Panetta, Dempsey Announce Lifting of Ban on Women in Combat Roles

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, right, sign a document lifting the ban on women in combat roles during a news conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013. Panetta and Dempsey discussed the new directive from the Pentagon to open all military occupations to females, removing the almost 20-year ban of women serving in combat on the front lines. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, right, sign a document lifting the ban on women in combat roles during a news conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sign a memo to lift the ban on women in military combat operations during a news conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013. Army Lt. Col. Tamatha Patterson looked on during the signing. DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shake hands after signing a memo to lift the ban on women from serving in military combat roles during a news conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta hands Army Lt. Col. Tamatha Patterson a signed copy of the memo lifting the Defense Department's ban on women in combat roles during a news conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, right, brief the press at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013, after signing a document lifting the ban on women in combat roles. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brief the press at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013, after signing a document lifting the ban on women in combat roles. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brief the press at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013, after signing a document lifting the ban on women in combat roles. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, discuss the Defense Department's new directive to lift the ban on women from serving in military combat roles during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta addresses reporters at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013, after announcing the lifting of the ban on women from serving in military combat roles. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discusses the Defense Department's new directive to lift the ban on women from serving in military combat roles during a press briefing at the Pentagon Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta addresses the Defense Department's new directive to lift the ban on women from serving in military combat roles during a press briefing at the Pentagon Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center left, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, center right, walk through the Pentagon after briefing the press with aides Jeremy Bash, left, chief of staff, and Marine Corps Col. David Lapan at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, right, walk through the Pentagon after briefing the press on a new directive lifting the ban on women in combat roles, Jan. 24, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo