英伦广角 巾帼不让须眉 英国女兵将受训上前线

 In the 21st century, there are few things that British women are stopped from doing. But certain roles on the front line have remained off limits. It’s not the same everywhere, even the Kurdish Peshmerga have both sexes fighting side by side in Iraq. But within a year, it could all change with women in the U.K. armed forces. Fitness expert Lucy Wyndham-Read was in the army her five years and thinks it’s about time. 

 

“I think women should have the same choice as men. And if it is their choice, they want to be on the frontline, and if they pass all the tests, then they should be allowed to be on the frontline. The majority of women do not have as much upper body strength as men. But we are talking about the average. There are some women that can be exceptionally fit, exceptionally strong, and they are trained for it. And then they are not the average, so they would have the capability¹. And in many cases actually they can be stronger than a lot of men.”

 

A review into the policy will conclude in the middle of next year. But the Prime Minister has asked the Ministry² of Defense³ to get ready to allow women to take on the roles.

 

“Some frontline jobs have been opened to women for the past two decades, for example as medics or in the artillery⁴ or the engineers. But what’s been proposed now would leave no role of limits including close combats.”

 

There are currently 15,550 women in the U.K. regular forces, that’s 10% of the total number. And it stands 94% of RAF roles are open to women, 78% in the Royal Navy and Marines, and just 71% of army posts. The changes will allow women to take on jobs in the Royal Marines, the infantry⁵, the household cavalry⁶ and the Royal armored corp. But not everyone with a military past is convinced it’s the right thing. 

 

“I still have some nervousness about women in the infantry and in the Royal Marines. Well, you know, they have to actually advance on the enemy, climb into a trench⁷ and fight and kill each other, not because there aren't some women who can do that but I think in general terms, when you are looking at averages, women only have one third less upper body strength.”

 

In the garrison⁸ town of Colchester in Essex, home to the military as far Barracks Roman times, the majority were in favor. 

 

“I think it’s a good idea, because I think it’s stupid that women can’t do the same thing as men.”

 

“I don’t think women should be brought on the frontline presently, because I think, then I think the men will try to look after the women rather than look after themselves. So it puts them in jeopardy⁹.”

 

Training is likely to start as early as the autumn. It’ll be one of the biggest shake-ups in British military history. But it seems for most the time seems right.

 

Emma Birchley, Sky News, Colchester.

1 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

5 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

6 cavalry   

n.骑兵；轻装甲部队

参考例句：

• We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。
• The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。

7 trench   

n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕

参考例句：

• The soldiers recaptured their trench.兵士夺回了战壕。
• The troops received orders to trench the outpost.部队接到命令在前哨周围筑壕加强防卫。

8 garrison   

n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防

参考例句：

• The troops came to the relief of the besieged garrison.军队来援救被围的守备军。
• The German was moving to stiffen up the garrison in Sicily.德军正在加强西西里守军之力量。

9 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。