Pentagon Lifts Ban Barring Women on the Battlefield

The Defense Department’s decision to drop the ban excluding women from combat roles has stirred discussion among veterans and those still serving in the armed forces.

US Marine Corps Reserve Capt. Zoe Bedell is one of four plaintiffs along with the American Civil Liberties Union who sued the Pentagon to overturn the ban.

She tells host Marco Werman that soldiers on the frontline need skills beyond simple physical strength.

“Leadership is not just about being strong. It’s not about having the biggest biceps,” says Capt. Bedell. “It’s about being able to react under pressure and make decisions when bullets are flying around you.”