Combat Ban On Women In Military Lifted: U.S. Military Woman Can Now Fight On The Front Lines

Women in the U.S. military can now fight on the front lines, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta declared Wednesday.

In what the Washington Post calls a "watershed policy shift," Panetta is expected to formally announce tomorrow that "the Army, Marines and other services will...develop plans to open jobs in ground combat units, such as the infantry, to women."

Over 167,000-or 14 percent- of enlisted U.S. soldiers are female, according to a 2011 report.

"Female veteran groups say that even though the number of women who would pursue combat jobs might be small," says the Washington Post, "having the option is a long overdue step that would bring the United States in line with several of its allies."

Indeed, several countries already allow female soldiers to fight in front line combat, according to an article published last year in Foreign Policy. Canada, France, Germany, and Australia are among the nations that allow women to fulfill "close combat roles."

Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the time was right for change.

"I support it," he said in a statement provided to the Washington Post. "It reflects the reality of 21^st century military operations."

First reactions to Wednesday's announcement were mixed. On social media, MSN reports that "some folks noted that although women can now have the privilege of getting shot on the front lines, they still have to fight for necessities like equal pay in the workplace."

According to the AP, some combat jobs could open up for women as early as this year, while "assessments for others, such as special operations forces, including Navy SEALS and the Army's Delta Force, may take longer."