Retired Army soldiers weigh in on women in combat - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Retired Army leaders weigh in on women in combat

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MYFOXNY.COM -

Female members of the Armed Services will be allowed to fight in front line combat positions that were previously off limits.

The official announcement is expected from Pentagon chief Leon Panetta on Thursday.

Good Day NY asked two retired members of the army to weigh in,  Col. Jeanette McMahon (US Army Ret) and Major Mike Lyons (U.S. Army Ret.)

McMahon and Lyons were classmates at West Point.

"It provides a lot of opportunities for them that didn't exist before," said McMahon.

"The big picture is this: the primary mission of the military is to fight the nation's wars and win. There will be a hard look at what it means to be an infantryman. I think it's going to ensure that the bar is not going to be lowered. We just have to be sure that from a physical stamina perspective a woman can do what a man does," said Lyons.

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