Before officially stepping down from his position as Defense Secretary, Leon E. Panetta has lifted the ban on women in combat, a groundbreaking move that will give them the chance to be decorated and compensated as equal members of the armed forces.
Panetta, who is leaving his post after 18 months on the job, is sure to leave a lasting legacy with this bold decision. Even though in reality women are already on the front lines, this measure would dismember any further restrictions applied to females able to serve their country on the line of combat.
This elimination of such gender barrier would open up hundreds of thousands of jobs for women in the military services and allow the country to take yet another step forward in equality, one of President Obama’s strongest points throughout his time in Office and during his Inaugural address earlier this week.
