The Army is exploring a possible end to a 10-year-old prohibition against
co-locating mixed-sex, support companies with ground combat units. Despite
the legal bar, the Army already has included such co-location in plans for a
transformed force of 10 active divisions, according to Defense Department
sources. Officials point to ongoing warfare in Iraq as an example of all
soldiers, support and combat, being subject to attack regardless of their
location. This is confirmed by the 24 female soldiers who number among the
793 combat deaths incurred since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. The 3rd
Infantry Division, scheduled to return to Iraq early next year, would be the
first division to contain the new mixed-sex, forward support companies. The
Army is not planning to place women in direct combat units, such as infantry
or armor.