December 17, 2012: By the Numbers

December 17, 2012: By the Numbers

800+
and
130+

The number of female servicemembers wounded and killed, respectively, in roughly 10 years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a December 13, 2012 Congressional Research Report, Women in Combat: Issues for Congress (PDF).

The report notes that, as of February 29, 2012, more than 20,000 women have served or are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. "On numerous occasions," the report says, "women have been recognized for their heroism, two earning Silver Star medals."

This report discusses how "(t)he expansion of roles for women in the armed forces has evolved over decades," and recent updates to policies regarding where women may or may not serve. Earlier this month, according to the report, "three female sailors were assigned to the USS Maine (SSBN 741) and USS Wyoming (SSBN 742), becoming the first female officers to qualify for submarine duty."

The report ends with a review of the pros and cons surrounding the issue of women in combat roles.