Since 1901, women have officially served in some form of the military, however, women had an unofficial role dating back to the American Revolution. Traditionally, women were not permitted to pursue combat occupations, but these restrictions have recently been lifted somewhat, making certain combat occupations in most branches of the military available to women. Despite the complications of transportation, women are engaged in combat occupations and it's not just about physical differences, there is also a risk of sexual assault. Due to the detrimental impact on the military, soldiers and society, women should not be allowed to perform combat duties. The Armed Services Integration of Women Act, created in 1948, created a women's force in all military departments. This was seen as a step in the right direction, while also being responsible for the current combat restrictions. The law, while integrating women into the military, also controlled the total number of female military personnel and formally excluded them from combat duties. The number of female soldiers in the U.S. military increased in the “1980s and 1990s, from 8.5 percent to 11.1 percent” (Mackenzie). The Air Force is today the service most open to women. “Women have been flying fighter jets since 1993 and now make up 70 of the 3,700 serving fighter pilots” (Mackenzie). In January 1994, "Secretary of Defense Les Aspin rescinded the "risk rule" barring women from any position that might expose them to direct combat, hostile fire, or capture; the rule was replaced by the "Direct Ground Combat Assignment Rule", which more narrowly tailored the restriction to frontline combat positions. » (Mackenzie) The problem with the recent policy changes is that the middle of paper is being taken out of the fight. Works CitedChristina M. Hassija, 1,2 Matthew Jakupcak,1,3 Shira Maguen,4,5 and Jillian C. Shipherd6,7,8. “The Influence of Combat and Interpersonal Trauma on PTSD, Depression, and Alcohol Abuse in the United States Gulf War and OEF/OIF Female Veterans.” Journal of Traumatic Stress (2012): 216-219. Colonel Clark H. Summers, US Army Reserve. “Women, the combat multiplier of asymmetric warfare.” Military Review (2013): 71-78. Heled, Yoram Epstein • Ran Yanovich • Daniel S. Moran • Yuval. “Physiological employment standards IV: integration of women into combat units, physiological and medical considerations.” Eur J Appl Physiol (2013): 113: 2673-2690. Mackenzie, Megan H. “Let the Women Fight.” Foreign Affairs 91.6 (2012): 32-42. McNulty, Major Shelley S. “Myth Busted: Women Serve in Ground Combat Stations.” The Air Force Law Review Volume 68 (2010): 120-166.