June 27, 2014

On June 17, Secretary of the Army John McHugh issued a memorandum opening more than 33,000 duty positions to women.

Of the more than 400 total military occupational specialties (MOS), only 14 are closed to women.

The 33,000 positions will not include occupations within Special Operations Command.

According to the memorandum, female soldiers will still be prohibited from infantry roles, however, jobs that were once closed at infantry battalion headquarters level will be opened. Some of the newly opened MOS positions include chaplains, intelligence analysts, health care specialists, paralegals, signal sergeants, and supply sergeants.

Female soldiers had been prohibited from being assigned to combat units below the brigade level since 1994. In early 2012, the Army began easing those restrictions.

MOAA is dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and to ensuring our armed forces are manned and led by the most capable, qualified servicemembers, regardless of gender.