Washington- Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Thursday that all US military combat jobs are to become open to women. This ends a decades long-ban on women serving on the front lines. He stated “there will be no exceptions.”
Carter has given military services until January 1st to come up with a timeline for implementing the change by April 1st.
This comes after a decision in 2013 by former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and General Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, signed an order at a Pentagon news conference rescinding the rule that prevented women from serving in direct combat jobs.
President Obama made a statement on opening combat jobs to women Thursday afternoon.
The US joins a number of countries who already allow women in front-line combat positions. These nations include Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Eritrea, Israel, and North Korea.
There are also several countries that allow women in military positions but have limitations. An example of this would be fighter pilots. These countries are Pakistan, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom.
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