“This is the right decision for our Army,” said Murphy. “The personal courage and selfless service made by women in our Army is no different than that exhibited by our men … we owe them the respect and honor to offer them the opportunity to succeed anywhere in our Army based upon only the merits of their performance.”
“Female cadets and officer candidates who meet the gender-neutral standard will be given the opportunity to request either infantry or armor branches” by spring, Milley said. He added that every active-duty infantry, armor, and field artillery battalion already has women soldiers.
“It is my professional judgement that some women can perform every single job in the United States Army to include infantry, armor and special forces,” Milley said. “Army leaders will continue to assess [integration] and we will adjust the process [so] our standards in combat readiness are maintained. You, the committee, have my word on this.”
On Oct. 16, 2015, the third female graduated from the Army’s Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. In November of last year, the Ranger School’s first fully integrated class got underway.
The Marine Corps began integrating all qualified Marines into previously closed MOSs in a “well-planned responsible manner” based on Corps’ research, Neller stated to lawmakers in his written statement submitted to the committee.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Elyse Ping Medvigy conducts a call-for-fire during an artillery shoot south of Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 22, 2014. Medvigy, a fire support officer assigned to the 4th Infantry Division’s Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, was the first female company fire support officer to serve in an infantry brigade combat team supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Whitney Houston
“We have already awarded additional MOSs to all Marines who earned it through primary MOS-producing schools,” he offered, “and two female second lieutenants are now undergoing MOS training at the field artillery officer basic course.”
At the time Carter made his announcement, a Pentagon document reported which combat positions would be open for military women. Fifty-two MOSs for enlisted and officers across all service branches now open to women includes 19 Army, 22 Marine, five Navy, and six Air Force jobs.
On Jan. 23, 2013, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made the announcement that the Defense Department will remove barriers that have prevented military women from serving in direct combat roles. The decision overturned restrictions that had been in place since the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule.
Supporting the Pentagon’s change in policy, President Barack Obama said Jan. 24 in a statement: “Today, by moving to open more military positions – including ground combat units – to women, our armed forces have taken another historic step toward harnessing the talents and skills of all our citizens. This milestone reflects the courageous and patriotic service of women through more than two centuries of American history and the indispensable role of women in today’s military.”
Air Force leaders were not in attendance for the hearing; however, comments reported in 2013 emphasized the service’s long-standing role of women combat aviators.
“2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the Department of Defense allowing women to serve as combat pilots,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III stated Jan. 25, 2013. “By rescinding the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, we can pursue integrating women into the … remaining Air Force career fields still closed, all associated with special operations. We’re focused on ensuring America’s Air Force remains capable and ready with the best-qualified people serving where we need them.”
Since 2001, more than 280,000 women have been deployed to war zones in Iraq and/or Afghanistan, according to the military.