Looks like the Rudd Government is going to allow female recruits to serve in all combat arms. Physical entry requirements are going to be reviewed, quote as follows
"Defence Science and Technology Organisation would develop a new set of physical employment standards for the army that would accurately measure a person's ability to perform the broad variety of jobs in the modern defence force."
To me this will mean one of two things, either differing physical entry requirements based not on gender, but on build - load carry expectations based on percentage of overall weight of the individual, thus avoiding any male/female bias, or a general drop in physical requirements across the board. Let's hope it's the former not the latter.
Michael Yon's recent report showed British female medics in the field with their male counterparts, under fire and taking part in exhaustive and long foot-patrols. No negative reports coming in about them failing to keep up or perform under fire, however they supported, and did not take part in any actual fighting (other than in self-defence).
