Pentagon Moves On Plans To Integrate Women In Combat

U.S. soldiers from the NATO-led coalition force relax beside a basketball court as night falls at the Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, June 29, 2007. REUTERS/ Finbarr O'Reilly

Pentagon Unveils Plans For Moving Women Into Combat Roles -- Reuters

(Reuters) - A top U.S. military official declared "the days of Rambo are over" as the Pentagon unveiled its plans on Tuesday for integrating women into combat infantry positions following 12 years of war in which they fought and died in Iraq and Afghanistan while barred from front-line fighting jobs.

The plans, which call for gender-neutral job requirements like scaling walls and lifting 55-pound (25-kg) tank ammunition, will require more years of study, education and training before some services open combat jobs to women.

"I think the key is setting it up for success and making sure that they have time to do it right," said Juliet Beyler, director of Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management at the Pentagon.

The move to open combat jobs to women follows a dozen years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, countries in which there were often no clearly defined front lines. More than 150 women have been killed in the wars, and nearly 1,000 wounded.

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More News On The Pentagon's Plans For Moving Women Into Combat Roles

Military plans to open more combat jobs to women by 2016 -- Washington Post
Military has schedule for women to move into combat jobs, including SEALs, other commandos -- Washington Post/AP
Elite Units in U.S. Military to Admit Women -- New York Times
Services to Reveal Plans to Integrate Women in Combat -- ABC News
Pentagon says women in all combat units by 2016 -- CNN
SEAL Team 6 could include women by 2016 under Pentagon plan -- Christian Science Monitor
Pentagon to Allow Women in Key Combat Roles by 2016 -- Voice of America
Hagel approves plan allowing women to join Navy SEALS, Army Rangers -- The Hill
Women in combat: Could special ops be the next stop? -- NBC
Women in Combat Marching Orders Issued -- Battleland/Time
Plans expected for integrating women into military's elite forces -- UPI
'The days of Rambo are over': Women will serve in the front lines of every combat unit by 2016 -- Daily Mail
Pentagon Moving Toward Women in Combat Weighs Setting Standards -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Marines won't let women in the infantry until at least 2015 -- Marine Times
Women In Special Ops Raises 'Genuine Concerns' -- Military.com
5 Ways Women in Combat Will Change Everything -- ABC News
Women in Combat: The Numbers Racket -- Mark Thompson, Battleland/Time