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Subscribe to RSSDefense Secretary Leon Panetta's decision to lift the 20-year ban on women serving in combat will open some 237,000 combat-related positions to women. Initially, women will be assigned to combat communications, logistics and drivers. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has decided to clear the way for women to serve in many combat positions in the U.S. armed forces, a senior defense official told NBC News on Wednesday afternoon.
The Pentagon chief will announce on Thursday that he is eliminating the direct ground combat exclusion — the Department of Defense policy that excluded women from assignment to units below the brigade level if the unit would be engaged in direct combat.
This will allow women to be assigned to select positions in ground combat units at the battalion level, opening approximately 237,000 individual jobs to women across service branches, including 5,000 positions for female Marines in ground combat elements.
"I support it. It reflects the reality of 21st century military operations," said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in anticipation of the announcement.
"We are moving in the direction of women as infantry soldiers," one senior defense official said.
Longstanding opponents of lifting the ban on women in combat lambasted the move as a show of "political correctness."
"The point of the military is to protect our country," said Penny Nance, President and CEO of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, a conservative lobbying group. "Anything that distracts from that is detrimental. Our military cannot continue to choose social experimentation and political correctness over combat readiness. While this decision is not unexpected from this administration, it is still disappointing."
Panetta, who is expected to leave his position as Defense Secretary in February, will call on the military services to study whether it is possible to open all jobs to women, and the services must come back with their individual plans and recommendations by May 15, a senior defense official said. He will call for all changes to be in place, and women serving in the new roles by Jan. 1, 2016.
But a senior defense official who spoke to NBC News said they expect exceptions to remain. Elite Special Operations positions in Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, and Delta Force were likely to remain closed to women, the official said, while the Army is likely to open up jobs for female pilots in the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
Karim Sahib / AFP - Getty Images file
Female soldiers from the US 1st Cavalry on patrol in Baghdad's al-Jihad quarter in this Mar. 21, 2004, file photograph.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., called the decision "historic."
"In fact, it's important to remember that in recent wars that lacked any true front lines, thousands of women already spent their days in combat situations serving side-by-side with their fellow male servicemembers," said Murray, who heads the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
In November, a group of women in the military and the non-profit American Civil Liberties Union sued the Pentagon over the policy of excluding women from combat roles. Their complaint argued that they were already serving in combat roles, but not getting recognized for it.
So far, 152 women have died while deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and at least 958 have been wounded in action.
"This is really the implementation of a policy that has been a reality for women for years," one senior defense official said.
According to the most recent Defense numbers, there are 1.4 million active duty members of the military, and nearly 15 percent of them are women.
This new military-wide rule — distinct from a law — will replace the 1994 policy memo barring women in combat roles, which was signed by then-Secretary Les Aspin.
NBC News correspondent Kelly O'Donnell and NBC staff writer Kari Huus and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related:
Female veterans cheer new era: ‘It’s about time!’
Women in the infantry? Forget about it, says female Marine officer
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As a straight, married, combat veteran, and father of a female Soldier, I'm glad to see that the SECDEF is on top of these things. I guess that means that back in 2004 when my MP patrol was attacked, it was okay that our SAW gunner was a 19 year old female, who performed just fine, thank you very much. Now that she's an NCO, I'm sure she'll be happy to know that the job she was doing then is okay now.
Obviously a lot of ingorant folks out there, who are out-of-touch with what's been going on in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past decade. Continuing to use the same logic train that was originally used exclude African Americans from combat, and then gays and lesbians... all of whom have been serving for years without the military falling apart.
Kudos to you, Sir! AND, thank you and your daughter for serving. Females have been coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with terrible injuries but the American public/majority think it is only the men being mutilated and mammed. You are right, there are a lot of ignorant folks out there! They should try volunteering their time to the Wounded Warriors; makes me cry everytime but I also feel such pride and love them all for what they do! My father served during WWII, my husband as a DOC on subs, and now my son, also on subs ... with women now, and it is working out just fine!
The enemy should be aware that having PMS and a gun will make these women soldiers more dangerous than anyone they have yet encountered in a US military uniform!
Dangerous for us, not for their opposition.
You must have been raised by a wuss chick, Snoop M M.
AVI-IVA, I was raised knowing the theory of evolution and the differences between men and women are radical from the beginning of life through the end and the difference is not culturally conditioned.
Men are stronger, and travel father, are more visually perceptive and our military women will be raped once captured. You may called that wuss-chick, but it shows something dark and twisted in your psyche.
therory and pratical aplication are two different things you need to get a life and read history and you will find much more than that stupid book ever told you here are some things to read (if you are capable ) the night witches of the western front ,the kursk bulge and many more from that time and you will find that your narrow view of women on the battle field will change and if you are a true person of biology then you will know what happends to a woman understress her monthly will stop and her mussel mass will grow just like us men and untill people like you start reading history you will forever be in the dark have good day
brian panco, are you are moron? Seriously?
What you wrote doesn't even make sense. I do not have a narrow view of women. I have a biological view of women. I'm sorry you live in ignorance, but biology is biology. What you are doing is promoting your archaic social values instead of scientific facts.
And:
Is that even English. For your information, men have significantly more muscle mass than women. Men have significantly more testosterone than women. Men and women are biologically different. Go back to high school you ignorant person. Military men carry a 60+ lbs. backpacks. Good luck in women doing that.
You are such a slave to your social values, untrue social values, that facts mean nothing to your childish values.
I am in the light. I do know 200,000 years of human history. Get a clue, get some education and get prepared to lose some wars and have all your women soldiers raped, because that is what will happen. I notice you didn't address the rape issue. That probably because you have no response to the facts of what WILL happen and your like to rape.
So here's to you, Brian Paneo, rapist and ignoramus. The fool who believes that women and men aren't different when we all know they are. THEY ARE DIFFERENT SEXES.
Disaster! As they sing Kumbaya while surrendering.
Why not let women fight in combat. They've already approved girly men to fight.
Chicks are beyotches...let them shoot, too.
You are a Caveman.
Be careful what you ask for, girls...
They will find out its all fun and games till you get on the two way firing range.
Well, I asked to lift garbage, and, was allowed. I asked to read gas & electric meters on huge routes the men couldn't finish in one day, and, was allowed...and out worked my fellow Union dudes who hated me, AND, I asked to drive semi truck and was allowed...I can go on...but...the military had no need for me and my beyotchiness...all because I gotta uterus...
Let's see how this works out in the Marines, especially Force Recon & Scout Snipers. If women marines can pass all the requirements to join these units then I salute them. But having been in Force Recon, I have serious reservations but who knows I could be wrong??
During WWII, all best Russian snipers were women... I don't know why.
i hate to say it but you will be though out history women have fough side by side and our stupid western culture say women are to weak to fight BS just read the history and thank you Sergey i see somone else reads history the lowest shooting woman sniper of russia has all most three times the comfermed kills of any us sniper from all wars o wait shes just a woman get a life and learn to read history will repeat its self
"We are moving in the direction of women as infantry soldiers"
FWIW, Infantry is a dirty, sh*tty job. Not a place for a cu*t.
F You. I lifted garbage...I've outworked men on 'man' jobs...no reason I can't lift a weapon... men can control their nethers just as much as women are expected to as we keep getting the blame for the rapes.
I would have joined the military many times over when younger, had this ban not been in place. I figured, if I was going to join the military and be trained to kill people, then not allowed, all because of my uterus, I'd take my beyotch self elsewhere...I've done a garbage route back before the trucks did the lifting and I've read meters (gas & electric...out worked the Union men, how they hated me) and I've driven truck on routes all over the Midwest, but, for some reason, because I had a uterus, I couldn't do the job I wanted to do in the military...so... too late for this beyotch, but I've run into many many younger chicks who will be lethal behind a military weapon aimed at the enemy. Chicks got lots of hate in them...let them direct it at someone other than other chicks....
How is a female going to react in combat when fellow soldiers are being killed, or blown up, and bullets whizzing by their head? I have no doubt that some women are up to it, but many others I would be wary of their emotional state when all hell breaks loose. Next, a practical matter. If a 200+ lb. male soldier gets wounded, and there is only a female to respond, how will they lift and carry that soldier back to safety? If it's all about equality, how come women don't play in the NFL, or fight men in the MMA octagon? I don't think I'm being sexist, just raising practical concerns.
How would you react? You would do the job you were trained to do...team work under fire. Lotsa men are my size...and..I'm not talking immigrant men, either, who tend to be shorter than my average female height....
I know a lot of guys accepted into combat units that cannot move 200 pounds two feet, let alone carry a 200 pounds of arms and legs flopping around.
Congratulations on this milestone! I know some women who are just as tough in judging situations as men are. Some will use the current technical firepower and armor as well as men. As a case in point, in her day, my mother would have been tough in a combat situation with today's equipment.
Sad. The Holy Bible says that just before Jesus returns, there will be a great country where men will become as women and women will become as men.
Israel does not have a problem. The Caracal Battalion is a combat force made of 70% women.
They seem to be doing quite well.
i have worked with the israelies and many of the unit were women and not one of them fell below the men they did every thing exactly the same its not the gender of the soldier its the heart and pride of that individual
go bury you head in the sand spouting scripture on a wonderful day as this is stupid and many of gods warriors we women and i can tell you never read much history get a life
Frank A. Just where can I find this saying in the Bible? I'd like to read that.
Women have been fighting in wars for thousands of years.
This might be a good idea. The enemy on the battle field will see a lot of small type of bandages with blood on them, they be thinking they at least wounded some and are winning.
LOL....
Someday, the rich Republican chicken hawks might even allow their own children in combat - but don't hold your breath.
Most of our soldiers are Republican, moron.
Another canard from the left....take of 113th Congress in the House 65 republicans vs 23 Democrats are military veterans, in the Senate 12 Republicans versus 16 Democrats are veterans; the in whole Congress there are 77 Republicans versus 39 Democrats based on numbers your logic is flawed maybe its the other way around?
65/87
House of Reps & 12/28 Senators
Regardless the scenario, I hate war. I wouldnt wish the added stress upon anyone, let alone our nations troops.
the stock market value of companies that produce chastity belts have skyrocketed, i made a bundle, but i had inside information that this was to be announced over a week ago.
In the same vain as some other posts, if women are to serve in combat arms units they need to receive the same training from day one, same physical standards meet the same standard. Not all males are cut to be in a combat arms unit and are excluded if the fail to meet required standards. If they can meet the standard the have the same right to bleed as any other combat soldier!
Great..........now we will have to hear "I have PTSD" in addition to "I have PMS".
I've got PTSD from more than one of my none military jobs, and, I know lots of people wandering around with PTSD from childhood on because of the way their parents raised them....
If they want to sign up & go, let 'em. Since I retired out of the service in 2004 the issues of gays, women, etc. in the military is no longer my headache. Good luck to everyone still in.
I do not agree with joe, but women do belong behind the front line because of physical limitations. Sorry ladies!
I'm all for it, the women can use their used tampons as grenades on the enemy....
Considering that men are all such wusses at the sight or mention of a period, it would probably work.
Hey great, if you can pull the trigger and drop a terrorist good for you, if you can't, then back to the desk and shut your hole. You want equal rights, prove it chic's...There are certain people that can kill another and be as physical, we will see, they might get left behind as they can't keep up and do a very physical job!!
Good luck lady warriors
What a victory we can now how dual KIA families that get the same result at a single KIA family, just like dual incomes. That worked out great.
My God what a pathetic direction. Women PT standards standards are already well below men. So, let's develop a brigade of women infantry and put them on the front lines somewhere to test this garbage, and see how they do, instead of diminishing the lines of real male brigades. What PC crock.
IMO. this is less about MOS designations and more about paying those who have served in a combat zone thier "Imminent Danger Pay". Many women were denied IDP because of the exclusion though they did serve in a combat zone.