DOD Implementation Plans and Announcements

Below is a collection of reports and documents that are an excellent overview of the decision to open all combat positions to women.

Speech

Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter

Delivered by: Secretary of Defense, Pentagon Press Briefing Room, December 3, 2015

“Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments“

Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter

Published: December 3, 2015

“Fact Sheet: Women in Service Review (WISR) Implementation“

Department of Defense

Published: December 3, 2015

“FACT SHEET: POSITIONS TO BE OPENED“

Department of Defense

Published: December 3, 2015

Marine Corps Force Integration Plan Summary

Published: September 10, 2015

Read the full summary here.

Report to Congressional Committees: DOD Is Expanding Combat Service Opportunities for Women, but Should Monitor Long-Term Integration Progress (July 2015)
The services and SOCOM are working to address statutory and Joint Staff requirements for validating gender-neutral occupational standards. The Department of Defense (DOD) has been tracking, monitoring, and providing oversight of the services’ and SOCOM’s integration efforts, but does not have plans to monitor the services’ implementation progress after January 2016 in integrating women into newly opened positions and occupations. While DOD requires the services and SOCOM to submit quarterly progress reports, this requirement ends in January 2016. Without ongoing monitoring of integration progress, it will be difficult for DOD to help the services overcome potential obstacles. Further, when opening positions to women, DOD must analyze the implications for how it meets certain resource needs. In 2012, GAO assessed the military necessity of the Selective Service System and examined alternatives to its structure. GAO recommended in 2012 that DOD establish a process of periodically reevaluating its requirements in light of changing threats, operating environments, and strategic guidance. DOD has not taken action to do this, but agreed that a thorough assessment of the issue was merited, and should include a review of the statutes and policies surrounding the registration process and the potential to include the registration of women. GAO continues to believe that DOD should establish a process of periodically reevaluating DOD’s requirements for the Selective Service System.