Denmark Will Allow Women to Join Navy Combat Units, a NATO First

Denmark announced Tuesday that it will allow women to join naval battle units--making it the first North Atlantic Treaty Organization country to allow females in combat forces.

“The decision is a direct consequence of the general movement toward equality,” Defense Minister Hans Engell said.

Effective immediately, he said, women will be allowed to volunteer for combat units in the navy. But women may not serve on submarines, the naval air arm or as frogmen, Engell said.

He said women probably will be allowed to serve in army and air force combat units beginning next year.

About 160 women have been tested over a five-year period in combat units of all three branches of the Danish military.

Female Gunners, Navigators

The navy, which tried out female gunners and navigators on torpedo boats, minesweepers and other warships, was the first service to produce a report evaluating women’s performances in the posts.

“The report we have received from the navy shows that women’s qualifications and their endurance is not markedly different from that of their male counterparts,” Engell said.

He said women’s lesser physical strength in no way affected their effectiveness in the navy combat posts.

The evaluation paved the way for Denmark to become the first country in the 16-nation NATO alliance to allow women in combat. The U.S. armed forces accept women volunteers but limits them to noncombat roles.

Engell said he will receive evaluations from the army and the air force early next year.

“After these reports are through, we will put forward proposals for the future training and combat usage of women in these defense forces,” he said.