Timeline: Women in Combat

Female Marine recruit Natasha Rodenbaugh responds to a command during hand-to-hand combat training in boot camp Feb. 27, 2013, at MCRD Parris Island, S.C. On Jan. 24, 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta rescinded an order which had been in place since 1994, that restricted women from being attached to ground combat units.(Scott Olson/Getty Images)

1917–1918

33,000 women serve as nurses and support staff in World War I

1941–1945

More than 400,000 women serve in World War II

1950–1953

Korean War: 50,000 women serve, some in combat zones

1962–1972

Vietnam War: More than 7,000 female volunteers serve

1993

Defense Secretary Les Aspin tells military to open more noncombat assignments to women

1994

Women banned from small combat units

January 2013

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says all combat jobs must be open to women

May 2013

Commanders give initial implementation plans

January 2016

Military must open all combat jobs to women or explain why not