Lexile
1090
Sentence Length
16.08
Word Count
418
On January 24, the Pentagon signed an order opening all ground-combat
military positions to women. The order lifts a 1994 rule, which stated that
__________ could not be assigned to units in direct ground combat.
Combat
Women currently make up about 14% of the 1.4 million active military
personnel. They have totaled more than 10% of those sent to
__________ zones. The historic change will open up thousands of jobs to
women serving overseas. Ultimately, women could even be allowed to
serve in special-operations units, including the Army’s Delta Force and
the Navy’s SEALs.
Force
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the change is to ensure that the
best qualified and most capable service members, regardless of
__________, are selected for combat. "Not everyone is going to be able
to be a combat soldier," Panetta said. "But everyone is entitled to a
chance."
President Barack Obama praised the __________. "This milestone
reflects the courageous and patriotic service of women through more than
two centuries of American history and the indispensable role of women in
today’s military," Obama said in a statement released following the
announcement.
Before the new order, women in combat zones could only serve in
support roles, including as doctors or police. They could also do clerical
work, mechanical work and photo analysis, among other important jobs.
In 1979, enlistment qualifications became the same for men and women,
but women were still prohibited from direct __________ assignments.
Many military experts say the new order acknowledges that women have
recently had a stronger presence in dangerous war areas. More than
280,000 served in combat zones during the last two U.S. __________ in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, women will officially have the chance to fight
on the front lines and take on top military positions.
"Not every woman makes a good soldier, but not every __________
makes a good soldier," said U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, of
California. "We’re not asking that standards be lowered."
The military is reviewing the physical and other standards __________
for all direct combat fields, a long and challenging process. The review
will be completed by January 1, 2016.
"We are going to make sure that we have the right standards for the right
jobs that maintain the readiness of the _________," says Joint Chiefs of
Staff Army General Martin Dempsey.
The new order could open more than 230,000 jobs to women. Military
services say that while the changes will not happen _________, some
jobs may open as soon as this year.
http://www.timeforkids.com/news/women-combat/80371
Decision
Gender
Man
Overnight
Required
War
Wars
Women
Lexile
1090
Sentence Length
16.08
On January 24, the Pentagon signed an order opening all ground-combat
military positions to women. The order lifts a 1994 rule, which stated that
women could not be assigned to units in direct ground combat.
Women currently make up about 14% of the 1.4 million active military
personnel. They have totaled more than 10% of those sent to war zones.
The historic change will open up thousands of jobs to women serving
overseas. Ultimately, women could even be allowed to serve in specialoperations units, including the Army’s Delta Force and the Navy’s SEALs.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the change is to ensure that the
best qualified and most capable service members, regardless of gender,
are selected for combat. "Not everyone is going to be able to be a combat
soldier," Panetta said. "But everyone is entitled to a chance."
President Barack Obama praised the decision. "This milestone reflects
the courageous and patriotic service of women through more than two
centuries of American history and the indispensable role of women in
today’s military," Obama said in a statement released following the
announcement.
Before the new order, women in combat zones could only serve in
support roles, including as doctors or police. They could also do clerical
work, mechanical work and photo analysis, among other important jobs.
In 1979, enlistment qualifications became the same for men and women,
but women were still prohibited from direct combat assignments.
Many military experts say the new order acknowledges that women have
recently had a stronger presence in dangerous war areas. More than
280,000 served in combat zones during the last two U.S. wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Now, women will officially have the chance to fight on the
front lines and take on top military positions.
"Not every woman makes a good soldier, but not every man makes a
good soldier," said U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, of California.
"We’re not asking that standards be lowered."
The military is reviewing the physical and other standards required for all
direct combat fields, a long and challenging process. The review will be
completed by January 1, 2016.
"We are going to make sure that we have the right standards for the right
jobs that maintain the readiness of the force," says Joint Chiefs of Staff
Army General Martin Dempsey.
The new order could open more than 230,000 jobs to women. Military
services say that while the changes will not happen overnight, some jobs
may open as soon as this year.
http://www.timeforkids.com/news/women-combat/80371
Word Count
418