Women in Combat

We’re working to expand opportunities for female service members.

More Resources

Fact Sheet | Restrictions on Assignments of Military Women: A Brief History

May 06, 2013

The general trend since the end of the Second World War has been expanding roles for women in the armed forces. This paper provides background information on the history and status of policy governing assignment of military women.

 Read more...

Fact Sheet | Military Women Should Be Allowed to Serve in All Units and Occupations for Which They Qualify

December 15, 2008

Service women have proven their value and valor under fire in our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is time to update the policies governing women’s military utilization so that they, as with the policies governing men’s utilization, are based on national security needs and women’s field-proven capabilities. This will allow current and future commanders the widest possible latitude to employ all their personnel as the mission dictates without artificial limitations.

 Read more...

Fact Sheet | DACOWITS Should Be Revitalized

December 14, 2008

For over 50 years, the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) served as a force for the successful integration of women into the military and steady expansion of women’s roles in our armed forces. In the Bush Administration, the Committee’s mission and responsibilities were downgraded. For the sake of overall readiness and effectiveness of our armed forces, DACOWITS should be restored as a meaningful advisory body with authority to independently advise the Secretary of Defense on issues concerning military women.

 Read more...

Reports & Toolkits | Recommendations of the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces Regarding Parents in Military Service

November 14, 1992

This paper describes military policy regarding treatment of single parents and dual-service families and discusses implications of the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces' recommendations to restrict participation of single parents and dual-military couples with children in the services.

 Read more...

Reports & Toolkits | Women in Combat

October 30, 1992

Serious attention has focused on women’s roles in the military since the end of the Persian Gulf War. As a result of women’s performance in Desert Storm, Congress repealed the law barring women from combat aircraft assignments and established a Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces to study whether additional positions should be opened to women. This paper outlines the law as it currently pertains to women’s assignability, provides arguments against and in favor of opening combat positions to qualified women, discusses the work of the Presidential Commission, and makes recommendations for changes to law and policy.

 Read more...