Service Academies

[Jeffm]

With the growth of women's NCAA wrestling, why hasn't the Service Academies added women's varsity wrestling programs?

 

 

[ceraIOI]

Army has a strong club women's program, and from what i've heard is looking to elevate it to varsity. don't know about the other academies personally.

[MoveCountermove]

Funding?

[CHROMEBIRD]

I'm sure that the logistics of adding a new varsity sport at the service academies and obtaining approval for funding, infrastructure, coaching staff, etc. must be a very quick and streamlined process.

Kidding aside, I think expanding women's wrestling at the service academies is a great idea. Maybe we'll see it once the sport gets a little more traction at the D1 level.

[kschlosser]

Given the historical support the ladies have received from the WCAP program I am surprised it hasn't happened already. Might have to wait three years to get more support from Washington and the Pentagon as that doesn't seem to fit the current priorities or agenda.

[alex1fly]

Hesgeth wants fewer women in the military. He's likely not going to fund extra curricular programs for them.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

7 minutes ago, alex1fly said:

Hesgeth wants fewer women in the military. He's likely not going to fund extra curricular programs for them.

Athletics are mandatory in the service academies.  I also think the current administration would probably like female soldiers to be tough and dedicated; wrestling  develops these qualities- or at least displays them.

[MPhillips]

Just now, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

  I also think the current administration would probably like female soldiers to be tough and dedicated;

But especially young and hot...

[ionel]

2 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

But especially young and hot...

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

2 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

But especially young and hot...

This is true.  "You're beautiful; too beautiful to wrestle."  (paraphrasing the president talking to Paulo Costa after his UFC win on Saturday)

[ionel]

8 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Athletics are mandatory in the service academies.  I also think the current administration would probably like female soldiers to be tough and dedicated; wrestling  develops these qualities- or at least displays them.

... and willing to take a shot.  

[alex1fly]

5 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Athletics are mandatory in the service academies.  I also think the current administration would probably like female soldiers to be tough and dedicated; wrestling  develops these qualities- or at least displays them.

Are you plugged in to the changes that have happened? They are pulling women out of combat roles, blocking promotion of women in the ranks, and considering an blanket ban of women as soldiers. I'm not saying this is right or wrong because I have zero experience running a combat institution, but it is happening.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

11 minutes ago, alex1fly said:

Are you plugged in to the changes that have happened? They are pulling women out of combat roles,

Do you know why this is being "reviewed?"

[Lordnelson]

And here I thought this thread was going to have value.

[alex1fly]

14 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Do you know why this is being "reviewed?"

Yes, that's why I shared the information?? I'm with you on wrestling being a part of combat readiness. But regarding the OP's question, it's likely that the numbers and the direction of the current DoD don't bear out the investment of time and energy needed to start new athletic programs. 

[wrestlingfan22]

23 hours ago, ceraIOI said:

Army has a strong club women's program, and from what i've heard is looking to elevate it to varsity. don't know about the other academies personally.

Navy has a very large women's club team- they did not compete in this years postseason however because of spring break conflicts

[Le duke]

1 hour ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Do you know why this is being "reviewed?"

 

Because Pete Hegseth failed a PT test and patrolling multiple times and has been mad about it for more than a decade?

[OMW]

3 hours ago, alex1fly said:

Hesgeth wants fewer women in the military. He's likely not going to fund extra curricular programs for them.

No, he wants fewer women in Combat Arms, not fewer in the military.

When physical requirements are altered/lowered to meet an agenda combat efficiency degrades which compromises a/the mission.

[Le duke]

1 minute ago, OMW said:

No, he wants fewer women in Combat Arms, not fewer in the military.

When physical requirements are altered/lowered to meet an agenda combat efficiency degrades which compromises a/the mission.

 

There are plenty of women who can meet the standard. Pete, who failed to meet the standard, incorrectly assumes that the standard must have been lowered for them to meet it. Pete is upset that many women are, simply, better than him.

[OMW]

52 minutes ago, Le duke said:

 

There are plenty of women who can meet the standard. Pete, who failed to meet the standard, incorrectly assumes that the standard must have been lowered for them to meet it. Pete is upset that many women are, simply, better than him.

I DGAF about Hegseth, that should be understood 1st.

My branch did a study - which I participated in - and the all-male infantry units performed better. It wasn't skewed or biased.

This isn't political. Despite the military/industrial complex making many politicians and former Flag zeroes rich, the military isn't a jobs or social program. Its purpose is to either deter the nations enemies or to defeat them in combat. That's it.

I have noticed your "tab" (maybe scrolled?). Ranger school has had some issues about what has been done to get females through. Perhaps it's been rectified?

There may be women that meet the standard. Most aren't 03s or 11x - and it should stay that way. 

[ionel]

1 hour ago, Le duke said:

 

There are plenty of women who can meet the standard. Pete, who failed to meet the standard, incorrectly assumes that the standard must have been lowered for them to meet it. Pete is upset that many women are, simply, better than him.

How many women have won the obstacle course?  

[Le duke]

2 minutes ago, ionel said:

How many women have won the obstacle course?  

What competition are you referring to?

[ionel]

2 minutes ago, Le duke said:

What competition are you referring to?

Boot camp or Marine obstacle course.  

[Simpleman424]

There is a physical and mental component to taking women out of combat MOS’s…let’s take the salty E-3/LCpl Underground mentality out of this and speak truthfully. Just because there are SOME genetically elite level women out there that could perform to meet the standard (we’re not even talking about excelling at - even less there) does not mean the standard was good to begin with. If anything there should be less males in combat roles too…

As for the mental component…there is a significant psychological difference in how men react to women being injured in traumatic situations vs another male. The battlefield is the LAST place you want to introduce hesitations or misplaced priority care.

Edited April 14 by Simpleman424

[One8alpha]

 

 

On 4/14/2026 at 5:39 PM, Simpleman424 said:

There is a physical and mental component to taking women out of combat MOS’s…let’s take the salty E-3/LCpl Underground mentality out of this and speak truthfully. Just because there are SOME genetically elite level women out there that could perform to meet the standard (we’re not even talking about excelling at - even less there) does not mean the standard was good to begin with. If anything there should be less males in combat roles too…

As for the mental component…there is a significant psychological difference in how men react to women being injured in traumatic situations vs another male. The battlefield is the LAST place you want to introduce hesitations or misplaced priority care.

Have you been in combat?

Edited April 17 by One8alpha