Defense chief Leon Panetta is scrapping the military's ban on women in combat roles, and he’s expected to make the official announcement today.
Military branches will have until May 15 to present their plans on how to implement it. Some of the positions could open this year. The branches have until 2016 to make their case that particular posts be off limits.
The Pentagon already has about 14,000 combat positions open to women, mostly in the Army, but a 1994 rule barred female troops from "smaller ground combat units." This decision will open up hundreds of thousands of posts in up-front combat and commando units.
