Def Sec Carter To Open All Combat Jobs To Women In Historic Change

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter makes remarks during a news conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. Carter made his international de... U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter makes remarks during a news conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. Carter made his international debut Saturday with a visit to Afghanistan to see American troops and commanders, meet with Afghan leaders and assess whether U.S. withdrawal plans are too risky to Afghan security. (SAP Photos/Jonathan Ernst, Pool) MORE LESS
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UPDATE: Dec. 3, 2015, 11:42 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that Defense Secretary Ash Carter will order the military to open all combat jobs to women, and is giving the armed services until Jan. 1 to submit plans to make the historic change.

Carter’s announcement is expected later Thursday.

It rebuffs arguments from the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman that the Marine Corps should be allowed to exclude women from certain front-line combat jobs, citing studies showing that mixed-gender units aren’t as capable as all-male units.

A senior defense official says all the services will have to begin putting plans in place by April 1.

The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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