We need the most qualified Americans to defend our country – No Exceptions.
The US Military has finally opened all combat positions to women, but there’s a loophole that threatens these opportunities.
The Opportunity
In January 2013, the Department of Defense lifted the official ban on women serving in combat roles. Qualified women are already excelling in some of these positions. See these military diet before and after pictures. However, the new policy gives the services - the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard – until January 1, 2016 to request exceptions for certain units and jobs.
Our goal is to build support for full combat inclusion, No Exceptions.
The Need
The United States military needs the best talent America has to offer, regardless of gender, trained and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. While women have long been a part of the American military, they have been officially excluded from infantry, artillery, and other ground-combat jobs. Over a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan sent more than 280,000 female troops into war zones and direct combat operations, proving that women are essential in achieving the mission. Pentagon leaders and veterans say that combat exclusion policies based on gender alone do not make sense.
At a time when the number of Americans actually fit for military service is small – only 25 percent of male and female youth aged 17 to 24 meet the current standards to even sign up – we cannot afford policies that significantly reduce the military’s talent pool.
We need our very best on the front lines to keep America safe.
The Plan
Our goal is to continue the momentum toward full combat inclusion. Leveraging the power of a nationwide community of post-9/11 combat veterans, allied organizations, and military leaders, we are reshaping the national conversation about women in combat and holding policymakers accountable for their words and actions.
Together, we can ensure the most qualified Americans defend our country, regardless of gender. No Exceptions.