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| Pentagon to end ban on women in front-line combat | Pentagon to end ban on women in front-line combat |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has decided to lift the military's ban on women serving in combat, a senior Pentagon official has said. | US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has decided to lift the military's ban on women serving in combat, a senior Pentagon official has said. |
| The move could open hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and elite commando jobs to women. | The move could open hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and elite commando jobs to women. |
| It overturns a 1994 rule prohibiting women from being assigned to small ground-combat units. | It overturns a 1994 rule prohibiting women from being assigned to small ground-combat units. |
| But the military would have until 2016 to argue for any specific posts they think should remained closed to women. | But the military would have until 2016 to argue for any specific posts they think should remained closed to women. |
| The decision is expected to be formally announced on Thursday. | The decision is expected to be formally announced on Thursday. |
| Lawsuit | |
| The senior defence official told the BBC: "This policy change will initiate a process whereby the services will develop plans to implement this decision, which was made by the secretary of defense upon the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." | |
| Military chiefs will be asked to report back to Mr Panetta by 15 May on their initial plans to implement the new policy. | Military chiefs will be asked to report back to Mr Panetta by 15 May on their initial plans to implement the new policy. |
| Some jobs are expected to be opened to women this year, while others - including for special forces such as the Navy Seals and the Delta Force - could take longer. | Some jobs are expected to be opened to women this year, while others - including for special forces such as the Navy Seals and the Delta Force - could take longer. |
| This decision could open more than 230,000 combat roles to women, many in infantry units. | This decision could open more than 230,000 combat roles to women, many in infantry units. |
| Senate armed services committee chairman Carl Levin welcomed the decision. | |
| "I support it," he said. "It reflects the reality of 21st Century military operations." | |
| Restrictions were first eased a year ago, when the Pentagon opened up 14,500 roles, closer to the front line, which had previously been off limits to female personnel. | |
| In November, a group of four women in the military sued the defence department over the ban, arguing that it was unconstitutional. | In November, a group of four women in the military sued the defence department over the ban, arguing that it was unconstitutional. |
| One of the plaintiffs, Marine Corps Capt Zoe Bedell, said existing rules had blocked her advancement in the Marines. | One of the plaintiffs, Marine Corps Capt Zoe Bedell, said existing rules had blocked her advancement in the Marines. |
| During the Iraq and Afghan wars, US female military personnel have worked as medics, military police and intelligence officers, sometimes attached but not formally assigned to front-line units. | During the Iraq and Afghan wars, US female military personnel have worked as medics, military police and intelligence officers, sometimes attached but not formally assigned to front-line units. |
| As of 2012, more than 800 women were wounded in those wars, and at least 130 have died. | |
| Women comprise 14% of America's 1.4 million active military personnel. | Women comprise 14% of America's 1.4 million active military personnel. |