California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 108

Introduced by Assembly Member Mathis

January 4, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 108—Relative to Women’s Military History Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 108, as introduced, Mathis. Women’s Military History Week.

This measure would recognize “Women Warriors” by proclaiming the week of March 21 to March 27, 2016, inclusive, as Women’s Military History Week in California and would encourage Californians to recognize, among other things, the contributions of women to our military and our freedom and the historic lift of the ban on women in combat on January 24, 2013.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, January 24, 2016, marks the third anniversary of
the lift of the ban on women in combat; and

WHEREAS, This groundbreaking decision overturns a 1994
Pentagon rule that restricted women from artillery, armor, and
infantry, among other combat roles, even though in reality women
have frequently found themselves in combat in Iraq and
Afghanistan. According to the Pentagon, hundreds of thousands
of women have been deployed in those conflicts; and

WHEREAS, Former United States Secretary of Defense Leon
Panetta initiated the lift of the ban on women in combat in 2013.
On December 3, 2015, current United States Secretary of Defense
Ashton Carter directed the full integration of women into all
military branches; and

WHEREAS, Over the past two decades of conflict, women have
served with valor in combat zones, often under fire, but had been
prevented from officially holding combat positions under the 1994
Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, which
generally barred women from assignment to units below brigade
level when the unit’s primary mission was direct ground combat;
and

WHEREAS, Approximately 300,000 women in uniform have
served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Female service
members have earned more than 10,000 combat action badges and
Bronze Stars, respectively, and at least 12 Bronze Stars with Valor.
Women have served in intelligence gathering, as combat pilots,
field artillery officers, chaplains, special operations civil affairs
officers, and even members of the ultra-secretive Delta Force; and

WHEREAS, Women have served bravely in every major United
States conflict since the American Revolutionary War. Our current
servicewomen are able to serve due to the incredible work of
women of past generations; and

WHEREAS, As stated by then-Secretary of Defense Panetta,
“Women have shown great courage and sacrifice on and off the
battlefield, contributed in unprecedented ways to the military’s
mission, and proven their ability to serve in an expanding number
of roles.” Panetta added, “[R]escinding the [1994 ban on women
in combat] is to ensure that the mission is met with the best
qualified and most capable people, regardless of gender;” and

WHEREAS, Since the lift of the ban, three women have already
made history by being the first to graduate from the United States
Army Ranger School, the Army’s premier combat leadership
course, proving to themselves and to the world that women can
meet men’s standard for combat; and

WHEREAS, As a country based on freedom and opportunity,
regardless of creed, race, gender, or sexual orientation, we must
demonstrate the same opportunity in our armed forces, while
maintaining the same standard of excellence our military has set;
and

WHEREAS, Our military exists to fight our nation’s wars and
to defend our Constitution and our freedom. Opening up combat
roles to women will add to military excellence, not subtract from
it; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes
“Women Warriors” by proclaiming the week of March 21, 2016,
through March 27, 2016, inclusive, as Women’s Military History
Week in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages Californians to
recognize the contributions of women to our military and our
freedom, the courageous sacrifice that women have made while
serving our country with heroism, and the historic lift of the ban
on women in combat on January 24, 2013; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.