Do Not Single Us Out The article “Women In Combat: Leon Panetta Removes Military Ban, Opening Front-Line Positions” by Lolita Baldor discusses a major change in how the military will be utilizing their male and female Soldiers. After many years of women not being aloud to fight in the front-line, the Pentagon is lifting its ban on women serving in combat which will open an immense amount of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after generations of limits on their service. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s move to lift the ban originates from President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech in which he emphasized about equal rights for all. Although changes are set to be announced Thursday by Panetta, the changes will not happen over night. While some positions may open as soon as this year, the more vigorous jobs, such as special operations forces may take longer. There is still no guarantee that a woman might be stepping into a mans job anytime soon. The military will have until January 2016 to make a case that some positions should remain closed to women. In spite of overturning a 1994 Pentagon policy that prohibited women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units, there is still is an ample amount of opposition towards women in combat. One of the biggest concerns about placing women in a combat zone is strength and stamina for certain jobs. In addition to the doubts of a woman’s performance, suggestions that the American public would not tolerate women soldiers being killed in combat. The necessity of a woman in combat, propelled them into behind the scene jobs; such as medics, military police and intelligence officers. However, the Pentagons new move will be reflecting the 21st century military operations, it will not be an easy transition. For example, the Marine Corps sought women to go through a vigorous infantry course last year, two women volunteered and both failed to complete the course. With women comprising about 14 percent of the 1.4 million active military personnel, more than 280,00 women have been sent to war zones. Of the estimated 6,600 soldiers who have been killed, 152 have been women. Despite that not all women are interested in