Soon women will be able to drive tanks, fire the heaviest artillery guns, lead soldiers into combat in the US Army, even wear the famous green beret of the US Army Special Forces, or be Marines and Seals. This would serve the cardinal principle of all roles in society being based on ability, and not gender. May be, straightaway, equal opportunity may not mean equal participation in the armed forces, but it will come once women prove themselves as true equals of men in all roles.
In opening up an important opportunity, the US is following the lead set by Israel, which allowed combat roles for women as early as in 1995, but then a compulsory draft law for men and women exists in Israel. The average physical differences between men and women are a reality, as the US secretary of defence pointed out, and to overlook that takes some doing, even in the world’s most powerful democracy.
There are exceptions, but no caveats, say the top brass behind this path-breaking decision that will be put into effect April 1, 2016.
India is not quite there yet although some brave decisions have been taken recently regarding gender equality in the military. While court action in countries like Israel and Germany may have advanced the equality argument, the Indian armed forces are allowing the change to come naturally. The Indian armed forces are largely heterogeneous meritocracies and it is only fair they were thrown truly open to women too.
