Now that the Army has started filling out its cadre of female officers in the infantry and armor branches, the road has been paved for enlisted women to take their shot at combat military occupational specialties in 2017.
Two female infantry officers are currently serving in the 82nd Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, according to an Army spokesman, and 10 more, who graduated in October from the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course, are working their way through subsequent training before reporting to their units this summer, Lt. Col. Randy Taylor told Army Times.
By March, the women from the first Armor Basic Officer Leader Course will arrive at their units, he added.
On the enlisted side, new female recruits who’ve signed up for infantry and armor are expected to complete their training early in the year and arrive in their first units in the summer.
And in February and March, the first enlisted women will report for 19D Cavalry Scout and 19K Armor Crewman training, respectively. Women who complete the course will be at their first units by July, Taylor said.
Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.
