Panetta\’s Statement on Women in Service

talented and qualified people to be able to serve this country in uniform. Our nation was built on the premise of the citizen-soldier. In our democracy, I believe it is the responsibility of every citizen to protect the nation. And every citizen who can meet the qualifications of service should have that opportunity.

To that end, I\’ve been working closely with General Dempsey and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We\’ve been working for well over a year to examine, how can we expand the opportunities for women in the armed services?

It\’s clear to all of us that women are contributing in unprecedented ways to the military\’s mission of defending the nation. Women represent 15 percent of the force, over 200,000. They\’re serving in a growing number of critical roles on and off the battlefield. The fact is that they have become an integral part of our ability to perform our mission.