Pentagon lifting restrictions on women serving in frontline combat roles

[Commissar MercZ]

This could probably fit as a warfare subforum, but I think it is more current and intersects with a lot of other discussions beyond military. This is a developing story, having been announced by outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

Pentagon to remove ban on women in combat - The Washington Post

Spoiler:

Pentagon to remove ban on women in combat

By Ernesto Londoño,

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has decided to allow women to serve in combat roles, a watershed policy shift that follows years of calls for a fully inclusive military.

Panetta and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, are expected to formally announce the change on Thursday, Pentagon officials said. The Army, Marines and other services will then develop plans to open jobs in ground combat units, such as the infantry, to women.

The decision comes after a decade during which women have been pushed closer to the front lines than ever before. Panetta, who is expected to step down in coming days, has long said the Pentagon is exploring ways to open more career opportunities for women.

Female veteran groups say that even though the number of women who would pursue combat jobs might be small, having the option is a long overdue step that would bring the United States in line with several of its allies.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, issued a statement endorsing the move.

“I support it,” Levin said. “It reflects the reality of 21st century military operations.”

[Rikupsoni]

Why not go even further and have female quotas in frontline combat roles? So that the minority gender has to be represented atleast by 40 %. That's some gender equality progress, like the EU Commission wants to implement quotas on company leaderboards.

80-90 % of work-related deaths (not even including the military) happen to men, so there's some equality work to do.

[Pethegreat]

When will women be required to register for the selective service? Will the fitness standards for women be raised to match those of men because they will face the same dangers as men in combat? This a policy that is long overdue, but many questions will need to be addressed.

[Marirranya]

Originally Posted by Pethegreat

When will women be required to register for the selective service? Will the fitness standards for women be raised to match those of men because they will face the same dangers as men in combat? This a policy that is long overdue, but many questions will need to be addressed.

^ This.

I think PFT and other training standards should be the same for both men and women.

Raise the cap!