The Rand Corporation has completed a study on women in combat. Besides the press release at the above mentioned link, the story was also picked up by Stars and Stripes Lisa Burgess. Is there anything new here you didn't know?
The report was borne out of concern by Congress that women soldiers were fighting and dying in Iraq. Lisa Burgess writes:
As of July 21, 76 female U.S. servicemembers have died in Iraq, including 62 soldiers, according to Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington, a Pentagon spokesman.
In the age of Low intensity conflicts and the changes in warfare that are now present in Iraq, it is no secret that women are put into the same way of Harm as the men. The most notable of these positions that puts women in "these" positions? Female Truck drivers, and female military police members on Gun trucks. S&S also reports that the change in modularity has injected women into units that were traditionally closed.
At the heart of the report is whether the Army’s modular unit design, which has reshuffled the traditional structure of Army combat units, is violating the rules on women in combat. Many of the new team’s companies include women
At the end of the day though I suppose I should cut straight to the chase and ask the question; Does any of this matter?
For the time being, Withington said, Pentagon officials do "not anticipate any change in careers, assignments, or professional opportunities for women in the military as a consequence of this review.
Apparently not, but then again the Army always has been notorious for changing procedure slowly after many studies. I wonder when the Iraq studies will be complete?