Women to be able to apply for all jobs including in frontline infantry, Royal Marines and SAS

Women will be allowed to apply for all military roles in the British armed forces, including in frontline infantry units and the Royal Marines, the government has announced.

Women will also be able to put themselves forward for selection for specialist units including the SAS and SBS. The Ministry of Defence described the move as historic.

The defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, made the announcement during a land power demonstration on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

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He said that with immediate effect, women already serving in the army could transfer into infantry roles. Those not currently serving would be able to apply for infantry roles in December, with new recruits starting basic training in April 2019.

Williamson also confirmed that women were now able to apply to join the Royal Marines, with selection starting before the end of the year. Training courses will begin at Royal Marines Commando training centre in Lympstone, Devon, in early 2019.

While women have for many years served in war zones in a huge array of jobs, they were previously not allowed to serve in “ground close combat” roles. The ban was lifted in 2016 by the then prime minister, David Cameron.

He said at that time that the change would be phased in, and from November 2016 women were allowed into the Royal Armoured Corps. In September 2017 the RAF Regiment – the air force’s fighting force – allowed women.

The army now has around 35 women either serving in or being trained to join the Royal Armoured Corps, with a number of personnel already being deployed to Estonia and Oman.

An MoD spokesperson said: “While the military does not necessarily expect large numbers of women to apply for ground close combat roles, the changes are aimed at creating opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds and making the most of their talents.

“By making all branches and trades of the military open to everyone, regardless of their gender, the armed forces are building on their reputation of being a leading equal opportunities employer.”

The land power demonstration on Salisbury Plain involved some of the first women to join the Royal Armoured Corps.

Williamson said: “We constantly have to evolve and change and that’s what we’re doing today … It’s vital that we give everyone in this country the opportunity to join our armed forces and play a full and proper role. We’ve seen in so many conflicts around the world the role women can play and this is why we are opening it up.”

Asked if he could imagine the UK ever having the equivalent of the Norwegian all-women special forces “Hunter Troop”, Williamson said: “It’s not something we’ve been looking at but we shouldn’t close ourselves to any ideas.”

Williamson pointed out that some elite units in the Afghan army were 20% women. “It’s really really important you have women in combat units to deal with people in the local population, some of whom might not be willing to speak to a man.”

Asked if women had the “killer instinct”, he replied: “I am the father of two wonderful daughters [aged 11 and 13]. They can achieve anything. If they want to join the army, navy or air force I want them to have every opportunity to take any role in any of those services.

“Women have been involved in frontline activity in so many ways for so long. You’ve seen women serving alongside men in Afghanistan and Iraq. They have been part of the team. The idea that we’re excluding half the population for some of these vital roles potentially holds our armed forces back.”

Williamson said he did not believe it was a problem that some women in close combat could be mothers. “People make a real choice and decision they wish to serve.”