The United States is not the first to open combat roles to women. Over a dozen other countries have allowed it for years.
Canada
Canada's progressive military started allowing women into all military roles, including combat roles like fighter pilot, in 1987. As of 2006, over 200 women were part of the regular combat force and over 900 were part of the reserve combat force.
Source: womeninuniform
Israel
Women in the Israeli Defense Force serve in all areas of combat, and have since 2000. In reality, however, they make up a relatively small proportion of the IDF's combat troops.
Image by David Silverman / Getty Images
Finland
In Finland, military service is required for men, while it is voluntary for women. If women do choose to enlist, they're allowed to train for combat roles.
Via: shutterstock.com
Poland
Poland allows women in close combat, but as of 2008, there were only 1153 female soldiers in the entire Polish Army. There are a few female Platoon commanders, and at least one woman serving in a combat unit.
Poland only started accepting women into its military academies in 1999, and those women didn't graduate until 2003, so female service members have only been part of the military in Poland for about a decade.
Image by Sean Gallup / Getty Images
