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Britain lifts ban on women taking frontline combat roles in military

Xinhua, July 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday lifted the ban on women in Britain's armed services serving in frontline close combat roles.

Cameron's decision, backed by Defense Secretary Malcolm Fallon, followed a recommendation by the Chief of the General Staff Sir Nick Carter that the ban on women serving in ground close-combat roles be lifted from this year.

The announcement will see women being allowed to serve in frontline combat roles for the first time, said the Ministry of Defense in a statement issued Friday.

Cameron said: "It is vital that our armed forces are world class and reflect the society we live in. Lifting this ban is a major step. It will ensure the armed forces can make the most of all their talent and increase opportunities for women to serve in the full range of roles."

Defense Secretary Fallon said: "By opening all combat roles to women, we will continue to build on these successes and improve the operational capability of our military."

The decision follows extensive research, published Friday, which looked into three key areas of potential risk to women on the front line: musculoskeletal injury, psychological issues and impaired reproductive health.

As a result of the Interim Health Report (IHR), combat roles will be opened to women in a phased approach over the next three years. This will begin by allowing women to serve in all roles within certain units of the Royal Armored Corps (RAC) from November 2016. This will be reviewed after six months before being expanded to other units of the RAC.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said: "The IHR showed that women joining the RAC would have less likelihood of injury than other ground close combat roles. Operating armored vehicles is assessed to be likely to attract the highest number of applicants, anticipated to be up to 20 per year."

The change in rules will eventually apply to roles in the Infantry, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force Regiment which will be opened up to women by the end of 2018.

"By this point, and based upon an ongoing program of research, a robust set of physical employment standards will be in place. These will set clear physical standards for all combat roles, for both men and women," the spokesperson added.

A five-year program of research into the physiological impact of combat roles on men and women is expected to be completed in 2021.

Sir Nick, Chief of the General Staff, said: "I am delighted that we are now able to extend the opportunities for women to serve in the Army. By allowing women to serve in all roles, we will truly help to maximize the talent available to the Army and make the Armed Forces a modern employer." Endit