Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter announced Thursday the decision to open all combat roles to women in the United States military.
The decision is said to be a rebuke to a recommendation from the Marine Corps that intended to keep certain jobs closed off to women. The branch is made of 93 percent males with a focus on infantry, and a basic training that is segregated by gender. Other U.S. military branches such as the Army, Navy and U.S. Special Operations Command had all recommended that all jobs be open to women.
"They'll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars, and lead infantry soldiers into combat," said Carter. "They'll be able to serve as Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALS, Marine Corps Infantry, Air Force Parajumpers, and everything else that was previously only open to men."
Secretary Carter said in his announcement that, because the military is a joint force, the decision must apply to all services. Though this resolution has many concerned, it should be noted that Congress has 30 days to review the decision. It also should be noted that women will have to go through the same training and meet the same standards in order to be qualified for such positions.
Former Marine Corps commandent Gen. Joseph E. Dunford Jr., and new chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, gave a statement concluding that he gave his advice and, upon the Secretary's decision, it's his responsibility to see it properly implemented. "Moving forward my focus is to lead the full integration of women in a manner that maintains our joint warfighting capability, ensures the health and welfare of our people, and optimizes how we leverage talent across the Joint Force," he said.
Earlier this year restrictions fell, allowing women to endure intense training needed to qualify in the Army's elite infantry as Army Rangers. Yet, for years women have been barred from many other combat positions. These kinds of restrictions prevent career advancement. And while women have experienced such combat roles in Iraq and Afghanistan, they have never received formal credit - until now.
“I didn’t lose my legs in a bar fight — of course women can serve in combat,” Representative Tammy Duckworth told The Washington Post. “This decision is long overdue.”
