US Military Women Ready for the Frontline

The Pentagon's decision to allow female combat soldiers is a landmark in a century-long journey for women in the military. For many veterans, the decision is long overdue.

Published

4 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

Military, United States

People

Lisa Jones, Patricia Siegel

Places

United States of America, Afghanistan, Iraq

Transcript

SCRIPT: After 26 years in the US Army, retired Sergeant-Major Lisa Jones has plenty to show for it. SOUNDBITE 1 Lisa Jones (woman), Retired Sergeant-Major, US Army (English, 12 sec): "These are the combat hash marks. And each of the marks represents a six months period that you were depoyed. I have 2 of them, I served in deployed theater in Afghanistan" NATSOUND "It's my second Legion of Merit that I received…" Lisa worked as a Career Counselor in Afghanistan, but was never on the frontline because of the military's ban on women serving in combat roles. The Pentagon recently made the landmark decision to lift that ban, which Lisa says is long overdue. SOUNDBITE 2 Lisa Jones (woman), Retired Sergeant-Major, US Army (English, 9 sec): "This has been a long time coming and it's wonderful to know that we now have a chance to be recognized for what we do in the Armed Forces" Women's role in the Armed Forces is chronicalled here, at the US Army Women's Museum -- the only one of its kind in the world. SOUNDBITE 3 Françoise Bonnell (woman), Director, US Army Women's Museum (English, 9 sec): "We invite the public to come // to understand the ultimate sacrifice women have paid the last 10 years in combat" More than 150 women have been killed in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003, and today, women make up 15 percent of US Army. A big change from 1980s, when Patricia Siegel worked as a counselor to the generals at West Point, advising them on how to integrate women in the military. She says that the only way the Pentagon's ruling will work is if top officials are behind it. SOUNDBITE 4 Patricia A. Siegel (woman), Retired Lieutenant-Colonel, US Army (English, 11 sec): "There's going to be bumps in the road and it's how they deal with these bumps in the road that will tell the rest of the army that they support this or they're not really sure they're supporting it" The armed services have until 2016 to decide which roles should remain closed to women, if any at all. ------------ SHOTLIST : ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, JANUARY 30, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR of Lisa Jones with her uniform - SOUNDBITE 1 Lisa Jones - VAR of Lisa Jones showing her medals and photos of her time spent in Afghanistan - SOUNDBITE 2 Lisa Jones FORT LEE, VIRGINIA, JANUARY 29, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR of photos of women in the army in the 1940s - SOUNDBITE 3 Françoise Bonnell -VAR of Bonnell in front of a screen with stories of more than 150 women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan - VAR of Patricia Siegel walking around the US Army Women's Museum - VAR of Patricia Siegel walking around the US Army Women's Museum, looking at uniforms worn in the 1960s and 70s - SOUNDBITE 4 Patricia Siegel - VAR of a poster calling on women to join the army during WW2