All Military Combat Jobs Will Be Available To Women In 2016
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – All military combat jobs, including those on the front lines, will be open to women beginning next year.
The defense secretary said Thursday, it is part of his commitment to build a "force of the future." But not everyone shares his view.
American women in harm's way in nothing new, but this move by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter eliminates the final gender barriers that have held women in the military back.
"They'll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars, lead infantry soldiers into combat," Carter said. "They'll be able to serve as Army Rangers, Green Berets, Navy SEALs and Marine Corp. infantry, Air Force Parajumpers and everything else that was previously open only to men."
"As long as they qualify and meet the standards, women will now be able to contribute to our missions in ways they could not before," he said.
In making this move, Carter acknowledged the objections of the U.S. Marine Corp. that wanted exceptions for infantry, machine gunners, fire support and recon.
Secretary Carter decided, "There will be no exceptions."
KDKA-TV's John Shumway interviewed Pittsburghers to gauge the public's reaction.
"I think that's fair," one woman said. "If they can pass the same exact qualifications, I don't see why they shouldn't be able to do that."
"That's right, you gotta give them that chance," one man said. "That goes for either if a guy can't do it, get rid of him and try a girl, 'cause she'll probably do better than he did."
"If you can do everything the job requires, unless there is something physically wrong with you, yes, I believe it," a woman said.
"Everybody's equal, plain and simple," one man said.
"If they can qualify and do it as equal as men, I don't see a problem with it," another man said.
Secretary Carter has given all branches of the military 30 days to come up with a plan to institute the change, which will make the U.S. military genderblind.
"The important factor in making my decision is to have access to every American who can add strength to the joint force," he said.
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