Ban on women in combat ends

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The ban on women in combat is over. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta plans to make the groundbreaking announcement Thursday.

It opens hundreds of thousands of front-line positions for women after more than a decade at war. For the first time in the military, women can be equal to their male counterparts.

"This policy change is just catching up with what has already been going on for over a decade now," said Lt. Col. Cathy Van Bree, Spokeswoman for the Indiana National Guard.

Lt. Col. Van Bree has also served in Afghanistan as the operations officer for the 219th Area Support Group. She said this announcement is long overdue.

"To me personally, it just allows me as a person, as a female in the military to know that there are more options available to me," she said, "What this means is there is going to be over 200,000 positions for women now to fill in those combat roles."

According to Department of Defense, women make up more than 14 percent of the 1.4 million active military personnel. More than 280,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
         
"The reality of it is we no longer fight on a linear battle field anymore. Afghanistan has proven linear battle fields do not exist anymore in that arena as well as in Iraq," Lt. Van Bree said.

The Service Women's Action Network, a national nonpartisan civil rights group founded by women veterans said this news will have a positive affect on recruitment and retention efforts.

Lieutenant Colonel Van Bree agrees.

"I think it is a great option for them. If women want to do that, it's something that they can definitely broaden their horizons on. They can definitely broaden their career experience with. I think it’s a great opportunity for them," Lt. Col. Van Bree said. "I'm glad to know there are new options and more options for females now entering the military and now they have a broader spectrum to choose from."

Before this announcement, the Combat Exclusion Policy had barred women from serving in some 280,000 positions – any positions which prepare them for more advanced assignments later in their careers.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is scheduled to make a formal announcement Thursday.