three reasons why they should stick to other military units.

Women Deserve a Chance in Combat

 The bar is high – for everyone

Just like men, women should be allowed to choose how they fight for their country based on their strengths. Joining a combat unit requires meeting high demands regardless of gender; if there are women who are able to meet the same training standards as men, they can only be an asset to their team. Having female troops in every combat role is crucial for intelligence gathering, because they’re naturally able to navigate cultural differences when interacting with local populations.

If the military is looking for the creme de la creme to serve in their units, then why give up on 51% of the candidates upfront?