Denmark Opens Some Navy Combat Duty to Women
The government said today it will allow women to volunteer for naval combat duty, becoming the first NATO nation to do so, and may extend the program to the army and air force.
“The decision is a direct consequence of the general movement toward equality,” Defense Minister Hans Engell said.
Engell said women may now volunteer for combat units in the Danish navy except on submarines, in the Fleet Air Arm or as frogmen.
About 160 Danish women have been tested in combat units of all three military branches during a five-year trial period. The navy, which tried out woman gunners and navigators on torpedo boats, minesweepers and other warships, was first to produce its evaluation.
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