Because there are currently specific laws in place that do not allow female soldiers (i.e. women) admittance into specific areas of the U.S. Armed Services that directly relate to combat situations. In 1994, U.S. Secretary of Defense Les Aspin revised the policy on women in the service (and allow for women in certain combat areas like pilots). However, that policy did not extend to all units under the 'Direct Combat and Assignment Definition Rule', which included U.S. SOF units as well. The underlining reason why women aren't allowed in all areas of U.S. Armed Services? Well, if you ask twenty different people, you might get twenty different answers. Some might cite differing body structures (female muscle mass compared to male and such might potentially force current physical standard requirements for certain units to change in order to allow potential female applicants), others might cite social reasons (men might feel more compelled to protect/save a female soldier thus potentially putting their own lives/mission in more jeopordy or the public being unready to cope with the trauma of a mother/daughter/sister soldier in harm's way) and some feel that having a female in an all male unit would be distracting (the chances of sexual harrassment allegations rising, or having to deal with a female soldier who gets pregnant and is suddenly unable to deploy for missions because of a change in physical condition). Even though the 'Direct Combat Rule' prohibits women being allowed to try out for or enter certain U.S. SOF units, according to several recent news articles, women soldiers are exposed to more combat situations than ever before in Iraq.

For news stories about current day women in combat

• Two Opposing Views on Women on the Battlefield, 2007
• Study: Clarify rules for women in combat, 2007
• For Female GI's, Combat is a Fact, 2005
• Constructing the Co-Ed Military
• Army Non-Compliance with Congressional Notification Law, 2004

Historical Stories of women in combat

• Deborah Sampson American Revolutionary War
• Margaret Corbin American Revolutionary War
• Molly Pitcher
• The Lady was a Spy Article
• OSS Female Spies in WWII Article

If you want to find out more about historical women, from cultures and countries all over the world, fighting in battles we recommend the book Warrior Women by David E. Jones.