Courtesy | Alex Montiel

Outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta lifted the 1994 ban on women serving in front line combat on Jan. 24.

This move will reconcile reality with policy, since women are very nearly working on the front lines as it is, according to Dave Peters, professor of political science.

Panetta’s action was reviewed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who unanimously agreed with the decision.

“What Panetta is really asking for is recognition of something that already exists … and [to] give [women] credit for the fact that they are giving much collateral support and insulary services and have been since 2001,” Peters said.

Discussions about lifting the ban are happening because of a convergence of war and ideals, Peters said. Women have already been fighting and dying in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and so in the interest of being open and equitable, Panetta and the Joint Chiefs of staff are asking for their justification, he said.

Ban lift will open up more military positions for women

“One of my priorities as Secretary of Defense has been to remove as many barriers as possible for talented and qualified people to be able to serve this country in uniform,” Panetta said.

It is estimated that women make up about 202,400 of the 1.4 million active military personnel in the United States, according to the Department of Defense. With the ban lifted, about 237,000 positions will be opened up for women.

Alexandra Montiel, a senior broadcast journalism major, said she believes that though the ban is lifted, the physical standards for qualification should still be held equal for both men and women. Montiel originally wanted to be in active duty, though she now wants to be a public affairs officer for the Army and is currently in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at Biola.

New policy makes it so all units meet the physical standards

Montiel explained that there would be consequences if the physical standards were lowered for women.

“If the Army lowers standards, they may not be able to complete missions,” she said.

Although her career path does not lead her to the frontlines, Montiel says she knows many qualified women who meet the standards and should be able to fight.

The new policy requires that all units are still prepared and ready and the physical standards remain the same, according to the Department of Defense news release.

“If members of the military meet the qualifications for the job — not reduced qualifications — then they should have the right to serve,” Panetta said.

Armed forces moves towards greater equality

Although Peters acknowledged that there are concerns about women being allowed in combat, he noted that future warfare will not necessarily be heavily reliant on physical capabilities.

“Warfare, as we have known it in the past, is not going to be. Any place there is war going on right now is generally terrorism and is not consistent trench [warfare] … it’s by treachery and strategic design,” he said.

The armed forces will still have until January 2016 to file for exemptions to the lifting of the ban for certain occupations. Whether or not females will be included in the Selective Service to be drafted has yet to be decided as well.

“We are moving into — and I think we will continue to do this — an era of greater equality and of equity for everyone. It’s recognition of women and the risk that they are subject to,” Peters said.