The Military Leadership Diversity Commission (a government group dedicated to improving and solving diversity issues within the military) released the report, “From Representation to Inclusion: Diversity Leadership for the 21st Century Military,” today, making recommendations in order to:
- “Develop a demographically diverse leadership that reflects the public it serves and the forces it leads and
- “Pursue a broader approach to diversity that includes the range of backgrounds, skill sets, and personal attributes that are necessary to enhancing military performance.”
Of special interest is the MLDC’s recommendation to eliminate the “combat exclusion policies” for women. Their recommendation is to phase out these policies, effectively changing the job opportunities of military women to equal those of men.
The recommendation outlined that women in the military should be allowed to be assigned to any unit based on their career field/specialty, regardless of the nature of the unit. If accepted, women will also be open to career fields and units involved in “direct ground combat” and “barriers that inhibit women from achieving senior leadership positions” will be removed.
The Service Women’s Action Network, a national human rights organization founded and led by women veterans, passionately supports the MLDC’s recommendation.
“Finally, the Department of Defense is realizing that the most effective military is one where women are fully integrated in all sectors of the fighting force,” said Anu Bhagwati, former Marine Corps captain and executive director of SWAN, in a press release. “The disconnect between what the U.S. government and military says women are allowed to do and what they are actually doing is not only a blatant act of gender discrimination, it fosters a hostile work environment where women’s capabilities are assumed rather than assessed.”
What do you think of this proposal? Should women be allowed in any unit of the military, especially in direct combat?
Sources:
SWAN website
MLDC website