LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Britain will open all combat roles to women - including elite units and special forces - in a landmark for gender equality in the military, the government said on Thursday.

“For the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender,” defense minister Gavin Williamson said in a statement.

Women already serve in combat roles for the armed forces of a few developed nations, including the United States, Canada and Israel.

Britain lifted a ban on women serving on the frontline in 2016, but some fighting roles stayed out of reach, the ministry said. Now all jobs, including the elite Royal Marines and the Special Air Service (SAS) would be up for grabs, it added.

“Opening all combat roles to women will not only make the armed forces a more modern employer, but will ensure we recruit the right person for the right role,” Williamson said.</s>The UK Defense Secretary has announced that combat roles in the military, including the special forces, will now be open to women.



Gavin Williamson made the historic declaration this week in which he also said that women already in the ranks of the British Army will be able to apply for frontline combat roles, including into the elite "Special Air Service" (SAS) and Royal Marines.



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"Women have led the way with exemplary service in the armed forces for over 100 years, working in a variety of specialist and vital roles," Mr. Williamson proclaimed.

"I am delighted that from today, for the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender. Opening all combat roles to women will not only make the armed forces a more modern employer but will ensure we recruit the right person for the right role," he added.

Despite the seemingly epochal news, London has however expressed that it doesn't expect the gender composition of the military to change much any time soon.

A statement from the UK's Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that "while the military does not necessarily expect large numbers of women to apply for ground close combat roles, the changes are aimed at creating opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds and making the most of their talents."

Women have served in the British military in a plethora of roles for several years, however, up until now they were not allowed to serve in "ground close combat." Former Prime Minister David Cameron lifted the ban in 2016 and said that the new policy would be gradually phased in.

The UK military has been experiencing massive cuts in funding and slides in the number of personnel across a variety of roles over the past few years, including frontline infantry soldiers.

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A National Audit Office (NAO) report in April 2018 found that the total number of full-time military personnel was about 8,200 people short of the standard level required. At the time the report gave a rather doom-and-gloom summarization that the shortfall constituted "the largest gap in a decade" in Britain's armed forces, including among full-time personnel in the army.

As a consequence, some will likely see the latest move by London to speed up the introduction of women into the forces as a possible quick fix attempt to make up for those shortages.

The issue has managed to stimulate a heated discussion on social media, with strong opinions coming thick and fast from both opponents and supporter of the new measure.</s>Women will be free to apply for any position in the Armed Forces, including elite special units such as the SAS as the military threw open all roles to both male and female soldiers.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced on Thursday that women will be free to apply for any position, including elite special forces units such as the SAS.

Speaking during a firepower demonstration on Salisbury Plain, Mr Williamson announced that women already serving in the Army are able to transfer into infantry roles from Thursday, while new female recruits will be able to apply for infantry roles in December of this year, with new recruits starting basic training in April 2019.

Mr Williamson, said: “Women have led the way with exemplary service in the armed forces for over 100 years, working in a variety of specialist and vital roles.

“So I am delighted that from today, for the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender.

“Opening all combat roles to women will not only make the armed forces a more modern employer but will ensure we recruit the right person for the right role."

Women have been able to serve in so called 'close combat' roles since 2016 when a ban was controversial lifted.</s>All roles in the military are now open to women, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced.

The historic day was marked at a land power demonstration on Salisbury Plain, involving some of the first women to join the Royal Armoured Corps.

Mr Williamson announced that, as of today, women already serving in the Army are able to transfer into infantry roles, including the Special Forces.

Those not currently serving will be able to apply for infantry roles in December of this year, with new recruits starting basic training in April 2019.

The Defence Secretary also confirmed that women are now able to apply join the Royal Marines, with selection starting before the end of this year.

Mr Williamson said: 'Women have led the way with exemplary service in the armed forces for over 100 years, working in a variety of specialist and vital roles.

'So I am delighted that from today, for the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender.

'Opening all combat roles to women will not only make the armed forces a more modern employer but will ensure we recruit the right person for the right role.'

Training courses will begin at Royal Marines Commando training centre in Lympstone in early 2019. While women have for many years given exemplary service, including in combat-facing roles, females were unable to serve in ground close combat roles until the ban was lifted in 2016.

The Royal Armoured Corps was the first ground close combat branch to open its doors in November 2016 to female soldiers and officers, followed by the RAF Regiment in September 2017.

Since November 2016 the Army has about 35 women either serving or being trained to join the Royal Armoured Corps, with a number of personnel already being deployed in their new role to Estonia and Oman.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'While the military does not necessarily expect large numbers of women to apply for ground close combat roles, the changes are aimed at creating opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds and making the most of their talents.

'By making all branches and trades of the military open to everyone, regardless of their gender, the armed forces are building on their reputation of being a leading equal opportunities employer.'</s>LONDON, Oct 25 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Britain will open all combat roles to women - including elite units and special forces - in a landmark for gender equality in the military, the government said on Thursday.

"For the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender," defence minister Gavin Williamson said in a statement.

Women already serve in combat roles for the armed forces of a few developed nations, including the United States, Canada and Israel.

Britain lifted a ban on women serving on the frontline in 2016, but some fighting roles stayed out of reach, the ministry said. Now all jobs, including the elite Royal Marines and the Special Air Service (SAS) would be up for grabs, it added.

"Opening all combat roles to women will not only make the armed forces a more modern employer, but will ensure we recruit the right person for the right role," Williamson said. (Reporting by Umberto Bacchi @UmbertoBacchi, Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org)</s>All roles in the military are now open to women, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced.

The historic day was marked at a land power demonstration on Salisbury Plain, involving some of the first women to join the Royal Armoured Corps.

Mr Williamson announced that, as of today, women already serving in the Army are able to transfer into infantry roles, including the Special Forces.

Those not currently serving will be able to apply for infantry roles in December of this year, with new recruits starting basic training in April 2019.

The Defence Secretary also confirmed that women are now able to apply to join the Royal Marines, with selection starting before the end of this year.

Mr Williamson said: 'Women have led the way with exemplary service in the armed forces for over 100 years, working in a variety of specialist and vital roles.

'So I am delighted that from today, for the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender.

'Opening all combat roles to women will not only make the armed forces a more modern employer but will ensure we recruit the right person for the right role.'

Training courses will begin at Royal Marines Commando training centre in Lympstone in early 2019.

While women have for many years given exemplary service, including in combat-facing roles, females were unable to serve in ground close combat roles until the ban was lifted in 2016.

Tory MP Bob Stewart, 69, a former British Army officer who served in Northern Ireland and rose to become United Nations Commander during the Bosnian war, said the announcement is a 'great idea'.

He said he served with two women on the front line in Northern Ireland - but some of their male comrades were reluctant to let them be 'on point' - when they lead an expedition and take the most exposed position - in case they hit a landmine and were killed.

He said: 'I think it is a great idea - if women can do it, so be it. I had two female soldiers in my company in Northern Ireland in 1982 and 1983 all the time.

'They went on patrol with us. They looked like us, they were like us. But sometimes the men did not like them to be on point, because they didn't like the idea they might be hurt.'

Asked if he thinks male soldiers today have changed their attitude, he added: 'I think they have largely got over that. But we still have some of that with us. Thank God that we still have some of that in us - that women are special.

'Yes they are equal and can do the job, but many men consider women are on a higher level than men.

'I think women are equal, absolutely 100 per cent, but they have a special place in society.'

Tory MP Julian Lewis, chairman of the defence select committee, said: 'We must never forget that some of the most courageous fighters in WW2 were the Special Operations Executive women who were dropped into Occupied Europe on the most perilous of missions.

'They undertook this work in full knowledge that they were unprotected by the Geneva Convention and faced torture and execution if captured.

'Women who volunteer for the Armed Forces and who meet the physical standards required should certainly be allowed to serve.'

Labour MP Ruth Smeeth, who sits on the defence select committee, said it is a 'welcome move but not the end of the journey'.

She said: 'I think this is a very very welcome action by the Ministry of Defence, although I don't understand why we had to wait so long in order to do it.

'But now it is about making sure this is more than just a change in policy - that we are putting the right support behind it so that everybody can apply for whatever job they are best suited for.'

The Royal Armoured Corps was the first ground close combat branch to open its doors in November 2016 to female soldiers and officers, followed by the RAF Regiment in September 2017.

Since November 2016 the Army has about 35 women either serving or being trained to join the Royal Armoured Corps, with a number of personnel already being deployed in their new role to Estonia and Oman.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'While the military does not necessarily expect large numbers of women to apply for ground close combat roles, the changes are aimed at creating opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds and making the most of their talents.

'By making all branches and trades of the military open to everyone, regardless of their gender, the armed forces are building on their reputation of being a leading equal opportunities employer.'</s>UK says women can serve in combat roles in army, marines

LONDON (AP) — Women can now serve in all roles in Britain's military, including front-line combat units and the special forces.

Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson announced the change Thursday, saying "the idea that we are excluding half the population from some of these most vital roles potentially holds our armed forces back."

British women already serve as fighter pilots, sailors and submariners, but were long barred from army units whose primary role is close-quarters combat. The ban was lifted in 2016, and the change has been made in stages. The Armored Corps admitted women in 2016, followed by the RAF Regiment in 2017.

Williamson said women can now apply for all army units and the previously all-male Royal Marines.

Countries including the U.S., Canada, Australia and Israel already allow women in combat roles.</s>
• The British military has paved the way for women to join its Special Air Services, or SAS, according to a BBC report.
• The SAS is one of the world’s most elite special forces branches.
• The British military has been phasing women into combat roles since 2016. Now, they can join the Royal Marines and infantry, which will allow them to apply for special forces units.

The British SAS, one of the world’s most elite special operations communities, is now open to women, the Ministry of Defence announced Thursday.

Britain has slowly been phasing women into more combat-oriented roles since 2016, according to the BBC. Now, female soldiers can join the Royal Marines and the infantry, which opens the door for them to eventually apply for special forces.

In a twitter post, British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said he was “delighted” to announce what he called a “truly defining moment.”

“Our Armed Forces will now be determined by ability alone and not gender,” he tweeted.</s>Women will be allowed to join UK Special Forces for the first time, removing the final barrier to women in Britain's armed forces.

Gavin Williamson has announced that all roles will now be open to both genders in the SAS and SBS.

Speaking at a military training exercise on Salisbury Plain, the defence secretary said: "Women have led the way with exemplary service in the armed forces for over 100 years, working in a variety of specialist and vital roles.

"So I am delighted that from today, for the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender."

Although women have served alongside special forces for many years, in support roles such as intelligence and as medics, they will now be able to apply for selection in the same way their male colleagues do.

It is understood that women already hold positions in the Special Reconnaissance Regiment but not the better known SAS and SBS.

There will be no change in the elite selection process, known as one of the toughest in the world. It includes a series of timed marches, carrying heavy loads across mountainous and rough terrain in the Brecon Beacons.

In 2016, then prime minister David Cameron announced that the ban on women serving in combat roles would be lifted.

That opened up infantry, cavalry and the armoured corps. The first female tank commanders have now qualified.

Tank gunner Lance Corporal Kat Dixon said: "I fit in, I get on with everyone, I don't feel like I'm that different. I haven't noticed any massive changes.

"You just get on with it, don't think about how many women have done it before and just try your best."

When asked if she felt under more pressure to prove herself because she is a woman, she replied: "Everyone has to prove themselves in the British Army - it's not something just anyone can do."

From Thursday, women who are already serving in the military will be allowed to apply to transfer to infantry roles. Women not yet in the military will be able to join from January 2019.

There had been concern that women would not have the physical ability to match their male peers, and that it would complicate situations to have men and women living in close quarters in combat situations.

But those fears were dismissed in a review overseen by the current Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, and the ban was lifted.

It brings Britain in line with other nations including the US, Israel and Australia.

Although this latest move will be welcomed by many, the number of women in senior military positions is still very low.

As of October 2017 women represented only 10.3% of the regular military - that equates to just over 15,000 females.

The figures are even worse among senior ranks: just 3.6% of the most senior roles are occupied by women.

In his final interview before leaving the job, the previous head of the British armed forces told Sky News that more must be done.

"I want to say, loud and clear, that we need to do better at the advancement of women in the ranks of the armed forces," Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach said.

"We need to do better in ensuring that women feature in the more senior ranks in the armed forces, and that is happening, and I can easily see a future where one day my role is occupied by a woman.

"We need to accept that, embrace it, and get on with it."</s>The British SAS, one of the world's most elite special operations communities, is now open to women, the Ministry of Defence announced Thursday.

Britain has slowly been phasing women into more combat-oriented roles since 2016, according to the BBC. Now, female soldiers can join the Royal Marines and the infantry, which opens the door for them to eventually apply for special forces.

In a twitter post, British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said he was "delighted" to announce what he called a "truly defining moment."

"Our Armed Forces will now be determined by ability alone and not gender," he tweeted.
The United Kingdom opens all combat roles in the British Armed Forces, including special forces, to women for the first time.