{"id":731,"date":"2025-11-14T18:33:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T18:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riseofmilitarywomen.vt.domains\/?p=731"},"modified":"2025-11-14T18:34:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T18:34:05","slug":"lifted-ban-on-women-in-combat-combat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riseofmilitarywomen.vt.domains\/index.php\/lifted-ban-on-women-in-combat-combat\/","title":{"rendered":"Lifted Ban on Women in Combat (Combat Exclusion Policy)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
(2013)_Lifted Ban on Women in Combat.docx<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2013:<\/strong> On January 24, 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey rescinded this policy following a unanimous recommendation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015. <\/strong>On December 3, after a review period, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announced that all combat jobs would be opened to women with no exceptions, effective January 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primary Legal Documents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dempsey, M. E. (2013, January 9). Women in Service Implementation Plan<\/em> [Memorandum]. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panetta, L. E., & Dempsey, M. E. (2013, January 24). Memorandum for secretaries of the military departments acting under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness: Elimination of the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule<\/em>. Department of Defense. https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congressional Documents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Congressional Research Service Reports<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kamarck, K. N. (2015, July 14). Women in combat: Issues for Congress<\/em> (Report No. R42075). Congressional Research Service. https:\/\/sgp.fas.org\/crs\/natsec\/R42075.pdf<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2015, July). Military personnel: DOD is expanding combat service opportunities for women, but should monitor long-term integration progress. https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/680\/671963.pdf<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congressional Reports and Hearings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Congress. House of Representatives. (2014). To amend the Federal charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to reflect the service of women in the armed forces of the United States<\/em> (H. Rept. 113-620). U.S. Government Printing Office. https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/congressional-report\/113th-congress\/house-report\/620\/1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Department of Defense. (2012, February). Report to Congress on the review of laws, policies and regulations restricting the service of female members in the U.S. Armed Forces<\/em>. Department of Defense. https:\/\/cmrlink.org\/data\/sites\/85\/CMRDocuments\/DoD2012ReportreWIC.pdf<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic and Scholarly Sources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Books<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bristol, D. W., Jr., & Stur, H. M. (Eds.). (2017). Integrating the US military: Race, gender, and sexual orientation since World War II<\/em>. Johns Hopkins University Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goodman, R. T. (2018). Gender for the warfare state: Literature of women in combat<\/em>. Routledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenburg, J. (2024). At war with women: Military humanitarianism and imperial feminism in an era of permanent war<\/em>. Cornell University Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scholarly Articles on Women in Combat Integration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Belkin, A., Ender, M. G., Frank, N., Furia, S. R., Lucas, G. R., Packard, G., Schultz, T. S., Segal, D. R., & Segal, M. W. (2012). One year out: An assessment of DADT repeal’s impact on military readiness<\/em>. Palm Center, University of California, Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collins, J. M., & Taber, N. (2017). Public discourse about women in combat. Armed Forces & Society, 45<\/em>(2), 174-199. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0095327X17715650<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friedl, K. E. (2005). Biomedical research on health and performance of military women: Accomplishments of the Defense Women’s Health Research Program (DWHRP). Journal of Women’s Health, 14<\/em>(9), 764-802. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1089\/jwh.2005.14.764<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goodell, M. B. (2010). Physical-strength rationales for de jure exclusion of women from military combat positions. Seattle University Law Review, 34<\/em>(1), 17-76. https:\/\/digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1960&context=sulr<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harig, C., K\u00fchn, F. P., & Pietz, T. (2022). Local engagement and U.S. military attitudes toward gender integration: Evidence from Afghanistan. International Peacekeeping, 29<\/em>(5), 631-658. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13523260.2024.2391261<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

King, A. C. (2013). Women in combat. RUSI Journal, 158<\/em>(1), 4-11. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/03071847.2013.774634<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

King, A. C. (2015). Women warriors: Female accession to ground combat. Armed Forces & Society, 41<\/em>(4), 379-387. https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/48609193<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McGraw, K., Koehlmoos, T. P., & Ritchie, E. C. (2016). Women in combat: Framing the issues of health and health research for America’s servicewomen. Military Medicine, 181<\/em>(1 Suppl.), 7-11. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7205\/MILMED-D-15-00223<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ritchie, E. C., Grammer, G., McGhee, L. L., & Weeks, W. B. (2016). Women in combat: Summary of findings and a way ahead. Military Medicine, 181<\/em>(1 Suppl.), 109-118. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7205\/MILMED-D-15-00409<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dyches, K. D., Friedl, K. D, Greeves, J. P., Keller, M. F., McClung, H. L., McGurk, M. S., Popp, K. L., & Teyhen, D. S. (2023). Physiology of health and performance: Enabling success of women in combat arms roles. Military Medicine, 188<\/em>(Suppl. 4), 19-31. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/milmed\/usac256<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brady, E., & Keller, M. F. (2023). Women in combat need a collaborative culture shift. Military Medicine, 188<\/em>(Suppl. 4), 3-8. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/milmed\/usac405<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical and Physiological Research<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Freidl, K. E., & Gifford, R. M. (2020). Integrating women into ground close combat roles: An opportunity to reflect on universal paradigms of arduous training. BMJ Military Health, 169<\/em>(2), 160-162. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjmilitary-2020-001568<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yanovich, R., Ketko, I., & Charkoudian, N. (2020). Sex differences in human thermoregulation: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1152\/physiol.00035.2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Journalistic and News Sources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Major News Coverage (2013)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bumiller, E. (2013, January 23). Pentagon removes ban on women in combat. The Washington Post<\/em>. https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/national-security\/pentagon-to-remove-ban-on-women-in-combat\/2013\/01\/23\/6cba86f6-659e-11e2-85f5-a8a9228e55e7_story.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooper, H., & Bumiller, E. (2013, January 24). Pentagon to allow women in combat. ABC News<\/em>. https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/women-combat-defense-secretary-leon-panetta-lifts-pentagon\/story?id=18295570<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parnes, A. (2013, January 24). Obama \u2018fully supports\u2019 decision to let women serve in combat roles. The Hill.com.<\/em> https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/defense\/140209-obama-fully-supports-decision-to-let-women-serve-in-combat-roles\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peralta, E. (2013, January 23). Panetta is lifting ban on women in combat roles. NPR<\/em>. https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetwo-way\/2013\/01\/23\/170093351\/panetta-is-lifting-ban-on-women-in-combat-roles<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wong, K. (2013, January 23). Pentagon move will send women into direct combat. The Washington Times<\/em>. https:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2013\/jan\/23\/us-allow-women-combat\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sisk, R., & Jordan, B. (2013, January 24). Panetta opens combat roles to women. Military.com<\/em>. https:\/\/www.military.com\/daily-news\/2013\/01\/23\/panetta-opens-combat-roles-to-women.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valor knows no gender’: Pentagon lifts ban on women in combat<\/em>. (2013, January 24). NBC News<\/em>. https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/valor-knows-no-gender-pentagon-lifts-ban-women-combat-flna1C8103334<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vergun, D. (2013, February 7). Secretary of Defense rescinds ‘Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule.’ Army News Service<\/em>. https:\/\/www.army.mil\/article\/94932\/secretary_of_defense_rescinds_direct_ground_combat_definition_and_assignment_rule<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Major News Coverage (2015)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bowman, T. (2015, December 3). Pentagon opens all combat positions to women. NPR<\/em>. https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2015\/12\/03\/458361180\/pentagon-opens-all-combat-positions-to-women<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lamothe, D. (2015, December 3). In historic decision, Pentagon chief opens all jobs in combat units to women. The Washington Post<\/em>. https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/checkpoint\/wp\/2015\/12\/03\/pentagon-chief-to-announce-how-womens-roles-in-the-military-will-expand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tobia, P. J. (2015, December 3). Defense secretary Carter opens all combat jobs to women. PBS NewsHour<\/em>. https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/nation\/watch-live-defense-secretary-carter-to-lift-ban-on-women-in-combat-jobs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

McMichael, W. H. (2015, December 3). Ashton Carter promises same standards for women in combat roles. The Washington Times<\/em>. https:\/\/m.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2015\/dec\/3\/ash-carter-promises-same-standards-for-women-in-co\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thompson, M. (2015, December 3). Women in combat: Why Pentagon chief overruled the Marines. TIME<\/em>. https:\/\/time.com\/4135583\/women-combat-marines-ash-carter\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analysis and Feature Articles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Copp, T. (2022, October 25). Ash Carter, defense chief who opened combat to women, dies. U.S. News & World Report<\/em>. https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/2022-10-25\/harvard-school-ash-carter-obama-defense-chief-dies-at-68<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eckstein, M. (2015, September 21). Timeline: Women in combat roles. USNI News<\/em>. https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2015\/09\/21\/timeline-women-in-combat-roles<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moore.E. (2020, March 31). Women in combat: Five-year status update. Center for a New American Security. https:\/\/www.cnas.org\/publications\/commentary\/women-in-combat-five-year-status-update<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pruitt, S. (2013, January 24). U.S. military lifts ban on women in combat. HISTORY<\/em>. https:\/\/www.history.com\/articles\/u-s-military-lifts-ban-on-women-in-combat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Servick, K. (2015). Feature: As U.S. moves to allow women in combat, researchers help set the bar. Science<\/em>. https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/feature-us-moves-allow-women-combat-researchers-help-set-bar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swick, A., & Moore, E. (2018, April 19). The (mostly) good news on women in combat. Center for a New American Security. https:\/\/www.cnas.org\/publications\/reports\/an-update-on-the-status-of-women-in-combat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government Archives and Digital Collections<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Presidential Statements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Obama, B. (2013, January 24). Statement by the President on the decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat [Press release]. The White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obama, B. (2015, December 3). Statement by the President on women in the U.S. military. [Press release]. The White House. https:\/\/obamawhitehouse.archives.gov\/the-press-office\/2015\/12\/03\/statement-president-women-us-military<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Defense Archives<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Department of Defense. (2013, January 24). Historic memo [Photograph]. https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/Multimedia\/Photos\/igphoto\/2001971581\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal Cases<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hegar v. Panetta<\/em>, No. 3:12-cv-06003 (N.D. Cal. filed Nov. 27, 2012).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advocacy Organizations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

American Civil Liberties Union. (2024, October 17). Combat exclusion policy for women. https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/issues\/womens-rights\/womens-rights-workplace\/combat-exclusion-policy-women<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Service Women’s Action Network. (2023). Women’s equality in military service. https:\/\/www.servicewomen.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Centers and Think Tanks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. (2025, July 14). Women in combat: Issues for Congress. https:\/\/giwps.georgetown.edu\/resource\/women-in-combat-issues-for-congress\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raphel, A. (2014. January 23). Women in the U.S. military and combat roles: Research roundup. The Journalist\u2019s Resouces. <\/em>https:\/\/journalistsresource.org\/criminal-justice\/women-military-research-roundup\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reference Sources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Combat exclusion policy. (2025). In Wikipedia<\/em>. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Combat_Exclusion_Policy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women in combat. (2025). In Wikipedia<\/em>. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Women_in_combat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women in combat. (2024). In EBSCO Research Starters<\/em>. https:\/\/www.ebsco.com\/research-starters\/women-s-studies-and-feminism\/women-combat<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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