https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ad2016_01.pdf
MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2016-01 (Expanding Positions and Changing the Army
Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers)
1. References. A complete list of references is at the enclosure.
2. With the opening of all remaining positions in conventional force units to women, the
Army no longer has a separate policy for the assignment of female Soldiers. All
assignment policies are addressed in Army Regulation (AR) 71-32, AR 135-100,
AR 140-50, AR 350-51, AR 570-4, AR 601-50, AR 601-210, AR 611-1, AR 614-100, or
AR 614-200.
3. The Department of the Army is opening the remaining 125,318 additional positions
in conventional force units to women.
a. The following military occupational specialties (MOSs) are open to women:
11A (Infantry Officer); 11B (Infantryman); 11C (Indirect Fire Infantryman); 11Z (Infantry
Senior Sergeant); 13F (Fire Support Specialist); 19A (Armor, General); 19B (Armor);
19C (Cavalry); 19D (Cavalry Scout); 19K (Armor Crewmember); and 19Z (Armor Senior
Sergeant).
b. In addition, the following skill identifiers are open to women: Functional Courses
B1 (Infantry Mortar NCO Leader), B2 (Light Leaders Course), B4 (Sniper), B7 (Bradley
Transition Course), B8 (Anti-Armor Leaders Course), C2 (Dragon Gunnery), E9 (M901
Improved TOW Vehicle Gunner/Crew Training), K8 (Master Gunnery M1A2 Tank),
L7 (Joint Fires Observer), R4 (Stryker Armored Vehicle Operations/Maintenance),
R8 (Mobile Gun System Master Gunner), 3J (M1A2 Abrams Tank), 3Z (Mortar Unit
Officer), 5R (Ranger), and 5S (Ranger Parachutist). The Army is also opening skill
qualification identifiers G (Ranger), T (1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta
Unit Operator), and V (Ranger Parachutist).
4. The Department of the Army is also opening to women the remaining 7,475 career
management field 18 and Ranger-coded positions within U.S. Army Special Operations
Command Headquarters, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (Provisional), and
the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School; 3,742 positions in
the 75th Ranger Regiment; and 2,265 positions within the National Guard 19th and
20th Special Forces Groups, for a total of 13,482 positions.
S E C R E T A R Y O F T H E A R M Y
W A S H I N G T O N
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2016-01 (Expanding Positions and Changing the Army
Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers)
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a. The following career management field 18 occupations are open to women:
18A (Special Forces Officer), 18B (Special Forces Weapons Sergeant), 18C (Special
Forces Engineer Sergeant), 18D (Special Forces Medical Sergeant), 18E (Special
Forces Communications Sergeant), 18F (Special Forces Assistant Operations and
Intelligence Sergeant), 18Z (Special Forces Senior Sergeant), and 180A (Special
Forces Warrant Officer).
b. In addition, the following skill identifiers are open to women: Functional Courses
Q5 (Special Forces Combat Diving, Medical); S6 (Special Forces Combat Diving,
Supervision); W3 (Special Forces Sniper); W7 (Special Forces Underwater Operations);
and 4W (Underwater Special Operations). The Army is also opening skill qualification
identifier W (Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis Exploitation
Techniques).
5. Division and Corps G-1s, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, and brigade-
level commanders and S-1s are responsible for executing the provisions of this
directive.
6. The Army National Guard (ARNG) Directorate G-1, State Adjutants General,
commanders, and S-1s are responsible for executing the provisions of this directive in
ARNG units. The ARNG will provide additional implementing guidance to its
commanders and S-1s.
7. The 30-day congressional notification period that Title 10, U.S. Code, section 652
requires was completed on 2 January 2016.
8. Effective immediately, changes to assignment policies include the following
language and guidance, which proponents will incorporate into the appropriate
regulations as follows:
a. AR 71-32. Add a new paragraph 5-13:
5-13. Identity code guidance
a. With the elimination of the direct ground combat restriction, identity
codes serve as the sole means of indicating where an assignment
restriction exists for males or females. The direct combat position code is
no longer in effect for the assignment and utilization of women in the
U.S. Army. All personnel positions listed in the requirements document
will be assigned a gender code based on current guidance.
b. The proponent for gender codes is the DCS, G-1.
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2016-01 (Expanding Positions and Changing the Army
Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers)
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c. Any request to change position coding for an occupation, position, or
unit based on gender must be forwarded to the DCS, G-1. The Secretary
of Defense is the final approval authority for changes.
b. AR 135-100. Revise paragraph 3-15 (Branch) to read:
The branch of assignment for applicants will be determined by the
authority tendering appointment. The branch will be based on the
applicant’s qualifications and the needs of the Service.
c. AR 140-50
(1) Delete paragraph 2-4c.
(2) Delete paragraph 3-1c(2).
(3) Delete paragraph 4-8b(7).
d. AR 350-51
(1) Revise paragraph 3-2a(1) to read:
Applicants—2-combat arms, 2-combat support arms, and 2-combat
service support arms. One combat arms branch must be among the first
three choices. The remaining four branch choices will be at the
applicant’s discretion.
(2) Delete paragraph 3-2a(2) and renumber paragraph 3-2a(3) to 3-2a(2).
e. AR 570-4
(1) Delete paragraph 6-14 in its entirety and revise the paragraph to read:
6-14. Policy
All military positions are interchangeable unless otherwise specified in
accordance with Army policy. In some cases, positions may be
designated to provide male or female privacy. For example, correction
specialists are required to be of the same sex as the prisoners they
search. Requests to designate privacy positions will be submitted in
accordance with paragraph 10-21.
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2016-01 (Expanding Positions and Changing the Army
Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers)
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f. AR 601-50. Delete paragraph 11a(2) and renumber paragraph 11a(3) as 11a(2).
g. AR 601-210. Delete paragraph 6-9b. Renumber paragraphs 6-9c and 6-9d as
6-9b and 6-9c, respectfully.
h. AR 611-1
(1) Delete paragraph 1-6b(4)(j). Renumber paragraphs 1-6b(4)(k) and
1-6b(4)(l) as 1-6b(4)(j) and 1-6b(4)(k), respectively.
(2) Delete paragraph 3-6c.
(3) Delete paragraphs 4-7a and 4-7b. Revise paragraph 4-7 as follows:
4-7. Officer Designation/Utilization
Commissioned officers will be appointed and assigned in branches,
functional areas, and areas of concentration in accordance with applicable
DA and DOD policy.
(4) Delete paragraphs 5-4a and 5-4b. Revise paragraph 5-4 as follows:
5-4. Warrant Officer Designation/Utilization
Warrant officers will be appointed and assigned in branches, functional
areas, and areas of concentration in accordance with applicable DA and
DoD policy.
(5) Delete paragraphs 6-2a and 6-2b. Revise paragraph 6-2 as follows:
6-2. Enlisted Soldier Designation/Utilization
Enlisted Soldiers will be accessed and assigned MOSs in accordance with
applicable DA and DoD policy.
i. AR 614-100
(1) Revise paragraph 1-5i to read:
Officers will be appointed and assigned in branches, functional areas, and
areas of concentration in accordance with applicable DA and DoD policy.
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2016-01 (Expanding Positions and Changing the Army
Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers)
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(2) Delete paragraph 1-6b. Renumber paragraphs 1-6c and 1-6d as 1-6b
and 1-6c, respectively.
(3) Delete paragraph 3-1n.
j. AR 614-200
(1) Revise paragraph 3-2i as follows:
Enlisted Soldiers will be assigned to positions in accordance with
applicable DA and DoD policy.
9. The changes outlined in paragraph 8 constitute the Army’s updated assignment
policy. The policy is effective immediately and applies to the Regular Army, Army
National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army Reserve.
This directive rescinds references c through l. The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 will
rescind reference r in accordance with applicable Army policy.
10. The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 is the proponent for the Army’s policy for the
assignment of personnel. In all instances where the guidance in this directive
contradicts the provisions of AR 71-32, AR 135-100, AR 140-50, AR 350-51, AR 570-4,
AR 601-50, AR 601-210, AR 611-1, AR 614-100, or AR 614-200, this directive takes
precedence.
11. This directive remains in effect until all the updated guidance identified in
paragraph 8 is published.
Encl Patrick J. Murphy
Acting
DISTRIBUTION:
Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army
Commander
U.S. Army Forces Command
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
U.S. Army Materiel Command
U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army Europe
(CONT)
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2016-01 (Expanding Positions and Changing the Army
Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers)
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DISTRIBUTION: (CONT)
U.S. Army Central
U.S. Army North
U.S. Army South
U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Task Force
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
U.S. Army Medical Command
U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Military District of Washington
U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
U.S. Army Installation Management Command
Superintendent, United States Military Academy
Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
Executive Director, Arlington National Cemetery
Commander, U.S. Army Accessions Support Brigade
Commandant, U.S. Army War College
Commander, Second Army
CF:
Director, Army National Guard
Director of Business Transformation
Commander, Eighth Army
Commander, U.S. Army Cyber Command
Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Chief, General Officer Management Office
Enclosure
REFERENCES
a. Memorandum, Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Jan 24 2013, subject: Elimination of the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and
Assignment Rule.
b. Memorandum, Secretary of Defense, Dec 3, 2015, subject: Implementation
Guidance for the Full Integration of Women in the Armed Forces.
c. Army Directive (AD) 2012-11 (Exception to the Direct Ground Combat Assignment
Rule), 7 May 2012 (hereby rescinded).
d. AD 2012-16 (Changes to Army Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers), 27
June 2012 (hereby rescinded).
e. AD 2013-19 (Expanding Positions for the Assignment of Female Soldiers), 6 August
2013 (hereby rescinded).
f. AD 2014-04 (Expanding Positions for the Assignment of Female Field Artillery
Officers), 4 March 2014 (hereby rescinded).
g. AD 2014-16 (Expanding Positions in Open Occupations for the Assignment of
Female Soldiers), 17 June 2014 (hereby rescinded).
h. AD 2014-24 (Expanding Positions in Open Occupations for the Assignment of
Female Soldiers Within U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command), 3
September 2014 (hereby rescinded).
i. AD 2015-08 (Expanding Positions in Open Occupations for the Assignment of
Female Soldiers Within U.S. Army Special Operations Command), 25 February 2015
(hereby rescinded).
j. AD 2015-18 (Expansion of Skill Identifier 3X (Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Commander’s Course) to Female Soldiers), 24 March 2015 (hereby rescinded).
k. AD 2015-27 (Expanding Positions for the Assignment of Enlisted Female Combat
Engineer Soldiers), 16 June 2015 (hereby rescinded).
l. AD 2015-41 (Expanding Positions for the Assignment of Enlisted Female Soldiers to
Military Occupational Specialties 13B (Cannon Crewmember) and 13 D (Field Artillery
Automated Tactical Data System Specialist)), 28 October 2015 (hereby rescinded).
m. Army Regulation (AR) 71-32 (Force Development and Documentation), 1 July 2013.
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n. AR 135-100 (Appointment of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Army),
1 September 1994.
o. AR 140-50 (Officer Candidate School, Army Reserve), 15 October 1999.
p. AR 350-51 (United States Army Officer Candidate School), 11 June 2001.
q. AR 570-4 (Manpower Management), 8 February 2006.
r. AR 600-13 (Army Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers), 27 March 1992.
s. AR 601-50 (Appointment of Temporary Officers in the Army of the United States
upon Mobilization), 4 December 1987.
t. AR 601-210 (Active and Reserve Components Enlistment Program), 8 February
2011, Including Rapid Action Revision No. 3 Issued 12 March 2013.
u. AR 611-1 (Military Occupational Classification Structure Development and
Implementation), 30 September 1997.
v. AR 614-100 (Officer Assignment Policies, Details, and Transfers), 10 January 2006.
w. AR 614-200 (Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management), 26 February 2009,
Including Rapid Action Revision No. 2 Issued 11 October 2011.