WOMEN IN THE GULF FORCE

The largest number of military women ever in U.S. history--about 30,000--are now deployed in a war zone. Americans are watching closely as their mothers, daughters and sisters participate in a war that will likely change the role of women in the military forever.

As It Stands: Since 1973--when the draft was ended and replaced by the all-volunteer force-the number of women in the U.S. military has increased dramatically. No longer relegated to their traditional roles of nurse and secretary, military women today fill positions ranging from military police to Air Force pilots. They make up 6% of the 500,000-plus soldiers in the Gulf and 11% of the 2.1 million U.S: forces worldwide.

The Combat Question: By law, American military women are excluded from combat in all branches of the service, which some argue effectively denies them higher pay and promotions.

* Women are not allowed in attack or fighter aircraft, in artillery or infantry units, aboard subs or surface combat ships (except on temporary duty).

* The Pentagon says that 80% of all military job classifications are open to women, which amounts to about 56% of total number of military assignments.

* But today’s battlefield scenarios often do not distinguish between frontline combat assignments and rear support ones. Women in active war zones in certain jobs-for example, on supply lines-could become combatants, rendering existing job classifications artificial.

Panama Invasion, a Turning Point: During the 1989 invasion of Panama, U.S. military women came under fire alongside their male comrades both on the ground and in the air.

* A female Army captain led her fellow military police into a gun battle with the Panama Defense Forces.

* Two female helicopter pilots, on noncombat aircraft, came under gunfire.

* Overall, 600 of the 24,500 troops in the invasion were women.

MIAs and POWs: If U.S. military women become war casualties or POWs, it will not be a first:

* In the Gulf War, Army Spec. Melissa Rathbun-Nealy is listed as MIA.

* Eight American women died during the Vietnam War; one was killed by “hostile fire.”

* During World War II, about 70 servicewomen were captured and interned as POWs by the Germans and Japanese.

Jobs Available Percentages of the positions open to women for each branch of the service and numbers serving in Gulf: Marine Corps: 1,350 -- 20% Air Force: 3,081 -- 97% Navy: 1,400 -- 56% Army: 24,000 -- 51% Countries that assign women to combat: Belgium Canada Denmark Netherlands Norway All U.S. Women in Uniform Marine Corps Officers: 671 -- 3.4% Enlisted personnel: 8,809 -- 5.0% Air Force Officers: 13,406 -- 13.0% Enlisted personnel: 63,176 -- 13.7% Navy Officers: 7,557 -- 10.5% Enlisted personnel: 49,735 -- 9.9% Army Officers: 12,134 -- 11.4% Enlisted personnel: 74,335 -- 11.4% Department of Defense, as of Dec. 1989

Chronology 1901: Army establishes auxiliary of nurses. In 1908, Navy installs similar auxiliary. World War I: Navy and Marines enlist women to fill clerical positions. After war, women are demobilized. World War II: Army’s WAC (Women’s Army Corps), Navy’s WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service), and parallel organizations established in other branches. Some women serve in war zones, but away from front. Overall, women make up 2.3% of military. 1948: Legislation is enacted banning women from combat. Ceiling of 2% limit during Korean War. 1967: 2% limit permanently removed, along with many restrictions on grades to which female officers could rise. Percentage of women in the military is still less than 1% 1968: First major increase in number of women in services since 1953. About 7,500 women serve in Vietnam, but none in combat assignments. 1970: Two women promoted to rank of general, first time in U.S. history. 1972: Five-year program established to increase number of women in non-medical fields. 1975: Military academies ordered to open their doors to women. 1978: Women’s Army Corps is dismantled, integrates its personnel into regular Army. 1983: Female pilots fly support helicopters during Grenada invasion. 1986: Four women co-pilot non-combat planes during Libyan mission. 1989: Army Capt. Linda Bray, leading 30 military police, engages in combat in Panama. 1990: Army rejects Pentagon advisory group’s suggestion that women be allowed combat assignments on experimental basis. 1991: 30,000 women make up 6% of U.S. forces in Gulf War. Sources: Congressional Quarterly’s Research Reports, and the Department of Defense.