Women in combat at Barksdale Air Force base
By: Stephanie Claytor
Updated: January 25, 2013
The military continues to reform its policies, after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta removed a 20-year-ban on women serving in combat roles.
It won't have a major effect on operations at Barksdale Air Force Base. 99 percent of Air Force positions were already open to women. 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of women being able to serve as combat pilots.
According to Maj. Sharon Branick, Public Affairs Officer for the 2nd Bomb Wing, the Air Force only has seven special operations positions left to make available to women. These career fields account for more than three thousand jobs.
"I won't say that I was surprised," said Maj. Branick. "This is the United States military. We desegregated the military, we integrated women in. Again, I think it's a continuation of what we do to make sure that we have the best and most qualified people to accomplish our mission."
152 women have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, while serving in our nation's military. Another 1,000 women have been wounded in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The change in policy is expected to open 230,000 front-line positions to women.
