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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pentagon to end ban on women in front-line combat | Pentagon to end ban on women in front-line combat |
| (about 5 hours 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 frontline positions and elite commando jobs to women. | The move could open hundreds of thousands of frontline 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 remain closed to women. | |
| The decision is expected to be formally announced on Thursday. | The decision is expected to be formally announced on Thursday. |
| '21st-Century reality' | '21st-Century reality' |
| 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 defence upon the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." | 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 defence 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. | Senate armed services committee chairman Carl Levin welcomed the decision. |
| "I support it," he said. "It reflects the reality of 21st-Century military operations." | "I support it," he said. "It reflects the reality of 21st-Century military operations." |
| That was echoed by Major Mary Jennings Hegar, who served on three tours of Afghanistan with the US Air Force. | That was echoed by Major Mary Jennings Hegar, who served on three tours of Afghanistan with the US Air Force. |
| "It's not about whether or not we're allowing women into combat - women are in combat - it's about recognising their service," she told the BBC's Newsday programme. | "It's not about whether or not we're allowing women into combat - women are in combat - it's about recognising their service," she told the BBC's Newsday programme. |
| "I understand that stereotypically there are some physical differences but... there are a lot of men doing these jobs who are not built like Goliath. It's unfortunate that we have to hold women to a higher standard. | "I understand that stereotypically there are some physical differences but... there are a lot of men doing these jobs who are not built like Goliath. It's unfortunate that we have to hold women to a higher standard. |
| "If you're able to meet the standards, then your gender should not hold you back. It's simple black and white discrimination." | "If you're able to meet the standards, then your gender should not hold you back. It's simple black and white discrimination." |
| 'Enormous complications' | 'Enormous complications' |
| But Elaine Donnelly from the US Centre for Military Readiness told Newsday that the move was "most unfortunate". | But Elaine Donnelly from the US Centre for Military Readiness told Newsday that the move was "most unfortunate". |
| "It's certainly not going to be helpful to our women in the military, or our men. It will cause enormous complications in the infantry battalions - the small tip-of-the-spear units, the ones that fight the enemy with deliberate offensive action under fire. These units are all-male for very good reasons. | "It's certainly not going to be helpful to our women in the military, or our men. It will cause enormous complications in the infantry battalions - the small tip-of-the-spear units, the ones that fight the enemy with deliberate offensive action under fire. These units are all-male for very good reasons. |
| "The UK looked at this same issue some years ago and decided this was not a good idea, in 2002 and 2008. | "The UK looked at this same issue some years ago and decided this was not a good idea, in 2002 and 2008. |
| "Thirty years of studies, reports and actual experience... have shown that in direct ground combat units - the infantry - women do not have an equal opportunity to survive or to help fellow soldiers to survive. The physical aspects of it are only part of the reason." | "Thirty years of studies, reports and actual experience... have shown that in direct ground combat units - the infantry - women do not have an equal opportunity to survive or to help fellow soldiers to survive. The physical aspects of it are only part of the reason." |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |