THE PENTAGON : Women in the Military

Defense Secretary Les Aspin has ordered military leaders to open a range of additional jobs to women, including sea and air combat positions. He also directed the services to evaluate allowing women to serve in ground combat roles. Aspin’s directive means females are now integrated more fully in all branches of the armed services, although a number of critical posts currently remain off limits. Here is a breakdown of the latest changes:

AMONG THE JOBS THAT WILL OPEN TO WOMEN NAVY Fast combat support ships Amphibious command ships Auxiliary command ships Aircraft squadrons Piloting positions:* Fighters, Combar helicopters (except when being used in mine warfare squadron looking for mines), Seahawk Search and Rescue/Anti-Submarine ARMY AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter, used for daytime operations AH-64 Apache high-performance, used for night operations attack helicopter OH-58D Scout reconnaissance helicopter AIR FORCE Fighter pilot Bomber pilot Rescue and recovery pilot Special operations pilot (fixed wing and helicopters) Bomber navigator Special operations navigator Fighter pilot staff positions MARINES Pilots and naval flight officers *

MAY OPEN TO WOMEN NAVY Combat vessels Ballistic missile submarines Aircraft carriers Cruisers Destroyers Frigates Attack submarines Amphibious ships ARMY Field artillery Some combat engineering posts Some intelligence posts near front lines AIR FORCE Combat controller Tactical command and control (on the ground, working with the Army to bring fighter aircraft in to bomb certain positions on the front lines) Pararescue MARINES None *

REMAINING OFF LIMITS NAVY None ARMY Direct ground combat Commando units Helicopter units providing direct combat support AIR FORCE None MARINES Infantry Field artillery Tanks and assault amphibious vehicles *

PERCENTAGE OF CAREER FIELDS FROM WHICH WOMEN REMAIN EXCLUDED NAVY 17% of enlisted fields 8% of officer fields Total percentage of women in the Navy compared to men Women: 10% Men: 90% ARMY 14% of enlisted fields 10% of warrant officer fields 3% of commissioned officer fields Total percentage of women in the Army compared to men Women: 12% Men: 88% AIR FORCE Less than 1% Total percentage of women in the Air Force compared to men Women: 15% Men: 85% MARINES 7% of enlisted and officer fields Total percentage of women in the Marines compared to men Women: 5% Men: 95% *

Total armed forces Women: 11.5% Men: 88.5% *

The change over 20 years (percentage of women in military) ‘72: 1.9 ‘77: 5.8 ‘82: 9.0 ‘87: 10.2 ‘92: 11.5 All figures as of autumn, 1992 * Women assigned as aviation officers in air wings also will be able to deploy aboard combat ships, including aircraft carriers Source: The Pentagon