Kaine Supports Opening All Combat Roles to Women

Late in 2015, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that the military would change policies and move to allow women to enlist in all combat roles.

That decision has faced mixed reaction on Capitol Hill, but one senator from Virginia believes it's the right move.

Senator Tim Kaine says the military should reflect the changing of the times.

He says daughters are raised differently now than they were 30 years ago, and as women have broken through glass ceilings in everyday society, he wants the military to do the same.

If President Barack Obama can help it, then that's what will happen.

Obama, with Carter's help, wants to open all combat jobs to women, from fighting on the front lines to special operations.

Kaine hopes the military will define the criteria for both men and women so that only the best of the best are placed into these dangerous jobs.

"So instead of blocking women, let's just have tough standards that are relevant to the job and let anyone compete," said Kaine. "And anyone who gets over the hurdle, they should be able to perform and serve their country in that way."

However, not everyone agrees.

In fact, the Pentagon faces an uphill battle to move this change through.

The decision to open combat roles came out despite recommendations from the Marine Corps to keep some jobs closed and a U.S. Department of Defense survey that showed 85 percent of men from special ops opposed allowing women into their specialties.

Kaine wants opponents to look at other strong military forces around the world and reflect on their successes.

For instance, the Peshmerga, arguably America's greatest ally in the Middle East in the fight against the Islamic State, has a fully gender-integrated military.