Re: As promised:
I am a firm believer that women will make satisfactory combat soldiers as long as they want it for the right reason and can handle the PT. The record of women in law enforcement should be sufficient proof for anyone.
The major factor is not strength it is the atitude of the Brass on fraternization. They think that male/female behavior will effect battlefield discipline and turn male soldiers into rivals for female affection and/or female protectors.
The fraternization can't be prevented and it should be permitted within the limits of good discipline. I doubt that it would be near the problem that they imagine.