U.S. Military to Expand Combat Positions to Women

The U.S. military will be breaking down more gender barriers.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that the military will be expanding combat positions to women, Reuters reported Thursday.

"They'll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars, and lead infantry soldiers into combat," Carter said, noting that women applying for these jobs will have to meet the same physical standards as men according to TIME. "They'll be able to serve as Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps infantry, Air Force parajumpers and everything else that was previously open only to men."

Carter explained that in order to be fully committed to improving the U.S. force in today's world, it "requires drawing strength from the broadest pool." He added that women will be able to start applying to these added positions, which includes the infantry units, starting next year.

The military has 30 days to submit plans that will let women apply to all units or request a wavier. If the latter is chosen, the armed services would then have to prove, using real data, that women are incapable of serving in these units. Carter revealed that the Marines have asked for some exceptions, but they were not granted.

"We are a joint force," Carter said. "There will be no exceptions."

There are approximately 240,000 jobs in the military that only men can apply to.

Carter's announcement was not received well by everyone.

Republican representative Duncan Hunter from California, who is a member of the Armed Services Committee, said that the move will hurt military performance.

"No. 1, this is being done for political reason," the politician said reported by USA TODAY. "What is it going to do to our ability to be lethal at the small-unit level? It degrades that ability."

Critics also cited some studies that found that all male groups in the military were more effective than co-ed groups.

This latest gender-breaking plan comes three years after the Pentagon decided to get rid of a ban that prevented women soldiers from fighting in the frontlines.

"It's a thrilling day for women serving in the military-and for women across the country," said Nancy Duff Campbell of the National Women's Law Center. "Thousands of women will now have the opportunity to be all that they can be and our nation's military will be the stronger for it. Hip, hip, hooray!"

All plans will have to be in place by April 1.