Panetta opens combat roles to women

[NYC Liberal]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senior defense officials say Pentagon chief Leon Panetta is removing the military's ban on women serving in combat, opening hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after more than a decade at war.

The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule banning women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units. Panetta's decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_WOMEN_IN_COMBAT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-23-15-14-12

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Finally!!

[Tx4obama]

2. Here is a link to a AP article

Panetta opens combat roles to women

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senior defense officials say Pentagon chief Leon Panetta is removing the military's ban on women serving in combat, opening hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after more than a decade at war.

The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule banning women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units. Panetta's decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_WOMEN_IN_COMBAT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-23-15-14-12

[TwilightGardener]

3. I thought this had been settled a couple months ago? Oh well, good on him (and Obama).

[NYC Liberal]

5. Updated! Thanks!

[onehandle]

4. First teh gays. Now teh gurls. This is who I think of, re: women in combat...

[katmondoo]

6. Not for me

I could never get past the first day of training. For those who volunteer OK if this is what you want.

[Recursion]

7. The distinction between "combat" and "non-combat" has been somewhat quaint for awhile

We used to "joke" about that in the sandbox.

Still, kind of a nice little parting "F You" to the Pentagon from Panetta, and it will be interesting to see where Hagel goes with this.

(I don't mean it's a bad idea, I mean the Pentagon hates it.)

[Xithras]

8. The distinction was stupid and pointless anyway.

The distinction between a "combat" and a "non-combat" position is only meaningful in a war with an actual front and rear. In modern warfare, where attacks can strike anywhere, it's tough to argue that any position is really outside of the combat zone.

If you can be shot at, it's a combat position.

[WooWooWoo]

12. the only difference now is the training

since men and women still have different PT standards, how are these units going to train together?

[actslikeacarrot]

22. I think the next step..

...is they are going to standardize the PT requirements across the board. Dont pass, get admin sepp'ed out after a certain amount of time to allow someone to get in regs again.

[jtuck004]

28. When they send purchasing agents on a mission to rescue hostages or take a forward enemy

position out, I will remember this post

[Xithras]

31. I was referring to mechanics, field translators, etc.

For example, there are currently combat patrols in Afghanistan where women join the men on patrol as translators and because Afghan culture makes it difficult for civilian women to communicate with male soldiers. These female soldiers carry firearms, wear armor, and walk the same patrols as men, but they are classified as translators or liasons, and not as combat soldiers. Same location, same duty, different title, lower pay.

Or look at the infamous story of Jessica Lynch's unit. She was part of a supply quartermasters unit, an allegedly "noncombat" unit that allowed women to serve. She still ended up shot and captured, which was still an admittedly better fate than her dead colleagues.

"Combat" and "noncombat" designations are largely pointless in modern warfare. Any soldier, on any base or vehicle, can find themselves in combat virtually anywhere. To deny women combat pay and promotions, when they are already dying alongside men, is equally pointless.

[pasto76]

32. all 40 of the females in my company are right now saying F you

they road and drove the same IED strewn miles as us male types.

Many of them were better soldiers than HALF the dickheads in my platoon. I could put a squad together from back then and order them to take "a forward enemy position" and have zero doubt they would succeed. You all need to stop worrying about how manly you dont already look and give it up. White male troops do NOT have a lock on combat. To even suggest so is to completely disrespect the many TENS OF THOUSANDS of females who have fought their way out of ambushes or defended the perimeter, in BOTH wars, for the past DECADE. get over it already.

wait, are you even IN the service? with the slim chance that you are, are you even IN a combat unit? I am.

[jtuck004]

34. My comment was to someone who said anyone who gets shot at is combat, and

that's just hyperbole.

There are lots of people in the service who are not combatants. But perhaps you feel a need to fight everyone.

Good luck.

Btw, I don't have to explain my previous service to you or anyone else.

[jtuck004]

36. I just figured out, you thought I was talking about women.

The purchasing agent I was talking about is, and this may come as a shock to you, a guy.

[Earth_First]

9. You know what would be better? Ending combat. n/t

[Stand and Fight]

10. BINGO!

I ought to be able to recommend your post alone!

[actslikeacarrot]

23. Agreed. N/T

[grantcart]

11. !!!!BANG!!!!

Strangest thing. I was watching a guy walk by with a "Smile Jesus Loves You" t shirt eating a Chicken Fil A sandwich and he was listening to the news on his I Phone and his head just popped.

Now I know why.

Gonna be a lot of heads exploding all over the place.

[Tx4obama]

13. UPDATE - more detailed info

The U.S. military is ending its policy of excluding women from combat and will open combat jobs and direct combat units to female troops, CNN has learned. Multiple officials confirm to CNN that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will make the announcement tomorrow and notify Congress of the planned change in policy.

“We will eliminate the policy of ‘no women in units that are tasked with direct combat,’” a senior defense official says.

But the officials caution that “not every position will open all at once on Thursday.” Once the policy is changed, the Department of Defense will enter what is being called an “assessment phase,” in which each branch of service will examine all of its jobs and units not currently integrated and then produce a timetable in which it can integrate them.

-snip-

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/23/military-to-open-combat-jobs-to-women/

[Leslie Valley]

14. And now, as a final measure of equality

The opportunity to register for the draft should be made a requirement also.

I know the Pentagon hates it, but I'm all for reactivating the draft. The protests in the '60's were as much against the draft as they were against the war. Maybe if everybody had a stake in the game our government wouldn't be in as much of a hurry to deploy our troops all over the world.

Pay attention to Algeria and Mali.

[pasto76]

33. word. +1

that was how the current reserve system was designed by Generals Powell and Schwarzkopf. It was supposed to hurt the community by mobilizing the reserves to sustain a real war effort.

I am in fact, watching closely those two countries.

[adieu]

15. A better thing to do is

close combat roles for both men and women. Stop going to war altogether.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. HOLY SHIT!

That is major major major.

This should hopefully allow those women working the front but not "officially" combatants, to FINALLY get some combat pay!

[TwilightGardener]

17. Promotions--that's the big ticket item.

[actslikeacarrot]

21. If women want...

...to join the infantry, at least in the Marines, they might not get the promotion they are looking for. the 03xx field traditionally has had higher cutting scores than other jobs. Just ask any 0351 (assaultmen) haha. The real disproportionate promotions have been at the top of the officer ranks, as having combat experience or coming from the combat field is almost a requirement for a star.

[msanthrope]

24. Your concern is noted. Please feel free to share more of your concerns, and enjoy your stay. nt

[actslikeacarrot]

25. Ah, I see, your calling me a troll.

Well Here are the new cutting scores for Feb 13 for active duty Marine Corps. 0311(Rifleman)-1718 0331(Machinegunner)-1678 0341(Mortarmen)-1667 0351(Assaultman)-1709. These are the cutting scores you need to have to pick up E4 in the infantry. You dont get any points for deploying or being in combat, it's all time in service and MCI's. Now compare that to a 6216(fixed wing aircraft mechanic)-1592. Some non-infantry jobs have higher cutting scores, and some are even closed out! But that is why I said that the infantry TRADITIONALLY had higher cutting scores than most other jobs.

And before this gets even further, I have consistently been on the side of equality, and if a woman wants to join the infantry and can hack it, more power to her. Not sure why you are thinking I am a troll.

[msanthrope]

26. Bless your heart. I have accused you of nothing. I truly wish you would air more of your concerns,

and I want you to enjoy your stay.

Thank you for your service. Where are you currently stationed?

[actslikeacarrot]

27. I was a lurker...

...long before I signed up in 2008 and know when someone is calling someone a "concern troll." I also have been in the south long enough to know what "bless your heart" is really saying. I will kindly see my way out of this thread as this is either going to go nowhere fast or into a brick wall. Thank you for your time.

[actslikeacarrot]

20. Actually,,,

if your in country you get combat pay no matter if your a grunt patrolling everyday or an admin clerk on leatherneck. There was talk of making combat and imminent danger pay a "sliding scale" by how close you were to the enemy and for how long, but that will never change I think.

[bluestateguy]

18. Elaine Donnely and her fake think tank are going to shit in their pants

nt

[Javaman]

19. I knew this was happening for about 4 months...

I women here in my office, well her daughter in law is was to be shipped out to Afghanistan this month with her "all female" unit and were to be one of the first all female combat units.

She, to the delight of my co-worker is staying state side for further training in another field the Army deemed more important for her. She is sad that she's not going with her unit, but I'm sure she will get over it after a while.

[jtuck004]

29. Cool. Now all we need is a draft with no deferrments, and war will be finished. n/t

[2Design]

30. I want our ERA amendment - this was one of their biggest fear mongering - we need equal rights

[pasto76]

35. to throw cold water on some of the hysteria

"in the works"

"real soon now"

as in, a new camouflage pattern.

as in, a replacement for the M4.

Doesnt mean there will be significant movement on this issue in less than a geologic timeline. Im in rocket artillery. its not a physical job at all. almost no manual labor. no heavy lifting. The cabs of the launchers are pretty small...a female frame might be more comfortable in one than most males. wouldnt be a problem for 13M. 2016 is a long time away

[Purveyor]

37. Well then it is time that all women, once they turn 18 years of age, register for the Selective

Service I suppose.

[DollarBillHines]

38. I wonder about the emotional impact on guys when a woman gets shredded.

There must have been some extensive psychological research done.

Or not.

Artillery troops, maybe, but not close-in in my opinion.