UK: Women Soldiers Should Fight

British Defense Minister Michael Fallon announced on Friday that he is supportive of the idea of women serving in combat roles after a review of the current ban determined the change would not damage troop cohesion. “Roles in our armed forces should be determined by ability not gender,” Fallon said. “I hope that, following further work on our training regimes and equipment, we can open up combat roles to women in 2016.” Currently, women cannot join the infantry or armored corps. However, before a ban would be lifted, the ministry says it needs to look into the impact on women’s health and “further research into the physiological demands placed on those in close combat roles.”