IN THE ever-moving field of equality between male and female, the government is now proposing to have female infantry soldiers.

Despite, personally, being a strong believer that men and women can do most tasks (and equally well), being an infantry soldier is one task women shouldn’t be doing for two good reasons.

Being an infantry soldier carries one very important requirement that women just don’t have. Physical strength.

A good example of this physical strength was well-illustrated in the Falklands War when Royal Marine and Parachute Regiment soldiers yomped (force marched) 56 miles in three days while carrying 80lb (36kg) loads on their backs.

Then there is the natural protect syndrome which is a part of the male psyche. It would be nigh on impossible for a male soldier not to feel protective to a female comrade during combat.

Close combat is an incredibly brutal part of warfare involving hand-to-hand fighting. Would female soldiers be capable of psyching themselves up to carry out such brutality? Personally I wouldn’t think so. Further moves to integrate women soldiers into infantry regiments must be abandoned. Equality can only go so far.

Philip Roe, Roman Avenue South, Stamford Bridge