Ft. Stewart general says women in combat jobs will improve Army

FORT STEWART, Ga. – The commanding general at Fort Stewart says allowing women to serve in combat jobs will ultimately "make the Army stronger."

Maj. Gen. Jim Rainey commands the 3rd Infantry Division of about 15,000 Army soldiers in southeast Georgia. Along with the rest of the Army, Fort Stewart within the next year or so expects to begin integrating women for the first time into infantry and armor units.

Rainey told reporters Friday he's confident female soldiers who opt for combat jobs and meet the required standards "will be fine." He noted the Army already has women serving in dangerous roles as combat engineers and in field artillery units.

Female officers will join previously all-male units before enlisted women. At Fort Stewart those first officers may arrive by the end of this year.