Women in Combat Roles: The Changing of the Guard

 

RUSI Analysis, 28 Jan 2013  
By Joanne Mackowski, Researcher, Defence, Industries and Societies

With US women now being allowed to participate in combat roles, the US military can be applauded for its move towards gender equality. But its driving imperative must remain a commitment to military effectiveness, and to the lives of the men and women who serve.

Barely into the first week of President Obama's second term in office, and his Administration continued a march of change within the American military. On 24 January, Secretary of Defense Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dempsey signed away the ban against women in front-line combat roles within the US military....

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