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US removes military ban on women in combat

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey formally signed a memo on Jan. 24, 2013, to rescind a 1994 military ban on women serving in combat. The move opens hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after more than a decade at war.

The decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women. -AP

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Panetta: By opening up more opportunities for people to serve in uniform, we are making military stronger - live video

Sec. Panetta: If members meet qualifications, should have right to serve regardless of creed, color, gender, sexual orientation - live video

Sec. Panetta: General Dempsey and I are pleased to announce that we are eliminating the direct ground combat exclusion rule for women and we are moving forward with a plan to eliminate all unnecessary gender-based barriers to service - live video

Sec. Panetta: Female service members have faced the reality of combat, proven their willingness to fight and to die - live video

Sec. Panetta: It's clear to all of us that women are contributing in unprecedented ways to the military - live video