POLL: Should Women Serve In Combat Units?

Four women backed by the ACLU—including two Camp Pendleton Marines—are suing the Department of Defense, saying the ban against women serving in combat units is unconstitutional.

Former Marine Capt. Anu Bhagwati, executive director of Service Women’s Action Network, told Huffington Post:  “Combat exclusion is an archaic policy which does not reflect the realities of modern warfare, the values which our military espouses or the actual capabilities of our service women.”

Although women serve in combat zones and fight alongside men in selected units, the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule is seen as keeping some of the 280,000-plus U.S. servicewomen from higher pay and advancement opportunities. Should they have these?