Women+in+Combat

=Women in Combat=

This past weekend, the Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta announced that the Defense Department was removing the ban on placing women soldiers, airmen, marines, sailors, and coastguardsmen in combat positions. Women already make up 15% of the U.S. military and have seen and distinguished themselves in combat despite not being officially assigned to combat specific roles. For example- women couldn't until now serve in the infantry, in special forces, as fighter pilots... but now, assuming they meet other requirements, they can. A key rationale was to open greater advancement and promotion opportunities to women in the military and as such is seen as a great leap forward in equality. As reported in the __Plain Dealer__ on Sunday, many other nations already let women serve in direct combat roles: Israel, Britain, France, Germany, and New Zealand for example.

This is a controversial move that has many supporters and detractors. What do you think? What are the advantages of allowing women to serve in combat along their male comrades? What are some possible drawbacks?

This discussion will run until Monday, February 4th.