The groundbreaking decision was three years in the making, after the Pentagon gave the U.S. military a January 2016 deadline to comply with the order.
In a historic move knocking down gender barriers, the US military has decided to open all combat roles to women starting January, 2016.
Addressing the media from the Pentagon on Thursday, the U.S. Secretary of Defence, Ash Carter said, "There will be no exceptions. This means that, as long as they qualify and meet the standards, women will now be able to contribute to our mission in ways they could not before."
The groundbreaking decision was three years in the making, after the Pentagon gave the U.S. military a January 2016 deadline to comply with the order, saying the restrictions were out of place in a world where women have been part of decade long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with nearly 300,000 deployed in conflict zones.
The issue has been the focus of a bitter debate within the Pentagon, with the Chiefs of Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations in favour but the elite Marine Corps arguing units with women have a poorer performance, controversially stating that men only units can carry more weight, move through tactical manoeuvres faster and suffer lesser injuries.
But the Defence Secretary overruled their claims, saying, "While the Marine Corps asked for a partial exception in some areas such as infantry, machine gunner, fire support reconnaissance and others, we are a joint force, and I have decided to make a decision which applies to the entire force."
The news brought criticism from certain sections, including the Republican Chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Services Committee, Senator John McCain of Arizona and Representative Mac Thornberry of Texas who issued a statement, "Secretary Carter's decision to open all combat positions to women will have a consequential impact on our service members and our military's war-fighting capabilities."
But many praised the move, saying it was high time, including Hillary Clinton, who might become America's first female president. "We've seen women in our armed forces prove their heroism and abilities, now our official policy is catching up and women who are qualified for these positions should be able to compete and win them," she said.