Women make up more than 14 percent of the nation's armed forces, which is 200,000 women in the active duty force of 1.43 million.

The Pentagon unveiled plans Thursday to allow those women to serve in thousands of military jobs closer to the front lines, reflecting the realities of the last decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rachel Cruz spent six years in Army Intelligence. She's thinking about re-enlisting and thinks the changes are a good thing.

"All the soldiers kind of treat each other the same, and as long as everyone fulfills that mission and everyone works together, it should be fine," Cruz said.

Sue Sabo, whose father and brother were in the Navy, also agrees with women having more roles in the military.

"If they're qualified to do the job, then why not?" Sabo said. "I don't think things should just be limited to a man. It's not a man's world anymore. Women are perfectly capable of doing so much these days."

Staff Sgt. Susie Elliston helps recruit in the armed forces and said the changes could really benefit the military.

"There's different cultures and different religions that require, for example, a woman to search another woman or to speak to another woman, so that's probably the best way that it would help us," Elliston said.

"Those women could give the Iraqi women or Afghani women could give the female soldier more info or may be willing to give the female soldier more information because maybe they don't perceive them as a threat," Cruz said.

James Lewis, who was injured twice serving in Vietnam, has some reservations.

"Having dealt with infantry combat in my era, in my time, it's never a pretty situation," Lewis said. "(I'm) worried about them getting captured or tortured, of course, that type thing."

Lewis said if the women are trained and motivated to have bigger roles, they shouldn't be held back.

"I just wouldn't want it for my daughter," he said.

Cruz said she's ready to serve.

"I'm just hoping to do the best job I can and work together and just fulfill the mission," Cruz said.