The Molly Pitcher Project
WWI & WWII limited, crisis driven roles
WWII (1942-1943) 5 separate women’s service corps established (400,000 women serve)
1948 WASIA Congress recognized women’s service and allowed women to serve in peacetime but capped service at 2% and restricted specialties and promotions, women are barred from combat ships, combat aircraft, all ground combat units
1967- Cap is lifted and promotion ceiling is removed
1972- Women enroll in ROTC programs
1976- Women accepted at all service academies
1978- Women who become pregnant or adopt are no longer discharged
1988- DOD establishes the "risk rule" to harmonize combat restrictions with the effect of opening new positions
1991- First Gulf War watershed event for combat restrictions
1992- Congress repeals combat aircraft and combat ship bans
1994- DOD establishes the Combat Exclusion Policy which prohibits women from assignment to direct ground combat units
2001- CEP hampers commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan who begin a game of semantics
2012- CEP reviewed and lessened but not removed
Coast Guard 100% open to women
Air Force 99%
Navy 94%
Army 70%
Marines 62%
Women comprise 15% of the military but only 7% of flag officer ranks
Class action law suit against the Department of the Army alleging gender based discrimination
Chief of Staff of the Army: General Odierno
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/02/army-dod-to-open-14000-army-jobs-women-021812w/
Crisis Driven Equality
Have you ever wondered why there are few to almost no women in the senior ranks of the military?
Can you imagine a General Diana Petraeus or an Admiral Michelle Mullen?
Where are we today?
Effects of the Combat Exclusion Policy
7% women in flag officer ranks
0 female service chiefs
0 female CJCS chiefs
0 female combatant commanders
0 female joint task force commanders
Women not trained appropriately for the jobs they are doing
Molly Pitcher Project