Defense Department rules require all direct ground combat units to be male.  But a few weeks ago Pentagon officials ordered the Indiana National Guard to deploy 39 female soldiers to an infantry battalion in Afghanistan.  Elaine Donnelly with the Center for Military Readiness says the trend is disrespectful to Army women.

“These issues are way too important to be made haphazardly, without public disclosure.  These issues need to be taken seriously and our military women need to be respected.  Right now they are being treated like a second-class issue.”

According to the RAND Corporation, 93 women have been killed in combat in the Middle East since 9-11.  Donnelly calls it unprecedented.

“Members of Congress have not had hearings on this issue; they have not taken it seriously. And yet our female soldiers are being put at much greater risk.  They are being put into units where they do not have an equal opportunity to survive.”

Military analyst Bob Maginnis suspects constraints on the military have likely led to the decision.  Nonetheless, he’s still disturbed by the reports.

“It’s up to the Department of Defense to make sure the policy is being followed.  But unfortunately it appears as if somebody is doing a wink and a nod on a violation that I think is very clear in the law.”

Donnelly says the rules need to be enforced to protect male and female soldiers from social experiments and sexual misconduct.