Before 2001, America's military women had rarely seen ground
combat. Their jobs kept them mostly away from enemy lines, as
military policy dictates. But the Afghanistan and Iraq wars,
often fought in marketplaces and alleyways, have changed that.
In both countries, women repeatedly have proved their mettle in
combat. The number of high-ranking women and women who command
all-male units has climbed considerably along with their status
in the military. “Iraq has advanced the cause of full
integration for women in the Army by leaps and bounds,” said
Peter Mansoor, a retired Army colonel who served as executive
officer to Gen. David Petraeus while he was the top U.S.
commander in Iraq. “They have earned the confidence and respect
of male colleagues.” Their success, widely known in the
military, remains largely hidden from public view. In part, this
is because their most challenging work is often the result of a
quiet circumvention of military policy. Women are barred from
joining combat branches like the infantry