>> AMITA: Here to talk about this subject is Tara Jones.
Thanks, Tara for coming in, you watched the press conference during which secretary Panetta
announced the ban.
He said women have been fight and go dying alongside men for years and it's time to acknowledge
that reality.
What went through your mind when you heard those words and saw him speak?
>> I had to pull back all my tiers.
I'm new to the scene but women have advocated for this day for a very, very long time and
I'm humble that, you know, as a founder of the national military women veterans' association,
I'm the one that is getting to see the icing on the cake, so to speak.
It's been a long road for veterans that mentored to me, that speak to me, I got so many calls
yesterday and today with the inauguration on Monday and the president talking about
women and equality and less than 72 hours later he's lifted the ban on women serving
in combat.
It's very emotional and historic.
>> AMITA: Women will tell you, who served in the military that they have been on the
front lines for years, both in Afghanistan and in Iraq and, in fact, 152 women have been
killed in combat.
What changes now with the lifting of this ban?
>> It opens the doors for women of allÊ you know, of all the branchs of service to have
the opportunity to be in higher leadership positions, to be able to know that at the
end of the day it's a matter of choice.
If they choose to want to be in special forces or if they choose to want to pursue a career
of 25, 30 years, that's something that is an option for them and open to them, it's
not closed and it's like a crack, it's more than a crack in a glass ceiling it's like
the hammer went straight through the roof as far as this ban being lifted, it's monumental.
>> AMITA: There have been some grumblings among military personnel and Republican Congressman
Duncan hunter has questioned the value of this decision about women being side by side
especially in elite units.
Do you anticipate problems when it comes to physical strength, mental endurance and women
fitting into what's considered a male oriented culture?
>> There are going to be challenges, that's a given.
And there are variables, but do those variables fit into the category of not being able to
lift that ban?
That banÊ that had to happen.
It was eminent, so that's a given.
Whether or not it has a physical or mental impact, I think that being in the military
branchs of service and serving in the war, of course, that's an impact on anyone, whether
you're male or female.
I think to be making statements that women can't do it, they are doing it, they have
done it!
They're doing it right now.
Women are serving on submarines, that is a vessel that is of combat.
So to have them doing it and not have that ban lifted, I mean, they've been doing it
forever, soÊ >> AMITA: What about elite units like the
Navy sale seals are there some areas that should be off limits?
>> The sky is the limit.
This ban is historic, it's monumental and it represents all women.
It starts with military women, that's where it starts and if you see a change within our
military culture you will see that snowball affect through our society
>> AMITA: Does lifting of the ban coming a year after the policy with regards to gays,
either the military is considered a bas it, ian to change orÊ what's going on?
>> It's historic change, the current administration, President Obama, Leon Panetta the joint chiefs
of staff, they're doing marvelous work and it's a major paradigm shift in the way that
our military funks so we're humbled and honored.
>> AMITA: Thanks for speaking with us today, Tara Jones.