Women Serving on the Front Lines | Video

Amy Fox | 1/24/2013

For years, women in the military have been banned from serving on the front lines of combat. But, today, that ban is lifted. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced women can now serve in combat roles. But, what does this mean for military women in North Dakota?

According to the North Dakota Army National Guard, the new changes for women will not directly affect their day to day operations, but will change its military occupational specialties. For the Guard, most of its deployed units and combat operations are already co-gender.

"We`ve always had support from the North Dakota National Guard,” said North Dakota Army National Guard Captain Steven Bohl. “What they’re saying is, ‘You know what? Your gender doesn`t matter. It`s your skills and abilities that you bring to the table that make you a phenomenal solider.’ And, our North Dakota soldiers are phenomenal. So, we`ll see it no matter what their gender is."

Bohl says women must pass the same basic training as men.

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