Women Allowed To Join Combat Units of Chile's Army

No more limitations

For the first time, women will be able to serve in all combat and front-line units of the Chilean Army. The new order allows women into the infantry and armored units, the last remaining areas that had been limited to men only. Females slowly have been integrated into Army combat units, in an evolution that already finds women in artillery, aviation and other units. The process began to take root in 1995, when women were first permitted to enter the Army academy. It continues today with a bill in the legislature that eliminates the female military service and replaces it with a gender-neutral system. The government and the Army view that as an important step to prevent sex discrimination. The number of women enlisting has been increasing as well. Only about 15% of Army personnel are female, although that figure has been rising every year.