My paper

Gender integration in the military has always faced the question of social acceptance, whether society can accept how women will be treated and respected in the military. In 1944, the Department of Defense placed a policy (Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule) that prohibited woman from being assigned to a direct ground combat unit, below the brigade level. Even though, women make up approximately 15 percent, of the U.S Military and in the past decade, more than 280,000 women have deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In Jan 24 2013, combat MOS’s were officially opened to women, although women have been serving in branches such as military police, artillery and transportation. In all of these branches, women were required to be in the front lines and serve in leadership positions. Throughout the history of the military, our leadership has always sought ways in how to integrate without upsetting the general public if our females were captured as a POW, rape, discriminated or even (blown up in combat). Today we face female sexual assault within garrison and combat operations. Congress is left with the thought of how long has this been happening and why has the leadership looked the other way. My paper will discuss three situations pertaining to the first female submariner, fighter pilot and infantry graduate. I will end this paper with my personnel experience as a female senior NCO responsible for other female subordinates within my command and share some of their experiences while deployed in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Navy supports the rescission of 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment rule and is currently working on an implementation plan. This plan wil...

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...r left and right it’s a female or a male, you protect out for each other. Women I have served with are some of the best qualified to do their job. These women were providing convoy security, leading convoys in, to and through ground combat as well as patrolling main supply routes. Today, women are serving honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan on the front lines, and they are serving effectively well.

Now that the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule has been suspended, a new policy should be created that allows soldiers regardless of gender, on voluntary bases, to service in all combat specialties. This policy should focus on equivalent standard and the ability to meet those standards regardless of gender. The policy should also allow a soldier who meets the eligibility criteria to enlist, serve and be commissioned in all specialties and branches.