“Well over a decade” ago is very different than today.
In 2013, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta removed the military’s ban on women serving in combat, overturning the 1994 rule. Panetta’s decision gave the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believed any positions must remain closed to women. The services had until May 2013 to draw up a plan for opening all units to women and until the end of 2015 to actually implement it.
In December 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter stated that starting in 2016 all combat jobs would open to women.
“Well over a decade” ago is very different than today.
In 2013, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta removed the military’s ban on women serving in combat, overturning the 1994 rule. Panetta’s decision gave the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believed any positions must remain closed to women. The services had until May 2013 to draw up a plan for opening all units to women and until the end of 2015 to actually implement it.
In December 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter stated that starting in 2016 all combat jobs would open to women.