Women Sue the Pentagon for Combat Roles

      Women have never been allowed to serve in positions that the military has designated combat roles, such as Marine and Army Infantry, combat pilots, and artillery and armored units. It was only the in the early 1990's that they were allowed in "combat support" roles and were officially allowed in combat zones, and it was only within the last two years they were allowed to serve on submarines. Now four veteran servicewomen are suing the Pentagon for the right to be allowed into combat units. The case is centered around the idea that because advancement to the highest ranks of the military often requires that a candidate spend time in a combat unit, women are experiencing significant discrimination in opportunities for promotion to high level policy making positions.

      Opponents to the idea site problems such as the military's policy of different physical standards for women, the changes it could cause to the group dynamic of combat units, and the issues of men and women serving in close proximity in situations where privacy and accommodations are absent. The four women and their supporters are arguing that due to the dynamic nature of the battle zones the US is currently in women are already serving combat roles and are already at equal risk as men, as well as citing the success of other countries who have integrated their combat branches, such as Israel, Australia, and Sweden.  Regardless of the outcome, the case will play a huge role in determining the future of women in the armed forces.

-Conor Cappe (Image from http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/four-female-service-members-sue-over-pentagons-combat-exclusion-policy/2012/11/27/460cf994-38da-11e2-83f9-fb7ac9b29fad_story.html)