1917–1918
33,000 women serve as nurses and support staff in World War I
1941–1945
More than 400,000 women serve in World War II
1950–1953
Korean War: 50,000 women serve, some in combat zones
1962–1972
Vietnam War: More than 7,000 female volunteers serve
1993
Defense Secretary Les Aspin tells military to open more noncombat assignments to women
1994
Women banned from small combat units
January 2013
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says all combat jobs must be open to women
May 2013
Commanders give initial implementation plans
January 2016
Military must open all combat jobs to women or explain why not
