U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday that the Pentagon would open all combat jobs to women, in a move that will radically alter the U.S. military. The decision overturns a longstanding rule and tradition that forbade women from taking part in active combat roles.
"There will be no exceptions. They'll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars and lead infantry soldiers into combat. They'll be able to serve as Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps infantry, Air Force parajumpers and everything else that was previously open only to men," Carter said, according to the New York Times.
The Defense Department is "taking another historic step forward" by opening up all positions to women, according to President Barack Obama. The president applauded the decision, and showed full support for the change in rules.
"As Commander in Chief, I know that this change, like others before it, will again make our military even stronger. Our armed forces will draw on an even wider pool of talent. Women who can meet the high standards required will have new opportunities to serve. I know that, under the leadership of Secretary Carter and Chairman Dunford, our men and women in uniform will implement this transition - as they have others - in a responsible manner that maintains military readiness and the unparalleled professionalism and strength of our armed forces," Obama said, according to The Washington Post.
The announcement follows the recent trend of rule changes in the U.S. military, including the decision to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," allowing LGBT Americans to serve openly in the military, as well as opening more positions in service to women.
"One of the qualities that makes America's armed forces the best in the world is that we draw on the talents and skills of our people. When we desegregated our military, it became stronger. In recent years, we ended 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and allowed gay and lesbian Americans to serve openly - and it's made our military stronger. Over recent decades, we've opened about 90 percent of military positions to women who time and again have proven that they, too, are qualified, ready and up to the task. In the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, our courageous women in uniform have served with honor, on the front lines - and some have given their very lives," Obama said in a statement after Carter's announcement, according to NPR.
"I have had the opportunity to provide my advice on the issue of full integration of women into the armed forces. In the wake of the secretary's decision, my responsibility is to ensure his decision is properly implemented," said Gen. Joseph E. Dunford Jr., the former commandant of the Marine Corps and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to the New York Times.
Earlier this year, the Marines had said that integrating women in active combat roles could reduce fighting ability and had requested an exemption for infantry and armor positions.
