U.S. military to study more roles for women in Special Ops

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The head of U.S. Special Operations Command on Tuesday said officials are studying how to open more positions in the special forces to women that currently are open only to men.

William McRaven, commander of Special Operations Command, made the comments on the future of women in special operations while addressing at the National Defense Industrial Association's Annual Special Operations and Low-intensity Conflict Symposium in Washington, DC, according to a report by American Forces Press Service, the Pentagon's information wing.

"We have had women supporting direct special operations for quite some time," McRaven said. "So I am fully supportive of Secretary Panetta and the chairman's decision to do this -- and frankly, so were all the service chiefs and combatant commanders."

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced last week that the 1994 policy that excluded women from serving in direct ground combat positions is rescinded.

Special operations forces include a number of women with specialized language, cultural and special skills, but McRaven acknowledged that Army Rangers, Navy SEALs and other "door-kicking " special operations units have never included women.

"I'm required to report back to the secretary, by the first quarter of (fiscal year 2016), a plan on how to integrate" women, said McRaven, adding he and his staff are looking forward to figuring out ways to integrate women into direct special operations roles.