Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has sent scolding memorandum to the Marine Corps, warning commanders that problems with integrating women into the infantry should not be used as an excuse to “halt the policy.â€
Mr. Mabus is also ordering the Gen. Robert Neller, the Marine Corps commandant, to remove the word “man†from titles, apparently meaning the job title of “infantryman†is a casualty.
Mr. Mabus, a former Democratic governor of Mississippi, has followed the Obama’s administration’s priorities in other ares. He has named war ships after liberal politicians, push climate change initiatives and followed the first lady’s lead on nutrition by limiting fried foods for sailors.
In this case, his Jan. 1 memos are carrying out Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s Dec. 3 decision to open all ground combat jobs to women in infantry, armor, special operations and artillery.
The Marine Corps, then led by Gen. Joseph Dunford, stood alone among the four branches in recommending an exemption for infantry units. It did a three-year assessment that warned of damage to unit cohesion, more injuries and increased risks for casualties in battle.
Mr. Mabus openly dismissed the Corps’ publicized opposition last fall. Mr. Carter sided with him and rejected advice from Gen. Dunford who by that time had become his chief military adviser as Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman.
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