Women soldiers moved a step closer to get combat roles in the British Army from 2016, as the country is considering to allow them to front line fighting following a review of the current ban on female serving in close combat.
A British Army review of the ban, conducted for the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), has concluded that change would not have an “adverse effect” on troop cohesion. It, however, added that more research was needed to assess the physiological demands. UK defence secretary Michael Fallon said roles “should be determined by ability and not gender”. He said he hoped to introduce the change “subject to some final research over the next year or so.” Some officers have reportedly said that male soldiers would feel obliged to protect their female counterparts if fighting together, or that relationships would develop that could be a distraction on the battlefield.