21st Century Army - Women in the Army

The Army underwent a remarkable transformation in the early twenty-first century. More than two million Army soldiers—255,000 of them women—deployed overseas, many for multiple tours. The reality of nonlinear battlefields and the cultural conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan resulted in a profound transformation of roles for Army women. Commanders discovered the impracticalities of a utilization and assignment policy rooted in the Cold War. As women demonstrated their capabilities, the Army moved to eliminate unnecessary gender-biased barriers to service. A measured and deliberate movement towards a standards-based system was adopted. In a parallel effort, the Army rescinded other exclusionary policies while caring for and retaining its premier twenty-first century fighting force.