Frequently
Asked Questions 
Frequently
Asked Questions Source:
Appendix R, "Role of Women in the Theater of Operations"
in Conduct of the Persian Gulf War: Final Report to Congress.
vol.2 Washington: Department of Defense, 1992.
Role of Women in the Theater of
Operations
"They endured the same living conditions, duties, and responsibilities
.... They performed
professionally and without friction or special consideration."
- US Marine Officer
Introduction
Department of Defense (DOD) women played a vital role in the theater
of operations. By late February, more than 37,000 military women
were in the Persian Gulf, making up approximately 6.8 percent
of US forces. By Service, there were approximately 26,000 Army,
3,700 Navy, 2,200 Marine, and 5,300 Air Force (USAF) women deployed.
Women served in almost all of the hundreds of occupations open
to them; as a matter of law and policy, women were excluded from
certain specific combat military occupational specialties.
Job Functions of Women During Desert Shield/Storm
Women were administrators, air traffic controllers, logisticians,
engineer equipment mechanics, ammunition technicians, ordnance
specialists, communicators, radio operators, drivers, law enforcement
specialists and guards. Many women truck drivers hauled supplies
and equipment into Kuwait. Some brought enemy prisoners of war
back to holding facilities. Many flew helicopters and reconnaissance
aircraft. Still others served on hospital, supply, oiler and ammunition
ships. Others served as public affairs officers and chaplains.
Several women commanded brigade, battalion, company, and platoon
size units in the combat service support areas. They endured the
same harsh conditions as their male counterparts. The deployment
of women was highly successful. Women performed admirably and
without substantial friction or special considerations.
Deployment of Women to Combat Zones
Although women did not serve in units whose mission involved direct
combat with the enemy, some women were subjected to combat. Five
Army women were killed in action and 21 wounded in action. Two
women were taken as Prisoners of War (POW). All casualties were
the result of indirect causes, i.e., Scud attack, helicopter crash,
or mines. One woman Marine driving a truck struck a mine in Kuwait,
receiving no injuries. Four Marine women qualified for, and received,
the Combat Action Ribbon having been engaged by, and returned
fire against, bypassed Iraqi troops.
Because media attention was afforded to the relatively few cases in which women faced combat conditions, the public perception of the role of women in the Gulf War has tended to be skewed. Army and Marine women served in combat support and service support units ashore. Navy women served on hospital, supply, oiler, and ammunition ships afloat. Ashore, they served in construction battalions, fleet hospitals, and air reconnaissance squadrons, as well as in many support billets. While the combat exclusion law prevented women from being assigned to combat units and on combatant ships, the nature of this war constantly moved the lines of combat, i.e. the Scud Missile attacks. Women found themselves engaged in combat even though they were not with such units. The manpower needs sometimes led women to work in areas or on missions that they otherwise would not have participated. The needs of the war presumably led commanding officers and mission leaders to use the best qualified persons to carry out their orders even when that involved females. Thus, there were sometimes a difference between enforcing the written law regarding women in combat and using them because they were among the best persons needed to maximize the success of the mission. There were other occasions where women were sent because they were the only qualified individual available, i.e. Rhonda Cornum, the flight surgeon who became a POW after her helicopter was shot down. USAF women served in support billets as well as in tanker, transport, and medical evacuation aircraft. All USAF C-130 squadrons in theater had women maintenance officers. No USAF women saw direct combat.
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1992 and 1993 repealed
the statutory limitations on the assignment of women to aircraft
flying combat missions. The Act also established a Presidential
Commission on Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces. The Commission
is intended to assess laws and policies restricting the assignment
of women service members. The law requires the President to transmit
the Commission's report to Congress by l5 December l992. DOD fully
supports the commission. Several other related DOD study efforts
also are examining the experience of women service members in
the Persian Gulf.
The Army is conducting studies in two categories: "soldier
human factors research" during Operations Desert Shield and
Desert Storm, and "family factors research" focusing
on post Operation Desert Storm family issues. The Navy is studying
the issue of women serving in a combat environment. Researchers
have surveyed units in the Persian Gulf and are analyzing their
data.
DOD is working with the General Accounting Office on a more extensive
study to analyze the role of military women in the Persian Gulf.
This study will examine issues such as the impact of women on
deployment and field operations; women's role in the deployed
units; unit operations issues, such as unit cohesion/bonding;
and ground deployment issues, such as hygiene. Service historians
also have been asked to document contributions made by women in
the Persian Gulf.
Data will document the overall number of women who deployed, the
skills of those women, the number of single parents and married
military couples, and data comparisons with males on the numbers
and types of separations from the military. These analyses and
assessments will serve as the basis for further evaluation of
current policies concerning women in the military. Emerging results
of analyses conducted on non-deployable personnel suggest the
non-deployability percentages for female personnel were somewhat
higher than the percentage for male personnel. Pregnancies accounted
for the largest difference in non-deployable percentages. Other
differences are not as easily identified and require additional
analysis. While non-deployability did not affect the overall conduct
of the operation, it is nevertheless an issue that will require
further study for future deployment criteria for women.
Several observations have emerged. There were instances of misunderstanding
concerning the application of combat restrictions. DOD policies
are not designed to shield women from all hostilities, but are
designed to limit their exposure to a level which is less than
that in direct combat. Direct combat means closing with the enemy
by fire, maneuver, or shock effect to destroy or capture, or while
repelling assault by fire, close combat or counterattack. The
Risk Rule is used to determine if a non-direct combat position
should be closed to women. Noncombat units can be closed to women
on grounds of risk of exposure to direct combat, hostile fire,
or capture, if the type, degree, and duration of risk is equal
to or greater than that experienced by associated combat units
(of similar land, sea, or air type) in the same theater of operation.
Finally, the substantial social and cultural differences involving
the role of women in Saudi Arabia have received some attention.
While there are marked differences, they did not affect the military's
role in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The mission
was not one of changing cultural values and beliefs. In fact,
the Saudi government ensured US military members, both female
and male, were not restricted in the performance of their military
duties, even if such duties might counter normal Saudi culture.
This was best demonstrated by Saudi acceptance of American women
driving military vehicles. However, outside of military duties,
Service members were obliged to respect the host country's cultural
distinctions of the host country. This courtesy was extended within
Saudi Arabia, just as it is within all other countries where US
military members serve.
Although US forces had a military, not a civilian mission, this
does not mean their presence did riot have an effect on Saudi
culture. US military men and women deployed to Saudi Arabia were
selected based on mission need, with no distinction made for gender,
other than application of restrictions contained in US combat
exclusion laws and policies. As previously mentioned, this meant
US women performed a wide range of critical missions. This fact
alone clearly sets a visible example of US principles.
Observations
Accomplishments
1. Women were fully integrated into their assigned units.
2. Women performed vital roles, under stress, and performed well.
3. Current laws and policies were followed.
Issues
1. The media and public interest was centered on female casualties
and POW.
2. ln some respects, deployment criteria for women differ among
Services. In a few cases, these differences and different interpretations
by local commands caused concerns.