Pentagon to move women closer to front lines

(Washington Times) — The Pentagon is retaining its longtime ban on women serving in infantry, armor and special operations ground combat units, but will open up 14,000 new support positions at the battalion level, closer to the front lines.

Congress ordered the review two years ago, prompting a debate inside the Joint Chiefs of Staff on where the line should be drawn.

Some battle-hardened male officers inside the Pentagon feared the Obama administration might make a grand policy change by opening the infantry and special operations to women.