Odierno: Combat standards won’t be lowered for women

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said Monday that it won’t lower physical standards as it prepares to open ground combat and other jobs to women.

In an interview with USA Today, Odierno said the Army won’t change its physical standards as it prepares to comply with the Pentagon’s directive to allow women to serve in combat roles.

{mosads}”Whatever we do, we are not going to lower the standards,” Odierno said. “The standards will be the same.”

All of the services are reviewing the physical standards for combat jobs as they prepare to integrate female service members into combat roles by 2016 and determine if any positions should remain closed.

Odierno said the Army’s current plan was to open all roles to women.