Report to Congress on the Review of Laws, Policies and Regulations Restricting the Service of Female Members in the U.S. Armed Forces

摘要

The Department of Defense (DoD) submits this report to meet the requirements of Section 535 of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11 NDAA). The Department has conducted the required review of all gender-restricting policies. This extensive review resulted in the following vision statement: The Department of Defense is committed to removing all barriers that would prevent Service members from rising to the highest level of responsibility that their talents and capabilities warrant. As documented in the Military Leadership Diversity Commission findings, the elimination of gender-restricted assignment policies requires deliberate action. There are serious practical barriers, which require time to resolve so the Department can maximize the safety and privacy of all military members while maintaining military readiness. These barriers relate to the five basic elements of the DoD policy on the Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, which was issued in 1994 by then-Secretary of Defense Les Aspen. Each element is unique in scope, purpose, and relevance in modern warfare. As a result, amending the following elements of the current policy requires independent resolution and timing.