Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shake hands after signing a memo to lift the ban on women from serving in military combat roles during a news conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
US Military Opens Battlefield Positions to Women -- Voice of America
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has lifted the ban on women serving in military combat positions.
Panetta said woman have "proven their ability to serve in an expanding number of roles" in the military services, so the change will strengthen U.S. armed forces' ability to win wars.
Speaking at a Pentagon ceremony in remembrance of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Panetta said the U.S. military is more capable and more powerful "when we use all of the great diverse strengths of the American people.''
The new policy could open more than 230,000 battlefront posts to women in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
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More News On The Pentagon's Decision To Lift The Ban On Women From Serving In Combat
Statement on Women in Service: As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, Pentagon Press Briefing Room, Thursday, January 24, 2013 -- US Department of Defense
Defense Department Expands Women’s Combat Role -- US Department of Defense
Obama Praises DOD for Removing Women’s Combat Exclusion -- US Department of Defense
Dempsey: Allowing Women in Combat Strengthens Joint Force -- US Department of Defense
Military leaders lift ban on women in combat roles -- FOX News
Pentagon: All 237,000 combat-related jobs open to women -- Washington Times
Pentagon removes ban on women in combat -- Washington Post
Pentagon to move ‘expeditiously’ to lift ban on women in combat roles -- Washington Post
US military opens door to women in ground combat -- AFP
US military officially lifts ban on female soldiers serving in combat -- The Guardian
Defense chief Leon Panetta praises ‘courage’ of women soldiers as he lifts ban on them serving in combat -- New York Daily News
U.S. defense chief says women may serve in combat -- CNN
Panetta: 'Everyone Entitled To A Chance' At Combat -- NPR
'Valor knows no gender': Pentagon lifts ban on women in combat -- NBC
Women could serve in combat in Afghanistan -- Christian Science Monitor
Pentagon removes ban on women in combat -- Washington Post
Pentagon to move ‘expeditiously’ to lift ban on women in combat roles -- Washington Post
US military opens door to women in ground combat -- AFP
US military officially lifts ban on female soldiers serving in combat -- The Guardian
Defense chief Leon Panetta praises ‘courage’ of women soldiers as he lifts ban on them serving in combat -- New York Daily News
U.S. defense chief says women may serve in combat -- CNN
Panetta: 'Everyone Entitled To A Chance' At Combat -- NPR
'Valor knows no gender': Pentagon lifts ban on women in combat -- NBC
Women could serve in combat in Afghanistan -- Christian Science Monitor
Military Warned to Maintain Readiness as Women Move Toward Combat -- ABC News
Chairman Of Joint Chiefs: Lifting Combat Ban On Women Should Reduce Sex Attacks -- CBS
Panetta: Joint Chiefs unanimous on dropping ban on women in combat -- Stars and Stripes
Combat Ready: Photos of the women who've been moving closer and closer to the front lines for years. -- Foreign Policy
Pentagon to move ‘expeditiously’ to lift ban on women in combat roles -- Washington Post
US military opens door to women in ground combat -- AFP
US military officially lifts ban on female soldiers serving in combat -- The Guardian
Defense chief Leon Panetta praises ‘courage’ of women soldiers as he lifts ban on them serving in combat -- New York Daily News
U.S. defense chief says women may serve in combat -- CNN
Panetta: 'Everyone Entitled To A Chance' At Combat -- NPR
'Valor knows no gender': Pentagon lifts ban on women in combat -- NBC
Women could serve in combat in Afghanistan -- Christian Science Monitor
Military Warned to Maintain Readiness as Women Move Toward Combat -- ABC News
Chairman Of Joint Chiefs: Lifting Combat Ban On Women Should Reduce Sex Attacks -- CBS
Panetta: Joint Chiefs unanimous on dropping ban on women in combat -- Stars and Stripes
Combat Ready: Photos of the women who've been moving closer and closer to the front lines for years. -- Foreign Policy