Pentagon to open all combat jobs to women

“While the Marine Corps asked for a partial exception in infantry… we’re a joint force, and I’ve chose to make a decision that applies to the entire force”, Carter said.

Women had already seen combat during the USA wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but had continued to be excluded from certain positions labelled as combat roles.

He said he considered the Marine Corps’ request and believed its concerns could be addressed with careful implementation of the decision.

“There will be no exceptions”, Carter said.

“Moving forward”, Dunford said, “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”.

Currently, the United States military comprises some 1.34 million active-duty personnel, about 15.6 per cent of them women.

The US military will open up all positions, including frontline combat roles, to women, defence secretary Ashton Carter has announced in a sweeping move that ends centuries of men-only tradition.

Notably, the US policy will be even more inclusive than Israel’s, considered one of the most gender-friendly armed forces in the world. He outlined seven principles to guide military assignments in the integrated service branches, including that equal opportunity won’t mean “equal participation” and that the services recognize physical differences between women and men.

So long as an American serviceman or woman can meet the rigorous physical and training standards, he or she will be eligible to serve in all combat role – without exception. The lack of “absolute choice” for posts and assignments is part of being in the military, he says.

Update at 12:36 p.m. ET: Selective Service Registration For Women? Carter said that it might have some effect, but that this question is now a matter of legal dispute and in the process of litigation.

USA women soldiers will be able to drive tanks and fire mortars in the near future as the Pentagon opens combat missions to women starting in the new year. He said the integration will take place jointly, with all branches of the service included.

Carter did not directly respond to what flaws he found in Dunford’s analysis. The Marine Corps had released a study in September indicating that mixed-gender forces were less effective than all-male forces, but Carter said that study was “not definitive”.

Dunford did not attend the briefing, not did any other military chiefs.

“It’s a thrilling day for women serving in the military – and for women across the country”, Nancy Duff Campbell, co- president of the National Women’s Law Center, said in a statement. “You have to recruit from the American population”.

PBS NewsHour will live stream Secretary of Defense Ash Carter’s announcement at noon EST today from the Pentagon.

Though Carter’s announcement is historic, the policy change has been in the works for more than two years.

Carter acknowledged that issue not yet been resolved, but said it would be in the coming weeks.

The Army, Navy and Air Force, however, have always been edging toward women in tactical positions.

Some of the most high-profile evaluations were carried out by the Army that, for the first time, allowed women to try out for the elite Ranger School.

Carter said he considered the arguments of the Marine Corps, but, “I came to a different conclusion….”