Sound Off: Should Women be Eligible for Special Operations Roles?

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1st Special Forces Group

The Pentagon lifted its ban on women entering military combat roles in 2012, but the effects of that decision are still rolling out. Each branch with combat-oriented positions must open those positions to women before 2016 or make a strong case why they shouldn't be required to do so. That means more than a few tough decisions for our Armed Forces.

The current controversy is centered on Special Operations. With the 2016 deadline looming, there isn’t much time left to make a decision. Recent polls suggest that there is a lot of opposition to women taking on special operations roles.

Andy Hamilton, who works with Dan Bland, force management director for U.S. Special Operations Command and has expertise on this issue, noted that women in special operations jobs had concerns, too, about the broader integration.

"They're concerned that this might result in the lowering of the standards in what are currently our male-only occupations, and that would then reflect on either them or on the women who come into those occupations," said Hamilton.

Do you think women should be allowed to enter Special Operations roles? Sound off!

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