sonal readiness of the unit. To prove this I will offer statistics, opinions, and statements from other female soldiers. It is obvious how my male counterparts feel about Women in Combat by the omission of females in combat positions. I have interviewed several women assigned to my unit to see just exactly how women in the military feel about serving in combat roles. The first women I spoke with, SFC Sheryl Skepple, has served on Active Duty in the Army for 16 years, she is married to a civilian and has twin two-year-olds. When asked how she felt about Women in Combat she replied with the following: "Women in the military have been deployed to numerous operations throughout the world. They trained and served side by side with their male counterparts. If you are on the frontline or providing support from the rear you are still in combat, and will do what is necessary to protect yourself and others. Whether it is feeding soldiers, or sending supplies to them, you are contributing." The point SFC Skepple is trying to Gamboni-Short 3 convey is that women have been supporting combat missions without having to fire weapons. Further she says, "In my opinion, women have proven that they can serve in combat, and are willing to do so because they know if called upon they don't have a choice. However, I pray to God that I will never have to fight. As of September 5, 2000, there are 90,563 women in the U.S. military, comprising about 13 percent of the total U.S. Armed Forces (Defense Almanac OCT 2000). In 1970, only 1.4 percent of the total military was comprised of women, a number that more than tripled to 4.6 percent in 1975, nearly doubled to 8.3 in 1980, rose to 10 in 1985, 11 in 1990, to the current 13 percent (Government Executive March 1999). When discussing the history of women in combat, one might think of Joan of Arc who in 1429, at age 17, successfully led French troops into battle against the English. Hundreds of women disguised themselves as men to fight in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Beginning in 1942, separate military services for women were established, but women did not gain professional military status until 1948 when President Truman signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, which limited their number to 2 percent of the total military. In 1991, the Gamboni-Short 4 restriction of women from flying combat aircraft was repealed, but the 1948 law still bans women from serving on naval combat vessels (Minerva Spring 1994). I don't think the answer to the gender problems the military faces is to go back to the separate military services. We can work productively, side-by-side with service men provided we stay in garrison environments rather than field environments. Major Angela Haynes, a Quarter Master officer in my unit, has been on active duty in the army for over 13 years. She is married to a retired Enlisted soldier and has two children. She was in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm just 10 miles from the Iraqi border. When her unit was getting ready to move to the border to provide combat support, her Battalion Commander gave her the option of moving out with her unit or staying in the rear. She chose to stay behind. Her explanation was clear. MAJ Haynes felt that she was already in a combat zone but that given the circumstances didn't see a need or the necessity to go

Some common words found in the essay are:
Women Combat, Times July, Minerva Spring, Report July, Vietnam African-Americans, Tank Crewmember, SFC Skepple, Instead Gamboni-Short, Almanac OCT, Gulf War, women combat, women military, combat roles, male counterparts, military women, spring 1994, minerva spring 1994, minerva spring, percent total, gao report july, desert storm, march 1994, army march 1994, report july 1996, combat roles women,
Approximate Word count = 2240
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)