A recent military leadership ruling is allowing women to serve in combat roles on the front lines. According to CBS News, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta first announced the repeal of the ban on women in combat roles in January, opening up nearly 240,000 jobs to women in the military. The opportunity to serve on the front lines for the first time in U.S. history. With few exceptions, they will now serve with their male counterparts. Women may be able to train for Army Rangers by July 2015, and Navy SEALs by March 2016, according to a schedule delivered to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

Gender-neutral physical requirements are being considered for both men and women. The Department of Defense reports that women make up 15 percent of the military, and over the past decade, more than 280,000 women have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. 152 of them have died.

My friend, Rick Casemore, referred me to a Fox News opinion piece written by Cate Lineberry that shows research on women serving in the in U.S. military: "Countless women served as unofficial nurses, cooks, laundresses, and spies before they 'officially' served starting with the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901 and Navy Nurse Corps in 1908."

Lineberry says that 359 lost their lives during World War I, mostly from contracting influenza while caring for patients during the worldwide epidemic. In the article she revealed that during World War II, more than 500 military women died in service. It was not until 1942 that the Navy awarded relative rank, and the Army granted nurses temporary commissions in 1945. The Army-Navy Nurse Act in 1947 granted permanent commissioned officer status to them.

Canada, Australia, Israel, France, and Germany allow women to fill combat roles, while China excludes women from them. The United Kingdom restricts women from many combat positions.

Already, the United States has women in key roles in all female teams in the Cultural Support Program. These teams were created in 2010, and the women are specially selected and trained "to work alongside front line combat units to bridge the cultural communication gap between U.S. male forces and Afghani women," per the recommendation of Navy Admiral Eric Olsen. Mental, intellectual, and physical requirements are evaluated to determine the candidate's ability to be a Cultural Support specialist. The U.S. Army describes the role of a Cultural Support specialist as one who has an understanding of human behavior, an appreciation and understanding of Islamic and Afghan culture, and the roles women play in Afghanistan.

Culture and tradition play a big role concerning women in the military. Typically women are the protected gender, and the male machismo dominates. However, women are making headway to gender neutrality. With the recent ruling to allow women to accept combat roles, the gap is narrowing.

While it is true that there are some differences in male and female attributes, each has its strengths, creating synergy in the group. The cultural disruption of integrating women into male groups concerns what is called "pack cohesion," which is about confidence that your teammate can complete the task at hand and addresses your confidence about his or her competence. This is true in the workplace and sports teams as well.

Major General Bennet Sacolick, director of force management for U.S. Special Operations Command, says "some believe that the issue at hand is being framed incorrectly - that this is not about creating a common standard for both men and women, this is not about equality, career progression - this is about women contributing to the level of their ability in ways they uniquely can. It has little to do with going to Ranger school. It has much more to do with taking advantage of women's natural advantages."

Pros and cons abound concerning allowing women to serve in combat in our military. Over time though, icons like "Rosie the Riveter" present females as positive role models for society. Women have proved themselves not only in support roles, but in actual combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nurses in Vietnam gave their lives. Traditional male roles like chopper pilots has given women the chance to prove themselves as equals. Integration of women in combat roles is here and it is time for them to prove they are capable.

Lock and load!

Jack Evensizer is a resident of Dalton Gardens and local writer covering military matters.