CHARMAN OF THE JOWT CHIEFS OF STAFF wasiausTon, 06 aostasies ©M-0017-13 INFO MEMO. 9 Janay 2013 FoR, sconstany op DENSE hakeX a FROM: Cant Deg, C3 SUBJECT: Women in the Secvice implementation Plan ‘The time has corns lo rescind the dzect combat exchusion rule for women snd to eliminate all unnecessary gender hased barriers to service. The Joint Chiefs of Staff manimousy join me in “proposing that we move forsard with the Aull inter to integrare women into occupational ids to ‘he mmccium extent possible, To implemen test iniiatives succesfully and without sacrificing ‘our warfighting capability or the trust ofthe American people, we will need ime to ger fright ‘+ We recognize the bravery and contributions of women in combat, We have made tremendous progess in exranding service opportunites for womten since your Febroary 2012 summouncement, which offically aotitied Congress ofthe Departncnt'sineat to rescind the o-location restriction and to implement Exceptions ta Policy (ETP) allowing worsen to be assigned w select postions in ground eombat uns atthe batalion level. Recently the ‘Services opened 13,139 positions under oo-location snd aa additional |,}96 positions under Exceptions to Policy. ‘+ Guiding Principles. Te successfully integrate women ino the remaining restricted ‘ceupafional kis within our muta, we must keep our guiding principles a te forefoot. ‘We are driven by: ‘©. Ensuring the success of our Nation's warfighting forocs by preserving unit readiness, cohesion, and morale (2. Enauring ell Service men and women are given the opportunity ta suceeed and are Set up for suceete with viahle cancer paths. ‘© Retaining the ts and confidence of dhe American peopl to defend this Nation by promoting policies that maintain the bes quality end mest qualified people © Validating occupational perfomance standaris, both pysical and menu fal iary eeupetionl species (MOS8), secifoaly those that remain closed to women light foc walaing snd devlopencr within designated occupational fields should comiat of qualitative ad quanlifabe standards reflecting the knowledge, sil, snd sbiltes accessing foreach ocoupation. Far occupational specialties ope © women, tbe ecupetional pectormance stadanis mist be gender-neutral a rquired by Public Law 1-L60, Section $42 (1993), © Ensuring that 2 sufficient cadre of midgrade/venior women enlisted and affcers are sasigned to commands tt the poim of introduction to ensure suocess in the long nm. This say reqive an adjacent to our tecmitiog efforts, essigument processes, and personnel policies. Assimilation of women into becefofore “closed waits” will be informed by ‘continual in-stide assessments end pilot efforts, © Gasls and Milestones. The following goals and milestones wil support the elimination of nnnecessary gender-based barsers to service: (© Seevioes will eapand the numberof units end nuraber of wornen aseigaed to those itt — ‘based on ETP-and provide periodic updates on progress exc quarter begiaming in 23rd quarter, FY 2013. © The Navy will continue to asign woenen to afloat unis as: (1) technical chonges ane ‘modifications for reasonable female privacy and appropriate famale bering snrmgements are completed; (2) female officer and enlisted leaderahip sesignments can be ‘implemented, and (3) ships” schedules permit. Integration will be expeditiously implemented considering good order and judicious use of fiscal sources, © Services will contine to develop, review, and validate individaal occupational standards, ‘Validated gender-neutral occupational standards will be used to assess and assign Service _merubers 20 later tha September 2015. (© The Serves and U.S, Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) will proceed in & deliberate, mearured and respeceible way to asign women o currently closed MOSs as physical standards and operational assessoiets are completed and as it becornes possible ‘tw inoduce cadres as dearibed above. The Services and USSOCOM smut complete all studies by Ist quaner, FY 2016, and provide periodic updates each quarter beginntog in Sed quarter, FY 2013, ‘© Af we find that the assignment of weunea oa specific position or wotupatiogal specialty i in confict with our stated principles, we will equeat an exeption 19 palicy This deliberme approach to reducing gender-based barriers to women's service ill provide ‘the time necessary to institutionalize these important changes and 1p itegrate wuroen into ‘occupational itds in acimate where they cn suoceed and flourish. Uitimaicly, we wll ‘ensure the success of our military forees and maintain the trust ofthe American people.