Women in the U.S. Military and Combat, by the Numbers

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday removed the direct ground combat exclusion rule for women in the U.S. military. The White House called the move "another historic step toward harnessing the talents and skills of all our citizens." Panetta, after gaining unanimous approval from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also announced the removal of gender-based barriers to service.

Although relatively new in a department-wide policy shift, women have been in combat situations throughout our nation's history.

237,000: The number of positions in the U.S. military in which women cannot serve. NPR reports many combat positions are infantry roles in the U.S. Army. A smaller number of combat positions exist in the Marine Corps. All branches of the service have until May 15 to make plans for integration of women into combat roles. Of the new positions open, 184,000 are in combat arms professions.

1.4 million: The number of active duty military personnel currently in the U.S. Armed Forces.

14,000: The number of new military job assignment opportunities that opened up for women after policy changes last February . All but 1,000 of them were in the Army with positions such as tank mechanic and field artillery radar operator.

280,000: The number of women deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. More than 150 women have been killed and 800 wounded due to action in both countries. Women often serve as helicopter pilots in war zones and as rescue pilots.

8: The percentage of veterans who were women in 2009, according to a Veteran's Affairs report . That number is expected to rise to 15 percent by 2035. Currently, there are roughly 1.5 million women who are veterans of the U.S. military.

860,000: The total number of women who have served in the U.S. military in wartime dating back to the Spanish-American War in the late 19th century. Of those who served, more than 580 were casualties.

14.6: The number of percentage of women who make up the active duty force. The largest percentage of women serve in the Air Force with a rate of 19.2 percent as of January 2011.

2.5 million: The number of women estimated to have served in the U.S. military . Around 250,000 women have their names permanently enshrined at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Washington.

202,400: The number of women currently on active duty in the U.S. military.

1: The number of women awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor , the highest medal awarded for service to the military. Civilian Dr. Mary Walker earned the medal for her actions throughout the U.S. Civil War. President Andrew Johnson gave Walker the medal Nov. 11, 1865. It was rescinded in 1917 before being reinstated by President Jimmy Carter in 1977, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society .

William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/women-u-military-combat-numbers-221800769.html

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