January 21, 2004

The Australian Labor Party is considering whether to change the military's rules to allow women to serve in combat jobs. Women are currently banned from being in jobs in six main areas that could lead to direct combat (including infantry, armored and artillery units, as well as navy mine clearance diving). Women make up roughly 13 percent of Australia's 51,000 servicemen and up to 200 women served in Iraq, most as sailors and officers serving on navy ships intercepting vessels in the Persian Gulf. - Adam Geibel