{"id":47010,"date":"2018-05-09T17:28:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-09T17:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/09\/dunford-fix-to-womens-combat-gear-shortages-will-take-some-time\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:03:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:03:35","slug":"dunford-fix-to-womens-combat-gear-shortages-will-take-some-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2018\/05\/09\/dunford-fix-to-womens-combat-gear-shortages-will-take-some-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Properly equipping women for combat roles will \u2018take some time,\u2019 says the military\u2019s top general"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As more women join combat-coded units<\/a>, they are finding that there\u2019s not enough properly-fitted equipment or armor there to support them, defense appropriators told Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford Wednesday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2016, women have been able to join all combat units<\/a>, and in the Army alone, more than 600 have joined since that ban was lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the gear they need to do their jobs hasn\u2019t kept up, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, told Dunford and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEquipment requirements for women are lagging,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cCurrently, only the Army has women-specific body armor, but quantities are so low that I understand its only issued to women who are deploying and not during any initial entry or unit training.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force is also working on the issue, recently announcing a review to look at female pilots\u2019 gear to make sure it fits properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\t