Great Britain will review female combat roles

LONDON — Britain’s female soldiers could soon battle enemy forces in face-to-face combat, if a ban on women serving in the most dangerous warfare roles is lifted.

The review comes amid an examination of gender equality, including moves to expose pay gaps between men and women and to encourage affirmative action.

Britain’s defense ministry said about 18,000 women serve in the U.K.’s armed forces. Women are deployed along front lines, carrying out dangerous tasks such as attack helicopter pilots and medics — but none are involved in infantry missions to track and kill enemy forces.



by the associated press