Pentagon opens combat roles to women

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is lifting its ban on women serving in combat, opening hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after generations of limits on their service, defense officials said Wednesday.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaking during a news conference in London on Jan. 19. Panetta has removed US military ban on women in combat, opening thousands of front line positions.

The changes, set to be announced Thursday by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, will not happen overnight. The services must now develop plans...