WASHINGTON (Jan. 24, 2014)--One year ago this week, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the end of the direct ground combat exclusion policy, which restricted female service members from serving in unit-level positions below the brigade level with the primary mission of direct ground combat engagement. Now a year later, the Army announces its recent notification to Congress, through the DoD, to open 33K positions as part of its Soldier 2020 initiative.
The Army's Soldier 2020 initiative sets the conditions for senior leaders to balance and transition the force in a way that makes the Army stronger, by having the best-qualified Soldiers for each job within the Army profession. Prior to the DoD rescinding the direct ground combat exclusion policy, the Army had already begun 'leaning forward' with a scientific approach to re-validate performance standards for each Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).
"Our endeavor to re-validate performance standards is all about increasing total force capability and preparing the force for future mission requirements," said Col. Linda Sheimo, chief of the Command Programs and Policy Division at the Directorate of Military Personnel Management, Army G-1.
"Opening these positions ensures the Army is properly managing the talent of all our Service members, balancing readiness and the needs of a smaller force, and positioning all Soldiers for success with viable career paths," she added.
Once the Congressional notification process for this request is complete, the Army will open units and positions within 132 MOSs (not including occupations within Special Operations Command) to women in April 2014.
"Though DoD has submitted the memorandum for these open positions, no women will be assigned until the Congressional notification period is met," said Sheimo.
On Jan. 17, 2014, DoD officials notified Congress of the following now open positions:
12C (Bridge Crewmember)
12D (Diver)
12H (Construction Engineering Supervisor)
12N (Horizontal Construction Engineer)
12R (Interior Electrician)
12X (General Engineering Supervisor)
12Y (Geospatial Engineer)
12Z Combat Engineering Senior Sergeant
13T Field Artillery Surveyor/Meteorological Crewmember
13Z Field Artillery Senior Sergeant
14J Air Defense C41 Tactical Operations Center Enhanced Operator-Maintainer
14S Air & Missile Defense (AMD) Crewmember
15E Unmanned Aircraft System
15W Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator
25B Information Technology Specialist
25C Radio Operator-Maintainer
25E Electromagnetic Spectrum Manager Nodal Network Systems Operator-Maintainer
25F Network Switching Systems Operator-Maintainer
25L Cable Systems Installer-Maintainer
25P Microwave Systems Operator-Maintainer
25Q Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer
25S Satellite Communications Systems Operator-Maintainer
25T Satellite/Microwave Systems Chief
25U Signal Support Systems Chief
25W Telecommunications Operations Chief
25X Senior Signal Sergeant
25Z Visual Information Operations Chief
27D Paralegal Specialist
29E Electronic Warfare Specialist
31B Military Police
35F Intelligence Analyst
35G Imagery Analyst
35L Counter Intelligence Agent
35M Human Intelligence Collector
35N Signals Intelligence Analyst
35P Cryptologic Linguist Intelligence Senior Sergeant/Chief
35T Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer/Integrator
35X Intelligence Sergeant
35Z SIGINT Senior Sergeant/Chief
37F Psychological Operations Specialist
38B Civil Affairs Specialist
42A Human Resources Specialist
46Q Public Affairs Specialist
46R Public Affairs Broadcast Specialist
56M Chaplain Assistant
68S Preventive Medicine Specialist
68W Health Care Specialist
74D CBRN Specialist
79S Active Duty Career Counselor
88M Motor Transport Operator
88N Transportation Management Coordinator
89B Ammunition Specialist
89D EOD Specialist
91B Wheeled Vehicle Repairer
91C Utilities Equipment Repairer
91D Power Generation Equipment Repairer
91E Allied Trades Specialist
91F Small Arms/Artillery Repairer
91G Fire Control Repairer
91H Tracked Vehicle Repairer
91J Quartermaster and Chemical Equipment Repairer
91L Construction Equipment Repairer
91X Maintenance Supervisor
91Z Senior Maintenance Supervisor
92A Automated Logistical Specialist
92F Petroleum Supply Specialist
92G Food Service Specialist
92R Parachute Rigger
92S Shower/Laundry & Clothing Repair Specialist
92W Water Treatment Specialist
92Y Unit Supply Specialist
94E Radio & COMSEC Repairer
94F Computer/Detection Systems Repairer
94M Radar Repairer
94W Electronic Maintenance Chief
94Z Senior Electronic Maintenance Chief
00B General Officer
01A Officer Generalist
12A Engineer
12B Combat Engineer
12D FCCME
14A Air Defense Artillery
25A Signal, General
27A Judge Advocate General
31A Military Police
35D All Source Intelligence
36A Financial Manager
37A Psychological Operations
38A Civil Affairs (AA and USAR)
42B Human Resources Officer
50A Force Development
51A Systems Development
51C Contract & Industrial Management
51R Systems Automation Acquisition & Engineering
51T Test & Evaluation
51Z Acquisition
56A Command & Unit Chaplain
57A Simulations Operations Officer
59A Strategist
60A Operational Medicine
61N Flight Surgeon
62B Field Surgeon
65D Physician Assistant
70B Health Services Administration
70H Health Services Plans, Operations, Intelligence, Security, and Training
70K Health Services Material
74A CBRN
90A Logistics
91A Maintenance & Munitions Material Officer
92A Quartermaster, General
011A Branch MOS Immaterial
120A Construction Engineering Technician
131A Field Artillery Targeting Technician
140A Command and Control Systems Integrator
150U Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems Operations Technician
153D UH-60 Pilot
154C CH-47 Pilot
155A Fixed Wing Aviator (Aircraft Nonspecific)
251A Information Systems Technician
254A Signal Systems Support Technician
255A Information Services Technician
255S Cyberspace Defense Technician
255Z Cyberspace Network Operations Technician
290A Electronic Warfare Technician
350F All Source Intelligence Technician
740A Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Warrant Officer
890A Ammunition Technician
915A Automotive Maintenance Warrant Officer
915E Senior Automotive Maintenance Officer
919A Engineer Equipment Maintenance Warrant Officer
920A Property Accounting Technician
921A Airdrop Systems Technician
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